H*4694 Concurrent Resolution, By T.F. Rogers, J. Brown, A.W. Byrd, R.S. Corning, 
J.L.M. Cromer, Harrison, Quinn, Scott, J.S. Shissias, L.S. Taylor and 
C.Y. Waites
 A Concurrent Resolution to express the deep sorrow of the members of the
 General Assembly to the family and friends of Modjeska Monteith Simkins, the
 matriarch of civil rights activists in this State for four decade, who died
 Sunday, April 5, 1992.

   04/08/92  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-4
   04/08/92  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-2

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO EXPRESS THE DEEP SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF MODJESKA MONTEITH SIMKINS, THE MATRIARCH OF CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS IN THIS STATE FOR FOUR DECADES, WHO DIED SUNDAY, APRIL 5, 1992.

Whereas, it is with much sadness that the members of the General Assembly learned of the death on Sunday, April 5, 1992, of Modjeska Monteith Simkins; and

Whereas, this fearless outspoken champion of the oppressed was an original organizer of the state chapter of the NAACP; and

Whereas, she was one of the architects of the Clarendon County desegregation case that became part of the United States Supreme Court's historic decision, Brown v. Board of Education in 1954; and

Whereas, in the words of United States District Judge Matthew J. Perry ". . . she probably will be remembered as a woman who challenged everyone."; and

Whereas, she was a powerful force for equality and served as an inspiration to all who came to know her; and

Whereas, her entire life was spent focusing on the liberation of people from the oppression of segregation, poverty, illiteracy, and disenfranchisement; and

Whereas, Mrs. Simkins, acting as a warrior not only in Columbia and on the state level, linked her reform movements to the national and regional levels; and

Whereas, the granddaughter of a slave, she was born in Columbia, December 5, 1899, and was graduated from Benedict College in 1921; and

Whereas, her long career as an activist began to congeal in the late 1930's when she became involved with a number of civil rights and service groups, among them the Civil Rights Congress, the United Negro and Allied Veterans of America, and the Southern Reform Council, a male dominated organization that paved the way for voter education in the 1960's; and

Whereas, of the many causes Modjeska Simkins championed, medical and mental health care for the underprivileged got much of her attention; and

Whereas, it is with great sadness we turn a page in the history of our State in witnessing the passing of this great humanitarian who leaves a legacy of civil rights victories which will not be equaled in the near future. Now, therefore,

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

That the members of the General Assembly wish to express their deep sorrow to the family and friends of Modjeska Monteith Simkins, the matriarch of civil rights activists in this State for four decades, who died Sunday, April 5, 1992.