The Sandy Point Benevolent Society (SPBS), a leading non-profit focused on educational empowerment and community outreach, has confirmed the passing of its visionary founder and sitting president, Dr. Stewart Orlyn Williams. Dr. Williams died peacefully on June 26, 2026, after a months-long public battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer. The official announcement of his death was released by SPBS in a press statement dated July 2, 2026.
A native of the Sandy Point community, Dr. Williams was a 1976 alumnus of Sandy Point High School and built a respected professional career as a chemist. But his most enduring impact came from his lifelong commitment to lifting up the next generation in his hometown. What started as a small project among seven close friends to honor top-performing students at the local high school through the Principal’s Award grew dramatically under Dr. Williams’ steady leadership, eventually evolving into the formal non-profit SPBS nearly 20 years ago.
Over the course of his decades of service, Dr. Williams held the role of SPBS president twice: first from 2005 to 2009, and again from 2015 until his passing in 2026, making him the organization’s longest-serving president to date. Driven by unshakable dedication, radical integrity, and deep compassion for his community, he expanded SPBS’ programming to include need-based scholarships, one-on-one youth mentorship, accessible educational resources, and broad charitable outreach across the region. Thousands of young people have benefited from these initiatives, going on to launch successful careers as doctors, accountants, educators, religious leaders and other professionals that might otherwise have been out of reach.
Beyond his public contributions, those who knew Dr. Williams remember him as a devoted spouse and father, a loyal confidant, and a thoughtful leader whose quiet generosity and sharp wisdom left a mark on every person he met. His core belief—that those who have succeeded owe a debt to lift up those coming behind them—became the foundational ethos of SPBS, and is still reflected in the organization’s mission statement: “We give back so others can move forward”.
Dr. Williams is survived by his loving wife Vernice Williams, his three daughters Sherise, Lauren, and Allison, his beloved grandchildren, his brother Lorenza “Larry” Williams, and a wide network of extended family, friends, colleagues, and community members whose lives he transformed through his work.
The SPBS Executive Board and entire membership have extended their deepest sympathies to the Williams family, saying they are praying for divine comfort, resilience, and peace for the family during this period of grief. While the organization mourns the loss of its founding leader, members are also celebrating the extraordinary life of purpose and service Dr. Williams built.
In a commitment to honor his legacy, SPBS has pledged to carry forward the work Dr. Williams spent decades building, continuing to expand access to educational opportunity, mentorship, and community service that transforms lives. Dr. Williams’ impact will not end with his passing; his legacy will continue to guide and inspire generations of community leaders and SPBS members for years to come.
Rest well, Dr. Stewart O. Williams. Your work on earth is done, but the good you created lives on forever.