S 1249  Resolution, By Fanning
 A SENATE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE ESTHER LEE LYLES WILSON OF BLAIR IN
 FAIRFIELD COUNTY ON THE OCCASION OF HER ONE HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY AND TO WISH HER
 A JOYOUS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AND MUCH HAPPINESS IN THE DAYS AHEAD.
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   09/02/20  Senate Introduced and adopted (Senate Journal-page 6)

TO CONGRATULATE ESTHER LEE LYLES WILSON OF BLAIR IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY ON THE OCCASION OF HER ONE HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY AND TO WISH HER A JOYOUS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AND MUCH HAPPINESS IN THE DAYS AHEAD.

Whereas, on August 21, 2020, Esther Lee Lyles Wilson of Blair in Fairfield County will awaken to the celebration of a milestone event: her one hundredth birthday; and

Whereas, Esther, affectionately known as Eula, was born to Eli and Blanche Davis McConnell Lyles on August 21, 1920. In her early years, the young Eula went to school through seventh grade, but she completed her education in 1972, when she was among the first graduates of the Fairfield County Adult Education Program to obtain a GED certificate through McCrorey-Liston School; and

Whereas, in God's good time, she met and married the late Woodrow Wilson, and the Lord blessed the couple with nine children. The senior Wilsons were married for thirty-three and a half years. Eula considered her most important job to be her service as a housewife and mother who provided and cared for her husband and children; and

Whereas, Eula worked under the Green Thumb Program, a work program for older adults in Fairfield County. This led to work opportunities in the school cafeterias, where she first served at McCrorey-Liston School. Later, she moved to the Chester County Schools Cafeteria programs, under which she worked for five years; and

Whereas, as a woman of faith, Eula found her spiritual church home at Weeping Mary Baptist Church in Shelton, where she has been a member throughout her life. Now the oldest member, she serves as a Mother of the Church; and

Whereas, Eula has always believed strongly in personal involvement with her community, and her convictions have led her to serve that community in various capacities. In addition to her lifelong service at her church, in her earlier years she assisted others by providing transport for them into town. She was involved with the Fairfield County Council on Aging and participated in the now-defunct community quilting program at Hession Hill Baptist Church. At home, she loved canning fruits and vegetables; and

Whereas, this centenarian lived through the Great Depression, witnessed the development of the Civil Rights Movement, saw desegregation play out, and took advantage of the opportunity to go back to school. One true highlight of her life was witnessing the election of the first black president of the United States in 2008. She also viewed a full solar eclipse in 2017. Now, in 2020, she has been blessed to attain the grand old age of one hundred years amid one of the gravest dangers to mankind, COVID-19; and

Whereas, to honor her at this very special time in her life, family and friends will join with her to celebrate her centennial birthday on Friday, August 21, 2020, in a "100-Car Parade," to be held at Shelton Ball Field; and

Whereas, it is a great pleasure to honor this daughter of South Carolina at the celebration of her one hundredth birthday and to join with her family and friends in congratulating her on reaching this important life milestone. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, congratulate Esther Lee Lyles Wilson of Blair in Fairfield County 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 Esther Lee Lyles Wilson.