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S. 902
STATUS INFORMATION
Senate Resolution
Sponsors: Senator Williams
Document Path: l:\council\bills\pt\2698sj05.doc
Introduced in the Senate on May 31, 2005
Adopted by the Senate on May 31, 2005
Summary: Mrs. Essie Leonard Brunson
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5/31/2005 Senate Introduced and adopted SJ-6
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE THE LONG AND EXEMPLARY LIFE OF MRS. ESSIE LEONARD BRUNSON OF MULLINS, AND TO WISH HER THE BEST AS SHE CONTINUES TO BRING JOY TO HER FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.
Whereas, Essie Leonard Brunson, also known as "The Great Essie", is the granddaughter of slaves and daughter of the late Calvin and Rebecca Leonard, and is the thirteenth of fifteen children born to this extraordinary couple on June 5, 1911, in Marion County; and
Whereas, "The Great Essie" attended Old Field School, which was an old barn situated beside the present-day Old Field Baptist Church, and, though her formal education ended after the third grade, Mrs. Brunson is a woman educated in the school of life who has a natural affinity for historical information and a profound memory; and
Whereas, Mrs. Brunson married the late George Brunson and was blessed with an amazing nine children; she has forty-one grandchildren, forty-eight great-grandchildren, and twelve great-great grandchildren. Though she is proud of all of her offspring, one of her great grandchildren, Rick Brunson, plays professional basketball for the Portland Trailblazers; and
Whereas, while Mr. and Mrs. Brunson were farmers, "The Great Essie" also was a cook at Old Field School and the Mullins Hospital; and
Whereas, after migrating to Syracuse, New York in 1964 in search of better employment, Mrs. Brunson worked as a nurse's assistant at The Jewish Home for the Aged, and later as a private-duty nurses assistant, and also held jobs as a cafeteria worker and a machinist; and
Whereas, in 1986, "The Great Essie" returned to Mullins for good, and has been enjoying life to the fullest by attending church, gardening, cooking, knitting, and crocheting. She is very active in the Mill Creek Baptist Church as a deaconess and in Bible Study Class where she is the oldest student and has perfect attendance; and
Whereas, a gifted horticulturist and homemaker, Mrs. Brunson takes pleasure in an immaculate yard intricately designed with flowers, shrubs, trees, a rock garden, and a gazebo and keeps a spotless house while cooking delicious down home treats from scratch; and
Whereas, despite fourteen surgeries and several physical trials and struggles, "The Great Essie" is articulate, young at heart, and agile, and the members of the South Carolina Senate join the many voices honoring Essie Leonard Brunson. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, honor and recognize the long and exemplary life of Mrs. Essie Leonard Brunson of Mullins and wish her the best as she continues to bring joy to her family and community.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mrs. Essie Leonard Brunson of Mullins.
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