SC STATE SENATOR - Senator Marshall Burns Williams died on Thursday, December 28, 1995 at Providence Hospital in Columbia, SC due to complications from heart disease. He was born in January 17, 1912 in Norway, Orangeburg County, SC to the late Charles H. and Maude Metts Williams. He graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1933 and from the University of South Carolina Law School in 1936. He was a noted attorney and gentleman farmer. In June 1942, Marshall married Margaret Shecut of Orangeburg. They had four children: Burns, Ann, Mary Ashley and Charles. Charles continues the practice of law which his father established with his wife, Karen, who is a Judge on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. In August 1942, he entered into the United States Naval service where he served until January 1946. He left the military with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He was first elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1947 and served until 1952, the year in which he was elected to the South Carolina Senate. He served in the Senate from 1953 until his death in December 1995. He was the presiding President Pro Tempore of the South Carolina Senate at the time of his death. His legislative career of almost 50 years made him the longest serving State Senator in the United States. He came to the General Assembly in an era in which the legislature was dominated by rural whites. He then made the transition to single member districts, achieving unopposed reelection in an Orangeburg Senate District that has sometimes had a majority of African-American voters. He became a champion of the black interests and of South Carolina State College that is located in Orangeburg, SC. He was a friend to all.