A senate RESOLUTION

TO CONGRATULATE Clara Singleton Williams ON THE OCCASION OF HER one hundredth BIRTHDAY AND TO WISH HER A JOYOUS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AND MUCH HAPPINESS IN THE DAYS AHEAD.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are pleased to learn that Clara Singleton Williams will celebrate this important milestone on April 9, 2024; and

Whereas, a native Fairfield County and a long-time resident of Salley, Mrs. Williams was born on April 9, 1924 to parents Isaiah Singleton and Annie Livingston Singleton. She attended schools in Fairfield County, Aiken County, and Orangeburg County. She graduated from Wilkinson High School in Orangeburg and then furthered her education at Claflin University for two years; and

Whereas, Mrs. Williams was married to Blanton Everett Williams for sixty-one years until his death in 2007, and together, they had ten children, twenty-nine grandchildren, forty-five great grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren; and

Whereas, Mrs. and Mr. Williams were farmers. They purchased land and a home in Salley, and to this day Mrs. Williams enjoys watching her vegetables and flowers grow; and

Whereas, Mrs. Williams lives for today with many warm-hearted memories. Over the years, she has taken on cooking, canning, farming, caring for babies, and taking care of her home. She is known not only for raising her children, but also for helping others in her community; and

Whereas, a devout Christian, she acknowledged her faith at an early age and was baptized at Good Hope Baptist Church in Ridgeway. She then became a member of Samaria Baptist Church in Springfield, where she still faithfully attends. She loves her church and her family and has served them diligently for years; and

Whereas, at the age of one hundred, she has lived through segregation, discrimination, racism, the Great Depression, the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, and the devastating deaths of nine parishioners at Mother Emmanuel AME Church in 2015, as well as many other landmarks of American history; and

Whereas, the South Carolina Senate takes great pleasure in honoring this daughter of South Carolina at the celebration of her one hundredth birthday and is pleased to join with her family and friends in congratulating her.  Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, congratulate Clara Singleton Williams on the occasion of her one hundredth birthday and wish her a joyous birthday celebration and much happiness in the days ahead.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Clara Singleton Williams.

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