H*4447 Concurrent Resolution, By Wilkins, Allen, Allison, Altman, Askins, 
Bailey, Bales, Barfield, Barrett, Battle, Beck, Bowers, Breeland, G. Brown, 
H. Brown, J. Brown, T. Brown, Campsen, Canty, Carnell, Cato, Chellis, Clyburn, 
Cobb-Hunter, Cooper, Cotty, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Easterday, Edge, 
Emory, Fleming, Frye, Gamble, Gilham, Gourdine, Govan, Hamilton, Harrell, 
Harris, Harrison, Harvin, Haskins, Hawkins, Hayes, J. Hines, M. Hines, Hinson, 
Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Inabinett, Jennings, Keegan, Kelley, Kennedy, Kirsh, 
Klauber, Knotts, Koon, Lanford, Law, Leach, Lee, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Lloyd, 
Loftis, Lourie, Lucas, Mack, Maddox, Martin, McCraw, McGee, McKay, M. McLeod, 
W. McLeod, McMahand, Meacham-Richardson, Miller, Moody-Lawrence, J.H. Neal, 
J.M. Neal, Neilson, Ott, Parks, Perry, Phillips, Pinckney, Quinn, Rhoad, Rice, 
Riser, Robinson, Rodgers, Rutherford, Sandifer, Scott, Seithel, Sharpe, Sheheen, 
Simrill, F. Smith, J. Smith, R. Smith, D. Smith, Stille, Stuart, Taylor, 
Townsend, Tripp, Trotter, Vaughn, Walker, Webb, Whatley, Whipper, Wilder, 
Wilkes, Witherspoon, Woodrum and Young-Brickell
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
 GENERAL ASSEMBLY UPON THE DEATH OF A DEAR FRIEND, RESPECTED LEADER, AND FORMER
 CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT, THE HONORABLE JAMES WOODROW
 LEWIS, OF DARLINGTON.

   01/18/00  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-5
   01/19/00  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-7

TO EXPRESS THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY UPON THE DEATH OF A DEAR FRIEND, RESPECTED LEADER, AND FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT, THE HONORABLE JAMES WOODROW LEWIS, OF DARLINGTON.

Whereas, James Woodrow Lewis was born in Darlington County on March 8, 1912, the son of the late William Joseph and Mary Althea Bryant Lewis; and

Whereas, James Woodrow Lewis attended and was graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1932, and was admitted to the practice of law in South Carolina in 1935; and

Whereas, James Woodrow Lewis was married to Alice Lee Lewis on December 26, 1936, and thereafter began a life-long career of law and public service. He served as a member of the South Carolina Highway Commission from 1936 to 1940, and served terms as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1935 to 1936, and from 1943 to 1945. He was elected Judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit on April 26, 1945, and served continuously as a circuit judge until February 21, 1961, at which time he was elected Associate Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court. Justice Lewis was elected Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court on January 21, 1975, to fill the unexpired term of Chief Justice Joseph R. Moss who retired on July 15, 1975, and served as Chief Justice until his own retirement in 1984; and

Whereas, during his tenure as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Lewis headed a task force that proposed sweeping judicial reform in South Carolina. Known for his vision and personal integrity, Justice Lewis worked tirelessly and persuasively for passage of the 1973 Judicial Reform Act that required a constitutional amendment to establish a modern court system. Thereafter, as Chief Justice, he was responsible for oversight of the entire unified court system in South Carolina. He implemented sweeping reforms to modernize the court system at all levels and made judicial reform a reality so as to better serve the needs of litigants, the interests of justice, the legal profession, and the beloved people of his native State; and

Whereas, during his career James Woodrow Lewis helped found and was one of the original founding members of the Board of Directors of the Darlington County Bank. He was also a founding member of the Darlington County Rotary Club and a life-long member of Swift Creek Baptist Church where he served many years as a Sunday school teacher. Justice Lewis is buried in the cemetery of Swift Creek Baptist Church. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, express the deepest sympathy of the members of the General Assembly upon the death of a dear friend, respected leader, and former Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court, the Honorable James Woodrow Lewis, of Darlington.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to his daughter, Mrs. Barbara Lewis Haynes, of Columbia.