A house RESOLUTION

TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF Virginia Allen Mills OF Bamberg COUNTY AND TO EXTEND THEIR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER LARGE AND LOVING FAMILY AND HER MANY FRIENDS.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives were saddened to learn of the death of Virginia Mills at the age of eighty-six on March 23, 2024; and

Whereas, born in Bamberg County, she was a daughter of the late Ruth Jones Allen and Foster Allen and was reared in a loving family with three siblings: Vera Elizabeth Spires, Annie Mae Padgett, and the late John F. Allen.  She graduated from Bamberg High School and attended the Perry Business School of Savannah; and

Whereas, a faithful member of Barnwell Church of Christ and Williston Church of Christ, Mrs. Mills was a devoted servant of God and of her community and took great joy in being a foster parent; and

Whereas, she moved to Elko in 1964 and faithfully served the Town of Elko as a councilwoman for two years and as town clerk for forty years. Mrs. Mills was instrumental in securing the funding for and the installation of the Elko Water System and helped to organize the Elko Fire Department, for which she served as an active member for twenty-six years. She was the first person to drive Elko's first fire truck; and

Whereas, in 1983, Mrs. Mills was appointed to the Barnwell County Registration and Election Commission, serving forty years on the commission and as its chairperson the last fourteen years of her service. She served as secretary to Williston Magistrate Judge A.W. "Bebo" Flynn from 1983 to 1997; and

Whereas, dedicated to the school that her children and grandchildren attended, she served as a trustee of Jefferson Davis Academy in Blackville for ten years; and

Whereas, Mrs. Mills was widowed by the late Francis Oliver Gunnells and the late Quincy Jennings Rountree, Sr., and is survived by beloved husband of fifty-two years before her passing, Leonard Wilson Mills. She reared seven fine children: Marylynn Rickenbacker of Orangeburg, Paula Lynn Miller of Lexington, Monica Lynn Mills of Eastover, Ginger Ranae Dyer of Irmo, and Quincy Jennings Rountree, Jr., of Williston, the late Sylvia Ann Norris, and the late Janice Marie Rountree Stroud; and

Whereas, her children blessed her with the affection of eight loving grandchildren: James Quincy Cooper of Cayce, Robert Blaine Cooper of Lexington, Tiffany Paige Rickenbacker of Orangeburg, Tina Michelle Rickenbacker of Orangeburg, Jessica Ann Floyd of Williston, Wesley Osborne of Eastover, Paige Presler of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Ashley Howard of Kennesaw, Georgia; and

Whereas, she enjoyed seeing the continuation of her loving family in thirteen great-grandchildren: Gini McKinley Miller, Chase Evan Cooper, James Randall Cooper, Jorga Lynn Cooper, Caleb Sweatman, Hunter Wilson Cooper, Addison Jean Cooper, Mason Wesley Osborne, Claire Osborne, Lawton Howard, Everest Howard, Ozzie Presler, and Koah Presler; and

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is grateful for the life and legacy of Virginia Mills and for the example of service and faithfulness she set for all who knew her. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, express their profound sorrow upon the passing of Virginia Allen Mills of Bamberg County and extend their deepest sympathy to her large and loving family and her many friends.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Virginia Allen Mills.

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