A concurrent RESOLUTION

 

TO REQUEST THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE BRIDGE ON SOUTH HARPER EXTENSION THAT CROSSES OVER THE SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY 127 BYPASS IN LAURENS COUNTY "REVEREND DR.  JEFFERSON N. MCDOWELL MEMORIAL BRIDGE" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE SIGNS OR MARKERS AT THIS LOCATION CONTAINING THESE WORDS.

 

Whereas, Jefferson N. McDowell born Sept. 2, 1953, to Jeff and Maude McDowell in the Red Town Community of Enoree. At the age of 12 the family moved to Laurens where he graduated from Laurens High School. He spent two years in the United States Army, returned home and attended Greenwood Technical College. While employed with the South Carolina Department of Corrections, he studied and received an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Spirit of Truth Institute in 2001. In 2005, he earned a ministerial certificate from Morris College; and

 

Whereas, Dr. McDowell spent fifteen years in service to God as pastor of Wyatt Chapel in Union. McDowell was installed as the twenty-third pastor of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church on February 12, 2006. He immediately set about doing God's work by establishing new ministries and committees to better serve the needs of the church and the community. Ministries included a preaching staff, marriage, fitness, media, transportation, and greeters, with each ministry playing an integral role. A grant-seeking and grant-writing committee was established to explore opportunities for the church. He also established a bus committee to generate funds to purchase a new church bus. A free Summer Enrichment Program provides a safe and nurturing environment for community youth; and

 

Whereas, beside him, as he carried out his life's work, was his beloved wife, Dorothy Harper McDowell, whom he married in 1976. Together they were the parents of three children - Latrise, Lanise, and Nekia, who blessed them with the affections of three grandchildren; and

 

Whereas, on February 24, 2011, Dr. John T. Berry Sr., and the Church and Community Human Relations of the Upstate honored Dr. McDowell as an "Unsung Hero," citing his excellence in leadership, commitment, dedication, inherent dignity, untiring labor, and unique perspectives in making a difference in bringing about a beacon light of hope, love, opportunities, and perseverance to activate and promote goodwill and a better quality of life for all people; and

 

Whereas, Dr. McDowell received the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award from the Laurens County NAACP in 2020 for bringing about constructive change in the community. He also was a member of the Laurens County Ministerial Alliance where he served four years as president; and

 

Whereas, following a life well spent devoted to God, his family, and the community, Reverend Dr. Jefferson N. McDowell passed away December 4, 2021; and

 

Whereas, it is only fitting and proper that Reverend Dr. Jefferson N. McDowell, a native son of the Palmetto State who spent his life making conditions better for the people he served, is honored with a bridge in Laurens County named in his memory. Now, therefore,

 

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

 

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, request the Department of Transportation name the bridge on South Harper Extension that crosses over the South Carolina Highway 127 Bypass in Laurens County "Reverend Dr. Jefferson McDowell Memorial Bridge" and erect appropriate signs or markers at this location containing these words.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Department of Transportation.

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