S*789 Session 123 (2019-2020) S 0789 Resolution, By Kimpson A SENATE RESOLUTION TO COMMEMORATE THE GULLAH SOCIETY'S ANCESTRAL REINTERMENT OF THIRTY-SIX INDIVIDUALS AND TO CELEBRATE AND HONOR THE LIVES OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND THE CITY OF CHARLESTON'S SHARED PAST.
TO COMMEMORATE THE GULLAH SOCIETY'S ANCESTRAL REINTERMENT OF THIRTY-SIX INDIVIDUALS AND TO CELEBRATE AND HONOR THE LIVES OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND THE CITY OF CHARLESTON'S SHARED PAST. Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are pleased to recognize the Gullah Society's historic ancestral reburial celebration, a series of events that will take place on April 27 and May 2, 4, and 5, 2019; and Whereas, the events focus on the reburial of thirty-six people of African descent that were uncovered in 2013 at the Gaillard Center near Anson Street; and Whereas, historical, archaeological, and ongoing DNA research has revealed that these women, men, and children were buried between 1750 and 1800. Some were born in Africa, while others were born in South Carolina; and Whereas, the community celebration of these individuals includes a naming ceremony by the riverside, a DNA ancestry report, ancestors' reburial, and an ecumenical service; and Whereas, the ancestors' reburial procession and ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 4, at the College of Charleston, and the procession will move toward the reinterment site near the Gaillard. Community members will have an opportunity to pay their last respects to the thirty-six individuals prior to the celebration of both these individuals and others whose graves have been lost, which will include libations, talks, dances, masquerades, and songs; and Whereas, on Sunday, May 5, the ecumenical service at St. John's Reformed Episcopal Church will remember and honor these ancestors and look to a future of greater reconciliation and truth-telling in Charleston; and Whereas, the Gullah Society is a non-profit organization that preserves, promotes, and perpetuates Gullah Geechee culture and traditions and works to develop methods that will provide Gullah Geechee people with skills in identifying and preserving sites, historical data, artifacts, and objects associated with Gullah Geechee people and culture, for the benefit and education of all; and Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are proud to honor and remember these ancestral sons and daughters of South Carolina. Now, therefore, Be it resolved by the Senate: That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, commemorate the Gullah Society's ancestral reinterment of thirty-six individuals and celebrate and honor the lives of these individuals and the City of Charleston's shared past. Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Gullah Society.
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