Camden Mayor Vic Carstarphen Praises Late Planning Director Dr. Edward Williams
Photo of Dr. Edward Williams courtesy of City of Camden Facebook
BY CLYDE HUGHES | AC JosepH Media
CAMDEN – Camden Mayor Vic Carstarphen on social media eulogized the city’s director of Planning and Development and Zoning Officer Dr. Edward Williams, who died this week.
The longtime planning director’s steady leadership and deep love for Camden helped guide the city through some of its most ambitious redevelopment efforts. He was a quiet force behind Camden’s modern resurgence, a professional whose fingerprints can be found on nearly every major planning initiative of the past decade.
“Dr. Williams gave more than 40 years of his life to this city serving with integrity, professionalism, and a deep understanding of what Camden represents,” Carstarphen said on Facebook.
“As our Director of Planning and Development and Zoning Officer, he didn’t just help shape policies he helped shape the future of our neighborhoods and the direction of our growth. But more than his titles, Dr. Williams was Camden through and through. He understood our challenges because he lived them. And he believed in our potential because he saw it every day. His work was rooted in resilience, faith, and a genuine love for this community.”
Williams was known throughout City Hall not only for his technical expertise but for his unwavering belief that Camden’s residents deserved thoughtful, equitable development. Colleagues say he approached every project—large or small—with the same conviction: that planning was ultimately about people, not buildings.
“I respected Dr. Williams not only for his knowledge and experience, but for the way he carried himself with humility, kindness, and a steady commitment to doing what was right for our city,” Carstarphen said.
“Camden is better because of his service. His legacy will live on in the work he helped build and in the lives he touched along the way. My prayers are with his wife Alice, his family, his loved ones, and everyone who had the privilege of working alongside him. Rest well, Dr. Williams. Thank you for everything you gave to Camden.”
During his tenure as planning director, Williams helped shepherd transformative projects that reshaped Camden’s waterfront, expanded affordable housing, and strengthened neighborhood infrastructure.
He was instrumental in coordinating cross?agency partnerships, often serving as the bridge between community voices, developers, and city leadership. Those who worked with him describe a leader who listened first, spoke with intention, and carried a deep institutional knowledge that made him indispensable. His calm presence in high?pressure meetings became something of a legend among staffers.
City officials expressed deep condolences, noting that his absence leaves a void not easily filled. Community leaders echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that Williams’ legacy is not only in the projects he completed but in the trust he built across neighborhoods.
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