Patricia "Trish" Williams

Patricia “Trish” Williams passed away from cancer at her home on August 10, 2025 at the age of 76. She was born in Tryon, N.C. and grew up on her father, Clarence Rhodes', dairy farm with her sisters, Lucy and Carolyn, and many beloved animals. Music was a constant in her life as the daughter of a church and school musician, Ramona Rhodes. She majored in Music Education with a piano concentration at Mars Hill College graduating early in 1970.

While at Mars Hill, Trish became the accompanist for a voice major, Roger Williams. Their relationship grew into love and they were married on June 7,1970. Moving to Kannapolis, N.C., Trish began teaching public school music classes but discovered a passion for early childhood education and changed paths. She became a kindergarten teacher in Rowan-Salisbury Schools. She was devoted to teaching and helping to ignite in her students a love for reading and creative writing. Her students thrived under her structured but very nurturing classroom culture. Through several moves after Roger’s retirement from his own teaching career, Trish went on to teach in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools and also The Arts Based School. She finished her career as a teacher mentor who traveled to schools across the county to inspire novice teachers. Undoubtedly, the impacts of her teaching were long-lasting for the children who were lucky enough to land in her classrooms during her 30 year career.

In addition to her calling as an educator, Trish served with Roger as a church musician for most of her life. They were paid choral scholars at All Souls Episcopal Church at Biltmore in Asheville, N.C. as college students. Trish then was the pianist, choir accompanist and children’s choir director for several churches in Kannapolis, Davidson, Huntersville and finally Clemmons, N.C. Retiring from professional church music, she enjoyed singing with the choir at Centenary United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem.

Trish’s greatest accomplishments were her family. She would tell anyone who would listen about her children’s and grandchildren’s lives and adventures. If you knew Trish, you would know that her daughter Elaine inherited her passions for music and teaching and her daughter Audrey inherited the farming gene and love for nature and animals, Trish also shared a conviction for speaking up and speaking out with her daughters. She read to her grandchildren from birth and was their first creative writing teacher. She attended every family music performance and was ready with a play-by-play of the highlights in an email afterwards.

Trish is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Roger Williams, her daughters Elaine Phelps of Clemmons, N.C. and Audrey Williams of Chapel Hill, N.C., their spouses Michael Phelps and Amy Crawford, her treasured grandchildren, Logan and Chloe Phelps, nieces Hannah Brockow of Montreal, Canada, Claudia Woodman of Denver, Colorado, and nephews, Jeff Woodman of Santa Fe, New Mexico and Andy Woodman of Cheyenne, Wyoming.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Smart Start of Forsyth County or Bookmarks of N.C.