S*0450 Concurrent Resolution, By Jackson
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES OF THE
 MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO REVEREND DOCTOR WESTBERRY HOMER NEAL,
 PASTOR OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST CHURCH IN THE TOWN OF HOPKINS IN RICHLAND COUNTY,
 ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AND WISHING HIM MANY YEARS OF GOOD HEALTH
 AND HAPPINESS AND CONTINUED SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF HIS COMMUNITY AND OUR
 STATE.

   03/14/01  Senate Introduced, adopted, sent to House SJ-11
   03/14/01  House  Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence HJ-4

EXPRESSING THE CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO REVEREND DOCTOR WESTBERRY HOMER NEAL, PASTOR OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST CHURCH IN THE TOWN OF HOPKINS IN RICHLAND COUNTY, ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AND WISHING HIM MANY YEARS OF GOOD HEALTH AND HAPPINESS AND CONTINUED SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF HIS COMMUNITY AND OUR STATE.

Whereas, the members of the General Assembly note that Reverend Doctor Westberry Homer Neal, Pastor of St. John Baptist Church in the Town of Hopkins in Richland County, is retiring after a long and distinguished career in Christian ministry; and

Whereas, a native of the Town of Hopkins, he is the eighth child in a family of sixteen children born to Jessie and Minnie Holley Neal; and

Whereas, Dr. Neal received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1935 and a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1956 from Morris College, and completed additional studies at Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary in New York City. In recognition of his achievements, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by Morris College in 1959; and

Whereas, for thirty-seven years he taught in our state's public school system; and

Whereas, during his ministerial career, Dr. Neal pastored Beulah Baptist Church for twenty-two years, Mt. Moriah Baptist Church for forty years, First Nazareth Baptist Church for forty years, Mt. Zion Baptist Church for four years, Weeping Mary Baptist Church for four years, and St. John Baptist Church for more than fifty-seven years; and

Whereas, he has distinguished himself as a member of the Board of Trustees of Morris College for fifty years - thirty-five of those years as chairman, which makes him the longest serving chairman of a board of trustees of any institution of higher learning in this nation; and

Whereas, Dr. Neal served as interim President of Morris College from 1970 to 1971 and from 1973 to 1974; and

Whereas, on July 1, 1985, Dr. Neal was named Chairman Emeritus of the Morris College Board of Trustees, and chairs the College's honorary degree selection committee; and

Whereas, he served as a member of the Foreign Mission Board of the National Baptist Convention of America for fifty-two years, state representative to the Foreign Mission Board for fourteen years, member of the advisory committee for continuing education at the University of South Carolina, Vice-Chairman of the Respite House, and a member of the Department of Social Services Board of Richland County for eight years; and

Whereas, Dr. Neal serves as Pastor Emeritus of Beulah Baptist Church, Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, First Nazareth Baptist Church, and St. John Baptist Church, is Moderator of the Gethsemane Baptist Association, and Clerk of the Wateree Association, Upper Division; and

Whereas, he is a Mason, member of the United Order of Odd Fellows, Elks, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and author of the play Physical Fitness; and

Whereas, Dr. Neal is married to the former Audrey Potts of the City of Sumter, and together they are the proud parents of two children; and

Whereas, it is appropriate for the members of the General Assembly to pause in their deliberations to congratulate this distinguished son of South Carolina on the occasion of his retirement and to express their appreciation for his work in the field of education and spreading the gospel. 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 express congratulations and best wishes to Reverend Doctor Westberry Homer Neal, Pastor of St. John Baptist Church in the Town of Hopkins, on the occasion of his retirement and wish him many years of good health and happiness and continued service to the citizens of his community and our State.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Reverend Doctor Westberry Homer Neal.