H*4338 Concurrent Resolution, By Breeland
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO COMMEND THE STRONG FAMILY UPON THE OCCASION OF ITS
 THIRTY-SEVENTH REUNION TO BE HELD IN CHARLESTON AND TO PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF
 AUGUST 18-24, 1997, AS THE STRONG FAMILY REUNION WEEK IN CHARLESTON.

   06/17/97  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-90
   06/17/97  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-15

TO COMMEND THE STRONG FAMILY UPON THE OCCASION OF ITS THIRTY-SEVENTH REUNION TO BE HELD IN CHARLESTON AND TO PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF AUGUST 18 - 24, 1997, AS THE STRONG FAMILY REUNION WEEK IN CHARLESTON.

Whereas, a black woman born around 1812 in Guinea, West Africa, was captured as a slave and brought to this country; and

Whereas, this short and dark-skinned woman was escorted into the bottom of a ship, filled with other Africans, transported from her homeland, and docked at the port of Charleston, South Carolina; and

Whereas, this beautiful black woman was sold at the slave market to a German plantation owner named Strong. There her name was changed to Rebecca, but she was commonly called "Ginny woman"; and

Whereas, Rebecca bore many children, three of her children were Mary, Eli, and Taylor Strong. At some point in their life, they moved to Grifton, North Carolina; and

Whereas, Mary Strong, Rebecca's daughter, had two sons, Herbert and Willie, who matured into industrious and strong men; and

Whereas, Willie Strong was born December 7, 1874, in Hookerton, North Carolina, married Cora Carman, and they had ten children. Addie Cora Strong was their tenth child; and

Whereas, Addie C. Strong-Dixon had a vision that it was vital that the Strong Family generations continue to nurture a "Strong" bond of love and support. Therefore, she hosted the first Strong Family Reunion on August 20, 1960; and

Whereas, the family continues to honor the presence of Johnnie Mae Strong-Olds and Ponce DeLeon Strong and remembers the life and legacy of their departed loved ones; and

Whereas, this year the Strong Family will hold its thirty-seventh reunion in Charleston with many featured activities including a dinner cruise, an Afro-American historical tour, and a prayer breakfast. Now, therefore,

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

That the members of the General Assembly hereby commend the Strong Family upon the occasion of its thirty-seventh reunion to be held in Charleston and proclaim the week of August 18-24, 1997, as the Strong Family reunion week in Charleston.

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

Mr. James T. Dixon, as a representative of the Strong Family.