By Matt McNab
The Island Packet
BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. — A former Beaufort County EMS training officer well-known for her devotion to educating others in the Lowcountry died Friday after a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer.
Julie Williams joined Beaufort County EMS in 1995 and rose through the ranks, working as a paramedic, crew chief and in administrative roles before becoming the department’s training officer in 2008, EMS spokesman Danny Tinnel said.
Williams died Friday morning in Ohio, about three years after her pancreatic cancer diagnosis forced her to resign from her position, Tinnel said. Williams had also served as the president of the S.C. EMS Educator’s Association.
“Julie was truly one of the best, and I’m not just saying that because I was her friend,” said current EMS training officer Karen Morris. “It’s the truth. Anyone who took one of her classes could tell you that. She was gifted.”
Morris said Williams looked beyond Beaufort County in the hopes of expanding EMS training and knowledge. She was a regular presenter and attendee at national conventions.
“She was very dedicated to teaching EMS skills and continuing education,” Morris said. “She put her heart and soul into it.”
Funeral services have not been announced.
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©2015 The Island Packet (Hilton Head, S.C.)