H*4294 Concurrent Resolution, By G. Brown
 RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING REVEREND WILLIE LAWSON OF SUMTER COUNTY FOR HIS
 OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS AND SERVICE TO HIS COMMUNITY.

   06/04/97  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-151
   06/05/97  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-10

RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING REVEREND WILLIE LAWSON OF SUMTER COUNTY FOR HIS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS AND SERVICE TO HIS COMMUNITY.

Whereas, the Reverend Willie Lawson of Sumter County is a native of Milledgeville, Georgia, and served in the United States Army after graduating from high school; he served six years of active service and received his first discharge from the Army in 1967, after serving two tours in Germany and one in South Korea and serving at Fort Bragg, North Carolina with the Eighteenth Airborne Corps; and

Whereas, during the break in his military service, Reverend Lawson attended Northern Virginia Community College in Fairfax, Virginia, Montgomery Junior College in Rockville, Maryland, and the School of Hospital Dietary Specialist at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, where he reentered the Army; Reverend Lawson did further studies for Technical/Instructors off-campus at Clemson University for teacher certification; he attended the University of Southern Mississippi for advanced noncommissioned officers' training; he also attended the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy for training as a supervisor of food services with the South Carolina Department of Corrections; he graduated from Duke University School of Divinity for the Ministerial Course of Study in 1993; recently he completed eight hundred hours of Clinical Pastoral Education through Baptist Healthcare Medical Center at Tuomey Regional Medical Center in Sumter, part of the sixteen hundred hours required for certification as a Clinical Chaplain, and Central Carolina Technical College; and

Whereas, while in the military service of his country, Reverend Lawson received many awards and citations for outstanding service and retired with twenty-six years of combined service; and

Whereas, he taught Occupational Food Service at the Sumter County Career Center for six years and served on the Board of Directors of FHA/HERO; and

Whereas, he is married to the former Margaret Spencer, and they have two children, Timothy, a graduate of the University of South Carolina, and Joy, a junior at Sumter Catholic High School; and

Whereas, Reverend Lawson also authored his own cookbook, Sharing Our Blessings, and he currently serves as the Pastor of the Oswego Circuit of the United Methodist Church, Clark, Mount Moriah, and St. Mark Mayesville, and has served this circuit for two years; he has also served on the Board of Directors for High Water Company for twelve years; and

Whereas, he is a dynamic, caring individual who works unceasingly for the welfare of others and the betterment of the community, and we are pleased to have this opportunity to recognize such an outstanding gentleman. Now, therefore,

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

That the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, recognizes and commends Reverend Willie Lawson of Sumter County for his outstanding contributions and service to his community.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Reverend Lawson.