S*0738 Concurrent Resolution, By Land
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
 GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA UPON LEARNING OF THE DEATH OF
 MRS. REBECCA JOHNSON RICHBURG OF CLARENDON COUNTY AND TO EXTEND THEIR DEEPEST
 SYMPATHY TO HER FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.

   04/20/99  Senate Introduced, adopted, sent to House SJ-4
   04/21/99  House  Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence HJ-77

TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA UPON LEARNING OF THE DEATH OF MRS. REBECCA JOHNSON RICHBURG OF CLARENDON COUNTY AND TO EXTEND THEIR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.

Whereas, the members of the General Assembly were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Mrs. Rebecca Johnson Richburg on Monday, March 22, 1999, at the age of eighty-four; and

Whereas, Rebecca was born March 15, 1915, in Summerton, South Carolina, and was the loving daughter of the late Preston Johnson and Amanda Mack Johnson. She came from a large family which included nine sisters and four brothers; and

Whereas, she attended the public schools of Clarendon County; and

Whereas, she was married to the late John Hazel Richburg, and they were devoted parents to nine children -- two died at birth and one within a year. Mrs. Richburg is survived by: sons, Joseph Richburg of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and John W. Richburg of Summerton; daughters, Rebecca Mumford of New York; Lillian Seabrooks of Laurel, Maryland; Hazel Frierson of Sumter; and Veronica Billie of Baltimore, Maryland; four sisters, Mae Morgan of Alliance, Ohio; Edna Coles of Atlantic City, New Jersey; Vashti Harvin and Lila House, both of Baltimore, Maryland; fifteen grandchildren; and fifteen great-grandchildren; and

Whereas, Mrs. Richburg was a South Carolina civil rights pioneer in the fight to desegregate public schools and was one of the original plaintiffs in Briggs v. Elliott filed in Charleston Federal Court in 1949, which challenged the fairness of Clarendon County's school system in South Carolina. Historians call it the catalyst that triggered the United States Supreme Court's precedent-setting Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954, that led to the desegregation of the nation's public schools; and

Whereas, Mrs. Richburg was a long-time member of the NAACP and a devoted member of Taw Caw Baptist Church where she served with the Helping Hand Club and the Trustee Wives Organization until her illness; and

Whereas, Mrs. Richburg's life was one of honor and of complete commitment to Christian ideals. Her death has brought sadness to countless individuals, and her presence will be missed very much; however, she left her mark in having touched and shaped the lives of many people, and she will always be remembered with love; and

Whereas, it is appropriate for the members of the General Assembly to pause in their deliberations so that they might note the passing of civil rights pioneer Rebecca Johnson Richburg whose life witnessed so much change, that endured much despair, and that generated abundant hope. Now, therefore,

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

That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, express profound sorrow upon learning of the death of Mrs. Rebecca Johnson Richburg of Clarendon County and extend their deepest sympathy to her family and many friends.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the family of Mrs. Rebecca Johnson Richburg.