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9-year-old who loved Clemson dies in hunting accident, DNR says. Here’s how you can give

Colton Buck Williams died in a hunting accident on Thanksgiving, the DNR said. He loved the outdoors, sports and the Clemson Tigers, his obituary said.
Colton Buck Williams died in a hunting accident on Thanksgiving, the DNR said. He loved the outdoors, sports and the Clemson Tigers, his obituary said. Obituary

Colton Buck Williams loved playing sports. The 9-year-old was recently picked to be on the All-Star football team for the Williston Recreational League.

Colton’s teammates will now be honorary pallbearers at his funeral.

Colton died in a hunting accident on Thanksgiving near the town of Springfield in Orangeburg County, a Department of Natural Resources spokesperson said. The department is investigating the death. News reports say Colton, who was from Aiken and grew up in Williston, was out hunting with family and a friend when the incident occurred.

When he was rooting for a team, Colton was rooting for the Clemson Tigers, according to his obituary. He loved Clemson sports.

He also loved the outdoors and playing piano.

Colton “was such a beautiful, talented little boy,” Colin Ashe, a family friend, said in a post.

Ashe organized a fundraiser for Colton’s family to help with funeral and other expenses. The child’s parents are “two of the best people” he’s ever met, Ashe said. The fundraiser garnered almost $14,000 in donations in two days.

Colton was an honor roll student at Kelly-Edwards Elementary School, which asked that people “lift the family in prayer.”

Counselors will be at the school to help students understand what’s happened, school officials said.

Former teachers of Colton said he was a “precious soul” and a “sweet fellow with the greatest smile.”

Colton “had lots of friends who will miss him deeply,” his obituary said.

A friend he became closer with recently was Jesus, according to the obituary.

Not long before his death, Colton went to the South Edisto River, his obituary said. He went into the water with the reverend of a nearby Baptist church. There, Colton was baptized.

To donate to Colton Williams’ family visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/funeral-expenses-for-colton-williams

A funeral for Colton will be held at 3 p.m., Sunday, December 1 at the First Baptist Church of Springfield. Burial will be in the Springfield Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, November 30 at Folk Funeral Home in Williston, SC.

This story was originally published November 30, 2019 at 11:44 AM.

David Travis Bland
The State
David Travis Bland is The State’s editorial editor. In his prior position as a reporter, he was named the 2020 South Carolina Journalist of the Year by the SC Press Association. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2010. Support my work with a digital subscription
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