Robin W Edwards

January 31, 1937 - December 31, 2021

ROBIN WILLIAMSON EDWARDS was born January 30th, 1937. She passed away peacefully on December 31st surrounded by family. She was proudly raised in Horry County. The daughter of the late Cleo Clyde Williamson and Villon Todd Williamson. She grew up on a farm, stringing tobacco, in Red Bluff and graduated from Conway High School in 1955. Robin, in her time, held a record for local, regional, and national beauty titles; including 38 national titles. She was crowned Miss Sun Fun, Miss Tobacco, Miss Southern 5oo, Miss R.J. Winston and many more. She attended Limestone College and the College of William and Mary. She is predeceased by her husband Thomas W. Edwards. When Tom and his brother Phil established the major gift for the Williams-Brice Stadium, Robin was always proud to say that hyphenating the names was her idea. With her husband, she contributed the establishing gift to build Coastal Carolina University's Humanities and Fine Arts building, which was named the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts in 2001. Robin Edwards' involvement with Coastal Carolina University includes serving as a charter member of the Board of Visitors for the Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts; as a member of Women and Philanthropy, an organization that provides scholarships for deserving students at the University; and as a member of the Coastal Educational Foundation, the fundraising organization of the University. She was named an honorary founder of Coastal Carolina University in 2008. She was an organizer and board member of Coastal Carolina Bancshares Inc., the holding company for Coastal Carolina National Bank, a community bank in Myrtle Beach. She was active with the Grand Strand Auxiliary, the parent organization for the volunteer staff of Grand Strand Regional Medical Center; Friends of Brookgreen Gardens; and the Huntington Society of Brookgreen Gardens. She was on the board of The Medical University of Charleston's College of Nurses, a member of The Society of 1824 and through her donation to MUSC's Children's Hospital the Atrium was named The Thomas Edwards Atrium. She had a great love for fashion and was a long-time friend of designer Bill Blass. Robin was an avid traveler, golfer, lover of beach music, Elvis, the performing arts, the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers the Carolina Gamecocks. She especially loved celebrating the fourth of July, decorating the dock, and watching the Boat Parade with family and friends at her Murrell's Inlet home. Surviving Ms. Edwards are her daughter, Robin Edwards Russell- husband David Russell; her four grandchildren: Temperance Davin Thomas Russell, triplets James Edwards Foster Russell, Mary Miranda Todd Russell and Grainger Lee Williams Russell, all of Myrtle Beach; stepsons Frank Edwards- wife Vickie of Sumter, and Dick Edwards of Surfside; step-grandchildren Lauren Edwards Brennan- husband Will of Lexington and Thomas Alan Edwards of Sumter, Cade Dean Henderson- wife Tiffany, and Dr. Brystal Henderson Cagle- husband Josh. She is also survived by her brother Richard Michael Williamson of Myrtle Beach, sister Renée Williamson Godwin- husband Herman of Charlotte, N.C.; as well as her extended family Ms. Tracy Morant, Mary (Maggie) Sullivan and Greg London. There will be a private graveside service for immediate family only. Public funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 5, at First Presbyterian Church, with Dr. John Brearly officiating. The family will receive friends in a celebration of life at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club immediately following the services. Memorials may be sent to First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 70127, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572 or to Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts, C/O Coastal Carolina University, P.O. Box 261954, Conway, SC 29528. Flowers may be sent to Goldfinch Funeral Home, 606-610 Beaty Street Conway, SC 29526.