Page 15 - September 2019

R oderick “Rod” Williams was born playing the trumpet
at Broad River
and raised in Beautiful Beaufort,
SC to Louise and the late Rev.
Elementary School,
Dr. Horace Williams. Roderick is
brass instruments.
the current band director at Battery Creek and now plays all
High School where he has been serving Rod has 2 children,
for the past 3 years. Roderick is a Battery (Roderick Williams
Creek High School Alumni and received II “Champ”), who
his schooling in the Beaufort County played the drums
School District (BCSD). He attended at WBECHS and
South Carolina State University on a full Elisa Williams,
Band Scholarship, under the instruction of who is one of
Nathaniel Drake, Sr. Rod is a member of the current Drum
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Kappa Majors at BCHS),
Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity. Rod both of whom
recalls that he has had a love for music, have also found themselves playing a give to other communities that had no part
especially “band” since he was a small musical instrument in some capacity. Rod is in their upbringing. So, for me, my mind
child. He recalls going to Orangeburg to engaged to Samantha Ford and is looking was made up when I sat in Mr. Drake’s
visit his grandparents, with his parents on forward to spending his days with her by band room at Battery Creek High School.
his side. I was going to give back to my community,
When asked who influenced his musical right here in Beaufort.” His mother, Louise,
path, Rod names four people whom also supported him throughout his music
he calls his mentors. His father, Rev. Dr. days serving on the Band Booster Club
Horace Williams played a very large while Rod was a part of the Battery Creek
and instrumental part in his life as a man Marching Band. Rod recalls his mother in
and musician. His past band instructors: the stands showing support then, and she
Nathaniel Drake, Sr, his uncle Mr. James still supports Battery Creek Marching band
Stroman, and the late Ronald J. Sarjeant, from the stands to this very day.
his college band director. Rod says that Rod has been an educator in the
these four men have played a vital role in Beaufort County School District for 23
his life on many different levels. Rod states years and was excited for the opportunity
the weekends, and his favorite part of the that he remembers sitting in Mr. Drake’s to return to his High School to serve the
weekend was that he could hear and see music class and knowing that “music” is community in the form of teaching music.
the college band playing and practicing what he wanted to do. He recalls, “Coming Rod mentioned, when he started at Battery
across the street. This was when his torch home was so important to me. Getting back Creek High School two years ago, there
was lit, and music etched in his DNA. Rod to my roots, where I started, this is what were about 25 students. The current
served as choir director at Faith Memorial inspired me. I wanted to be able to give number of students enrolled in his band
Baptist Church, where his father was the back to my community that gave to me. Lots class has climbed to approximately 76
Pastor, directly after college. He started of times, we see people move away and students. Rod declares that the support
from his administration allows him to have
creative autonomy that continues to draw
students to the study of music. Mr. Chad
Cox, Principal, is one those administrators
that Rod says, "always has his back and
continues to allow the program to grow in a
way that affects the future of all the students
enrolled."
The Dolphin Pride Marching Band
consists of students of all ages, with
some who are currently in middle school.
His goal is to allow music to impact his
students in a way that would allow them
to graduate high school with a band
scholarship to assist with attending college.
In his first year as Band Director at BCHS,
2 out of 3 graduates received a Band
Scholarship. This school year, Mr. Williams
has 6 students that will be graduating. His
vision is to assist these students to position
themselves to receive scholarships as well.

BeaufortLifestyle.com | September 2019 15