A concurrent RESOLUTION

 

TO EXPRESS PROFOUND SORROW UPON THE PASSING OF DIANA MATTHEWS FLOYD, TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS, AND TO COMMEND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DIANA M. FLOYD SCHOLARSHIP FUND.

 

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Diana Matthews Floyd on November 2, 2024; and

 

Whereas, Mrs. Floyd was born in Kingstree on March 27, 1963, to parents Harry Milton Matthews and Kay Huggins Matthews. She was raised in Florence and received her BSN from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston; and

 

Whereas, a healthcare professional, Mrs. Floyd worked in intensive care units for newborns and children and ultimately became the Director of Women's Services of Aiken Regional Medical Center; and

 

Whereas, Mrs. Floyd's nursing career brought her to Hitchcock Healthcare as the Director of Pediatric Rehabilitation Therapy. She devoted her energy to caring for children, and her efforts included working with local schools to mainstream students with special needs into general education classrooms; introducing a sensory integration treatment room for children with autism spectrum disorder; and advocating for better funding and resource availability for pediatric therapy; and

 

Whereas, after moving on from her full-time healthcare career, Mrs. Floyd invested her time in Aiken community development and in her local business. She also worked as a pediatric nurse at Southside Pediatrics; and

 

Whereas, Mrs. Floyd's greatest impact on Aiken County was significant. In 2014, she led the grassroots campaign to approve the implementation of the one-cent sales tax to fund local public school infrastructure projects. This approval resulted in millions of dollars of capital infrastructure improvements to transform many schools in the Aiken County School District; and

 

Whereas, over the years, Mrs. Floyd received a number of honors and awards, including the Woman of the Year award in 2014 by the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce; and

 

Whereas, in her free time, she enjoyed spending time with her family, tending to her garden, fostering puppies, and tailgating at Clemson football games; and

 

Whereas, in Mrs. Floyd's honor, every year beginning with 2025, a graduating senior from each of the public high schools in Aiken County will be awarded a scholarship. The selected seniors will be students who have shown determination to pursue a degree in the medical field and who display the character and determination embodied by Mrs. Floyd and her great impact; and

 

Whereas, Mrs. Floyd has been and will continue to be greatly missed. Her legacy lives on in her impact on Aiken County, in the lives of those she served through her career in healthcare, and in the scholarship that will enable and embolden future healthcare professionals.  Now, therefore,

 

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

 

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, express profound sorrow upon the passing of Diana Matthews Floyd, extend the deepest sympathy to her family and many friends, and commend the establishment of the Diana M. Floyd Scholarship fund.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Diana Matthews Floyd.

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