A house RESOLUTION

 

TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF REVEREND DR. ELIJAH WASHINGTON SR. OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL CHIEF OF STAFF AND FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN OB/GYN IN THE LOWCOUNTRY, TO HONOR HIS COMMITMENT TO HEALTH AND FAITH, AND TO EXTEND DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS LOVING FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.

 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives was saddened to learn of the death of Reverend Dr. Elijah Washington Sr. at the age of eighty-three on August 15, 2025. Born in Sheldon on March 25, 1942, he was the son of the late Paul and Maria Washington and received his early education from Sheldon and Dale Elementary schools. He graduated from Robert Smalls High School in Beaufort and earned a bachelor's degree from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, a Doctor of Medicine from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, and a Doctor of Ministry from Bethany Theological Seminary in Dothan, Alabama; and

 

Whereas, after serving honorably in the United States Navy, he was discharged with a permanent rank of Lieutenant Commander. His career with Beaufort Jasper Comprehensive Health Services (BJCHS), Inc., began in March 1971, and in July the same year, he was granted leave to pursue independent study of sickle cell anemia and further his medical education. He received specialty training at the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark, New Jersey; and

 

Whereas, because of the services Dr. Washington rendered, BJCHS has named the period of March 1971 through July 1983 as "The Elijah Washington Era," which is one of the most notable segments of its rich history. He was the only OB/GYN working with BJCHS from 1975 to 1983. During his extensive career with BJCHS, he also held the position of medical director. He opened a private OB/GYN practice from July 1983 to December 1995, which became part of the BJCHS family in January 1996; thus, he started his career and ended his practice with BJCHS; and

 

Whereas, Dr. Washington joined the medical staff at Beaufort Memorial Hospital in 1971. He served as chief of staff and chair of the Department of OB/GYN, the first African American chief of staff and the first African American OB/GYN in the Lowcountry. He was named Physician of the Year by the South Carolina Primary Care Association in 1998. He was honored with the Beaufort Memorial Hospital Distinguished Physician award in 2005, an award that recognizes physicians whose service and leadership bring honor to their profession, Beaufort Memorial Hospital, and the community; and

 

Whereas, Dr. Washington was so well respected that the Sheldon Health Center was renamed the Elijah Washington Medical Center in his honor in 1980. He was a member of such professional organizations as the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, S.C. OB/GYN Society, S.C. Medical Association, Southern Medical Association, National Medical Association, and American Medical Association. He was a fellow in the American College of OB/GYN. He coauthored several articles for the Journal of Medical Society of New Jersey and Obstetrics and Gynecology; and

 

Whereas, Reverend Washington, pastor emeritus of the First African Baptist Church of St. Helena Island, was a member of Old Ashley Baptist Association and Beaufort County Ministerial Alliance. He was Camp 21 commander of the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War and a member of Grand Army of the Republic Hall and of Omega Alpha Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.; and

 

Whereas, he and his beloved wife, Joyce E. Brown Washington, were married for thirty-three years. He reared six fine children: the late Titus Washington and Ayesha Fatima Washington, Franz Vergil Washington, Ahmad Shariyf Washington, Elijah Washington Jr., and Jordan Ethan Washington. His children blessed him with the affection of loving grandchildren: Titus Wesley Washington, Hasheem Anwar Washington, Jalen Samuel Washington, and Kennedy Rose-Marie Washington. Ivy M. Carter, his cherished stepdaughter, added to that blessing with a step-granddaughter, JaeLynn Carter; and

 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is grateful for the life and legacy of Elijah Washington and for the example of service and devotion he set for all who knew him. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, express their profound sorrow upon the passing of Reverend Dr. Elijah Washington Sr. of Beaufort County, the first African American Beaufort Memorial Hospital chief of staff and the first African American OB/GYN in the Lowcountry, honor his commitment to health and faith, and extend deepest sympathy to his loving family and many friends.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Reverend Dr. Elijah Washington Sr.

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