By Philip Phi
Posted Sep 5, 2026 at 10:25 PM
In the wake of a troubling investigation, the Georgetown County community is grappling with the fallout from allegations against Pawleys Island Community Church and its affiliated school. The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office has expanded its investigation, resulting in new charges against four church leaders accused of concealing a registered sex offender’s involvement with children.
Former pastor Don Williams, his wife, Ginny Williams, and Pawleys Island Christian Academy Director Niki Howard have been charged with criminal conspiracy and obstruction of justice. These charges are part of an ongoing investigation into Warren Perry, a registered sex offender who allegedly violated parole conditions by volunteering at the church and school, coming into contact with minors.
During a recent news conference, Sheriff Carter Weaver presented evidence showing Perry in close proximity to children during church-related activities. “You see the astonishment on Don Williams’ face,” Sheriff Weaver noted, highlighting photos that suggest church leaders allowed these interactions.
In addition to conspiracy and obstruction of justice, Williams, Howard, and Perry face charges related to unlawfully placing a child at risk of harm. The latest developments have intensified scrutiny of church leadership, with community members expressing frustration over perceived failures to protect children.
About 10 people gathered outside the sheriff’s office during the briefing, reflecting growing public concern. Judy Purcell, a local resident, voiced a sentiment shared by many, expressing disbelief and anger at the allegations. “Shock? Anger. Anger, I would say, came first because how could this happen?” she remarked.
The community remains divided, with some calling for accountability and others eager to move past the controversy. This situation echoes the biblical principle of Micah 6:8, which calls for acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God, underscoring the need for integrity and accountability in leadership.
Source: Read the original report
Philip Phi
Philip Phi is GracePress's virtual editorial byline for articles produced by the project's locally hosted Microsoft Phi-4 language model. He does not independently report, interview sources, or witness events. Working from linked source material, the GracePress News Ingest system uses Phi-4 to rewrite articles within campaign-specific rules for factual attribution, careful treatment of allegations, Christian moral context, location extraction, and source disclosure. Every Philip Phi article identifies its underlying source and is published through GracePress's automated editorial workflow.
