South Carolina General Assembly
117th Session, 2007-2008
H. 4026
STATUS INFORMATION
Concurrent Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Jefferson, Williams, Agnew, Alexander, Allen, Anderson, Anthony, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Battle, Bedingfield, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Brady, Branham, Brantley, Breeland, G.Brown, R.Brown, Cato, Ceips, Chalk, Chellis, Clemmons, Clyburn, CobbHunter, Coleman, Cooper, Cotty, Crawford, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Duncan, Edge, Frye, Funderburk, Gambrell, Govan, Gullick, Hagood, Haley, Hamilton, Hardwick, Harrell, Harrison, Hart, Harvin, Haskins, Hayes, Herbkersman, Hinson, Hiott, Hodges, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jennings, Kelly, Kennedy, Kirsh, Knight, Leach, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Loftis, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, Mahaffey, McLeod, Merrill, Miller, Mitchell, MoodyLawrence, Moss, Mulvaney, J.H.Neal, J.M.Neal, Neilson, Ott, Owens, Parks, Perry, Phillips, Pinson, E.H.Pitts, M.A.Pitts, Rice, Rutherford, Sandifer, Scarborough, Scott, Sellers, Shoopman, Simrill, Skelton, D.C.Smith, F.N.Smith, G.M.Smith, G.R.Smith, J.E.Smith, J.R.Smith, W.D.Smith, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stewart, Talley, Taylor, Thompson, Toole, Umphlett, Vick, Viers, Walker, Weeks, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Witherspoon and Young
Document Path: l:\council\bills\bbm\10026htc07.doc
Introduced in the House on May 2, 2007
Introduced in the Senate on May 2, 2007
Adopted by the General Assembly on May 2, 2007
Summary: Martha Ann Middleton Prioleau Simmons
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
DateBodyAction Description with journal page number
5/2/2007HouseIntroduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ68
5/2/2007SenateIntroduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ12
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
5/2/2007
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO THE FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS OF THE LATE MARTHA ANN MIDDLETON PRIOLEAU SIMMONS OF PINEVILLE IN BERKELEY COUNTY.
Whereas, the members of the General Assembly were saddened to note the passing on October 22, 2006, of Martha Ann Middleton Prioleau Simmons of Pineville, in Berkeley County; and
Whereas, Martha Ann Middleton Prioleau Simmons, born March 13, 1913, was the seventh child of Artopee Middleton and Celia Mariah Lloyd Middleton and was the last surviving offspring of ten daughters born to this union; and
Whereas, she began her formal education in the public schools of Berkeley County by attending Crawl Creek School and Mall School, now known as J. K. Gourdin, continuing on to Avery Institute in Charleston, Voorhees College, and South Carolina State College; and
Whereas, she started and taught “The OneRoom Classroom” elementary school in the Judgetown section of Pineville; and
Whereas, she was a communicate member of Redeemer Reformed Episcopal Church in Pineville, singing in the Youth Choir and later the Adult Choir, and ultimately the Senior Choir, serving also as church secretary to the Vestry, teaching the Cradle Roll Sunday School Class, working with the Women of the Church Auxiliary, serving as chairperson of many programs sponsored by the church, and representing the church as a delegate at denomination convocations; and
Whereas, while attending college she worked at the cigar factory and as a welder at the Naval Shipyard in Charleston. She also worked with North Carolina Mutual Insurance Company for nearly twenty years and she later drove school buses for the Berkeley County School System, while serving as a librarian at St. Stephen High School; and
Whereas, Ms. Simmons was the last surviving charter (founding) member of St. John Chapter #213, Order of the Eastern Star, Pineville Chapter, and served as its first Worthy Matron; and
Whereas, in 1940, she married Elijah Prioleau, and this union was blessed with three children. After her husband’s death in 1963, she continued to manage and operate the family grocery store in Pineville. In 1964, she began operating a daycare center in the back of the store and notably, eighty percent of those students went on to become college graduates; and
Whereas, in 1965, she married George Simmons, who also preceded her in death. This union was blessed with two daughters; and
Whereas, she was a pioneer of her time; active in civil rights causes, believing in justice and equal treatment for all mankind and working toward wiping out discrimination and prejudices in our society. She was not afraid to venture into unchartered territory acting to facilitate in voter registration efforts and rural healthcare; and
Whereas, during the summers of 1974 and 1975, she pioneered a summer youth work program in which she offered employment opportunities to teens at her daycare center, which ultimately became known as the Berkeley County Citizens’ Day Care Center, and managing and operating the center until the onset of declining health; and
Whereas, she was a woman of strong Christian faith, continually trusting and believing that God would always make a way. And it became known to all who knew her that Psalm 37 was her favorite book in the Holy Bible, and the 25th verse was her favorite; and
Whereas, it is appropriate for the members of the General Assembly to pause in their deliberations so that they might honor the memory of such a great a daughter of South Carolina. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly, by this resolution, express their sympathy to the family and many friends of the late Martha Ann Middleton Prioleau Simmons of Pineville in Berkeley County.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the beloved children of Martha Ann Middleton Prioleau Simmons, Jerrous “Jerry” Prioleau, Derrous “Dee” P. Cameron, Patricia M. (L.C.) Sanders, Oswald Reginald “Reggie” (Mildred) Prioleau, and Coretta Simmons.
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