Life Force Lives On
“She poured herself into her work, family and friends, and her advice, although often unsolicited and brutally honest, was always the best,” says Amanda K. Smith ’11, who began working with “Missy” in 2015 and now owns A Charleston Bride. “She didn’t let cancer define her; she talked about it as jumping over a hurdle — full speed ahead.”
Williams, a business administration major, also made her alma mater a priority. On numerous occasions, she spoke with students about the hospitality industry and the rigors of event planning. She offered internships with A Charleston Bride and mentored dozens of interns, many of whom went on to careers in the hospitality industry.
“She loved the College of Charleston,” says her mother, Margaux Corbin. “It’s where she got her start in life. As her business grew, so did her passion to educate people about how to do things right in the hospitality industry.”
To honor Williams’ life and her business success, Smith and Williams’ family created the Melissa Corbin Williams ’96 Endowed Scholarship for students studying hospitality and tourism management.
“We wanted to do something so that she won’t be forgotten,” says Williams’ sister Leslie Lewis. “Once you met Missy, you never forgot her. Her confidence and beauty made her known, combined with her energy and passion. She brought a lot of joy to everyone who crossed her path.”
“We are happy that Missy will live on through the scholarship and hope the fund will grow so as many scholarships as possible can be offered. Missy received a scholarship from the College when she was a student. It meant a lot to her and gave her the incentive and desire to do for others.”
For the first recipient, Abby Mummert, learning about Williams bolstered her confidence.
“Seeing what a powerful woman Missy was let me know that I can do anything I put my mind to,” says Mummert, a hospitality and tourism management major and entrepreneurship minor.
Following Williams’ playbook, Mummert is exploring her personal growth within the food and beverage industry.
“I want to push to find where I am comfortable and where I can be successful,” says Mummert, who won an award in the School of Business Shark Tank competition. Inspired by her grandfather who loves to cook but has dementia, she and her team created a cookbook holder with movable arms to point to where a person is in the process.
“This scholarship has meant so much to me,” says Mummert. “The fact that Missy meant a lot to so many people made receiving the scholarship 10 times more impactful.”
Williams inspired people to always do better, and her scholarship continues her legacy with students who share her passions.