MDAH Remembers Rosemary Taylor Williams, Dedicated Preservationist and Civic Leader
Rosemary Taylor Williams, a historic preservationist who served on the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Board of Trustees, is remembered by MDAH for her leadership and dedication to protecting some of the state's most significant historic resources. Williams, 88, died peacefully at her home on Oct. 25, 2026.
Williams served 20 years on the MDAH board, beginning in 1992. She became the board's first vice president in 2008.
Her contributions to historic preservation were particularly significant in the city of Corinth and in Alcorn County, where she led a successful grassroots effort to preserve the area's Civil War sites.
"Rosemary Williams understood that historic preservation is about much more than saving buildings," said MDAH Executive Director Barry White. "It is about preserving the stories, places, and shared experiences that define our communities.”
Born July 17, 1938, in Mobile, Alabama, Williams was raised in Lucedale and earned a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences from the University of Mississippi in 1960. That same year, she moved to Corinth and taught at Corinth High School. She was married to H. L. "Sandy" Williams Jr. for 66 years.
Beginning in 1993, Williams chaired the Siege and Battle of Corinth Commission, building partnerships among local, state, and federal organizations to protect historic sites and interpret one of the most consequential chapters in Mississippi history.
Through her leadership and persistent advocacy, more than 20 historic sites associated with the Siege and Battle of Corinth were preserved. She also helped secure the establishment and funding of the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center, as well as efforts to protect the Corinth Contraband Camp, Coliseum Civic Center, Verandah-Curlee House, and other important landmarks.
In 2015, the Mississippi Historical Society presented her with the Dunbar Rowland Award for her lifelong contributions to preserving, studying, and interpreting Mississippi history.
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