A house RESOLUTION

TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF IRENE WESTBROOKS MCCOLLOM OF ORANGEBURG COUNTY AND TO EXTEND THEIR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER LARGE AND LOVING FAMILY AND HER MANY FRIENDS.

Whereas,  the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives were saddened to learn of the death of Irene Westbrooks McCollum at the age of eighty-nine on Tuesday, March 28, 2023; and

Whereas, born in Elmore County, Alabama, on October 8, 1933, she was the fifth child of seven born to the late James Franklin and Elizabeth Hicks Westbrooks, and she graduated from Alexander City Colored High School in Alexander City, Alabama, in 1950; and

Whereas, Mrs. McCollom earned a bachelor's degree from Allen University in 1954 and a master's degree in school administration from South Carolina State College in 1975 with further study at the University of South Carolina in educational administration; and

Whereas, in 1954, she moved to Orangeburg where she began a thirty-five-year career as an educator, teaching at Whittaker Elementary and Marshall Elementary schools, G. W. Carver High School in Cordova, and Wilkinson High School in Orangeburg where she taught English; and

Whereas, Mrs. McCollom began serving as principal of Mellichamp Elementary School in 1975 and retired as principal from Nix Elementary in 1988.  She continued her work with children by establishing and directing the first Artistically Gifted and Talented Consortium for students in Orangeburg and Calhoun Counties; and

Whereas, recognized for her outstanding civic and professional contributions, she was the first African American woman to be elected president of the South Carolina Elementary and Middle School Principals Association.  She was appointed by Governor James Hodges to the Lowcountry Citizens Advisory Committee for the South Carolina Judicial Merit Selection Commission.  In 1986, she received the Good Neighbor Award from the Orangeburg Chamber of Commerce for rescuing five children from a burning trailer; and

Whereas, the granddaughter of a Methodist Minister and a devout Christian mother, Mrs. McCollom joined the church and participated in its activities at an early age, continuing throughout her life.  As a faithful member of Trinity United Methodist Church (UMC), she served on the Administrative Board and the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee, taught Sunday School, and served as president of the United Methodist Women's Unit and as chairman of the Child Care Learning Center Board of Directors.  She coordinated the local UMC Families Helping Families Program and volunteered many hours in the Women's Pre-Natal Mission Project, "Hold Out the Life Line", The Childcare Learning Center, and Trinity's Soup and Clothing Ministries. She was named United Methodist "Woman of the Year" in 1992.  In 2013, she wrote, directed, and along with The United Methodist Women, produced a well-received play, "Women of the Bible"; and

Whereas, a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Mrs. McCollom was active in the Beta Zeta Omega Chapter in Orangeburg for more than sixty-five years.  She started the chapter's popular annual fundraiser, the Miss Calendar Doll Benefit program, and served four terms as president.  She served on the sorority's International Board of Directors as the 15th South Atlantic Regional Director from 2002 to 2006.  The region's annual "Golden Soror" award is named in her honor, and she was honored in the sorority's national magazine, The Ivy Leaf, for five hundred hours of volunteer community service; and

Whereas, together with her beloved husband, the late James Earl "Hank" McCollom, she reared a devoted daughter, Janice Elaine McCollom of Orangeburg.  She was blessed with a loving granddaughter, Kristen D. Barr of Hanover, Maryland; and

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is grateful for the life and legacy of Irene McCollom and the example of service and excellence she set for all who knew her.  Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, express their profound sorrow upon the passing of Irene Westbrooks McCollom of Orangeburg County and extend their deepest sympathy to her large and loving family and her many friends.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Irene W. McCollom.

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