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TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR MR. LURIE FOSTER FOR HIS DEDICATION TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND FOR HIS FIFTY-ONE YEARS OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE AS THE SANTA CLAUS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH.
Whereas, the members of the General Assembly of South Carolina recognize that volunteer work in any area is especially important and vital to those citizens who may be in need; and
Whereas, Mr. Lurie Foster has devoted his life to volunteering for Crafts-Farrow State Hospital and to being an advocate for mental health patients in South Carolina for the past fifty-five years; and
Whereas, born in Richland County, Mr. Foster married the former Ms. Anna Foster and they have three children, Ms. Anna L. Coleman, Mr. Lurie Foster, Jr., and the late Ms. Lillie Mae Wylie; and
Whereas, when Mr. Foster began volunteering for the mentally ill in 1948, there was a stigma attached to mental illness that came from a fear of the unknown and a set of false beliefs that stemmed from a lack of awareness and understanding; and
Whereas, recognizing that these misguided beliefs existed, Mr. Foster faced the stigma head-on and was instrumental in dispelling some of the false beliefs, stereotyping, and discrimination against people who have been treated or hospitalized in a mental institution; and
Whereas, during his early days as a Transportation Services employee, Mr. Foster observed the isolation of many mentally ill patients and decided to take action to create a community and an environment which fostered love and understanding; and
Whereas, when Mr. Foster started volunteering for Crafts-Farrow State Hospital, there was no Volunteer Service program in place and he became the hospital's first volunteer; and
Whereas, Mr. Foster organized dances for the patients at Crafts-Farrow State Hospital and every Wednesday night for nine years, he would personally rent at his own expense a jukebox for the dances; and
Whereas, in addition to organizing the Wednesday night dances, Mr. Foster also assembled a quartet to sing in the auditorium to the patients on Sunday afternoon for spiritual enrichment; and
Whereas, even after retiring in 1981, Mr. Foster has continued to volunteer as the Santa Claus for the Department of Mental Health and spends Christmas Day delivering gifts and greeting each of the patients; and
Whereas, as Santa Claus, Mr. Foster is able to spend time with the patients who either have no family or no one to visit them during the holidays, and most patients know Mr. Foster because of his role as Santa Claus; and
Whereas, Mr. Foster has also volunteered as a van driver for the Mental Health Association in Mid-Carolina, along with Crafts-Farrow State Hospital, and he also took Community Boarding Home residents to physician appointments, shopping, and furnished other transportation needs; and
Whereas, although he has a special affinity for mentally ill persons, Mr. Foster does not limit his volunteer work to those individuals as he is also an active member of Zion Canaan Baptist Church, is currently President of the Senior Usher Board, a position he has held for the past thirty-five years, and was ordained a Deacon in 1982; and
Whereas, not only is Mr. Foster a pillar of the community, he has been recognized for his service, receiving the 1983 Volunteer of the Midlands award, the Crafts-Farrow Volunteer of the Year and the South Carolina Department of Mental Health Volunteer of the Year in 1985, and the coveted Jefferson Award, which he received in 1993; and
Whereas, Mr. Foster's kindness, congeniality, and understanding ways have endeared him to both residents and staff of the Crafts-Farrow State Hospital and his commitment and devotion to the mentally ill of South Carolina is unparalleled; and
Whereas, the General Assembly of South Carolina believes that Mr. Lurie Foster epitomizes the spirit of volunteerism, and compassion and the Palmetto State is extremely fortunate to have this outstanding man in its midst; and
Whereas, Mr. Lurie Foster is the definition of kindness and his dedication, love, and devotion have touched the lives of countless individuals across the Midlands and, indeed, the State of South Carolina. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, recognize and honor Mr. Lurie Foster for his dedication to the South Carolina Department of Mental Health and for his fifty-one years of continuous service as the Santa Claus for the Department of Mental Health.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mr. Lurie Foster.
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