H*5350 Resolution, By D. Owens
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO COMMEND MRS. DWYNELLE PRITCHARD BENNETT OF ST. GEORGE
 FOR HER WORK DURING THE PAST EIGHTEEN YEARS ON BEHALF OF THE WORLD GRITS
 FESTIVAL HELD ANNUALLY IN ST. GEORGE AS HER ASSOCIATION WITH THE FESTIVAL
 COMES TO A CLOSE.

   05/28/02  House  Introduced and adopted HJ-15

TO COMMEND MRS. DWYNELLE PRITCHARD BENNETT OF ST. GEORGE FOR HER WORK DURING THE PAST EIGHTEEN YEARS ON BEHALF OF THE WORLD GRITS FESTIVAL HELD ANNUALLY IN ST. GEORGE AS HER ASSOCIATION WITH THE FESTIVAL COMES TO A CLOSE.

Whereas, Dwynelle Pritchard Bennett was born September 5, 1930, in Warwick, Georgia. She was one of six children born to James Albert and Ella Elizabeth Pritchard. In 1948, she met and married Everett Wilson Bennett; and

Whereas, Mrs. Nell and Everett have three children, Elizabeth Bennett Clarkson, Linda Bennett Eadon, and Everett Wilson Bennett, Jr. The Bennetts moved to St. George in 1955 where they owned and operated Bennett's Appliance Company in St. George for forty-two years; and

Whereas, the St. George area and local residents have been blessed to have Mrs. Nell as a member of their community. She is the only woman ever named "Sportsman of the Year" by the local Jaycees. She also is a member of Memorial Baptist Church, having sung in the choir, served as Foreign Mission Study co-chairman, and as President of the Appleby's Women's Missionary Union; and

Whereas, Mrs. Nell's talents and abilities have won her critical acclaim for her numerous theatrical roles in the Lourie Theatre in St. George. She is beloved by all, especially local children, having been a favorite storyteller at area schools and at the county library; and

Whereas, for the past eighteen years, Mrs. Nell has worked tirelessly on behalf of the World Grits Festival held annually in St. George; and

Whereas, her public relations skills have helped put the World Grits Festival before national and international audiences. Festival articles and pictures have been published in the Smithsonian Magazine, Delta Sky Magazine, USA Today, Southern Living, and National Geographic; and

Whereas, the festival has grown tremendously under her watch, this year attracting forty-five thousand people from twenty-seven states and four foreign countries; and

Whereas, Mrs. Nell embodies the goals of the World Grits Festival, stimulating pride in the town of St. George and surrounding communities and providing wholesome recreation and entertainment for the family; and

Whereas, at the end of the seventeenth annual World Grits Festival, Mrs. Nell resigned her position. Her infectious smile, Southern charm, outgoing personality, and willingness to give of herself and her time have greatly enriched the lives of those who know her and who have been associated with the festival; and

Whereas, the members of the House of Representatives, by this resolution, would like to publicly recognize and thank this truly lovely lady for her tremendous efforts on behalf of the World Grits Festival as her tenure with the festival comes to a close. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of House of Representatives commend Mrs. Dwynelle Pritchard Bennett of St. George for her work during the past eighteen years on behalf of the World Grits Festival held annually in St. George as her association with the festival comes to a close.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mrs. Dwynelle Pritchard Bennett.