S*1048 Resolution, By Washington
 A SENATE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE MRS. ELIZABETH RIVERS SIMMONS OF JOHNS
 ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, ON THE OCCASION OF HER ONE HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY ON
 FEBRUARY 23, 1998, AND TO SHARE IN THE CELEBRATION OF HER LIFE AND THE HISTORY
 SHE HAS LIVED.

   02/19/98  Senate Adopted SJ-1

A SENATE RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE MRS. ELIZABETH RIVERS SIMMONS OF JOHNS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, ON THE OCCASION OF HER ONE HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY ON FEBRUARY 23, 1998, AND TO SHARE IN THE CELEBRATION OF HER LIFE AND THE HISTORY SHE HAS LIVED.

Whereas, Mrs. Elizabeth Rivers Simmons was born on February 23, 1898, on Johns Island, South Carolina, a daughter of the late James and Ellen Rivers; and

Whereas, in 1917, she was married to Joseph Simmons, who died at the age of eighty-eight; and

Whereas, they were the loving parents of eleven children, three of whom are still living and continue to cherish her life and love: Mrs. Ethel Boyd of Johns Island, who cares for Mrs. Simmons daily; Mrs. Netha Gibson of Mt. Vernon, New York; and Ms. Eleanor Holmes of Bronx, New York; and

Whereas, her family also includes two brothers and a sister, the Reverend James Rivers, Jr., Mr. William Rivers, and Mrs. Evelyn Brown; and

Whereas, this loving mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, and friend is an eighty-four year member of Wesley United Methodist Church on Johns Island, having served faithfully since 1914 in many areas, including as a member of the choir and as President of United Methodist Women; and

Whereas, Mrs. Simmons also has served as a vital member of a community group that fashioned quilts and put up canned vegetables, jams, jellies, and preserves; and

Whereas, she continues to enjoy quilting when she is not tuned into her daily helping of soap operas; and

Whereas, her long and full life is a patchwork of history itself, creating a colorful and eventful quilt of memories for Mrs. Simmons: American participation in the Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam and Gulf Wars; the attainment of Civil Rights for African-Americans after the oppression and injustices following Reconstruction; experiencing the administrations of every President since Grover Cleveland; winning the right of women's suffrage; and witnessing amazing changes in education, transportation, medicine, and science; and

Whereas, the South Carolina Senate shares in the celebration of the life and history of Mrs. Simmons. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate recognize Mrs. Elizabeth Rivers Simmons of Johns Island, South Carolina, on the occasion of her one hundredth birthday on February 23, 1998, and share in the celebration of her life and the history she has lived.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mrs. Simmons.