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TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF DR. SAMUEL ALPHINE HUNTER OF GIFFORD, FLORIDA, AND TO EXTEND THEIR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS LARGE, LOVING FAMILY, HIS MANY FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES IN THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, AND THOSE LIVES IN THE COMMUNITY HE IMPACTED IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives were saddened to learn of the death of Dr. Samuel A. Hunter, the father-in-law of our friend and colleague, the Honorable Gilda Cobb-Hunter, on April 27, 2018, just a few hours short of his ninety-second birthday; and
Whereas, born in St. Petersburg, Florida, on April 28, 1926, he was the son of Jerry Nathaniel and Viola Adell Wright Hunter, and shortly after his birth, the family moved to Tallahassee's Springfield Community where he spent his formative years attending the public schools of Leon County; and
Whereas, Samuel A. Hunter graduated from the historic Lincoln High School where he was a standout basketball player, after which he attended Florida A & M College until his studies were interrupted when he was drafted into the United States Army; and
Whereas, upon his honorable discharge from military service two years later, he returned to Tallahassee and completed his studies, earning a bachelor's degree in health and physical education from Florida A & M College. He would later earn a master's degree in supervision and administration from his alma mater and a doctorate in educational administration from Nova University; and
Whereas, on August 18, 1948, Dr. Hunter married his beloved wife, Audrey Bernice Wilson, who as a young girl in Tallahassee had been a student in his mother's third-grade class. While he taught high school and coached baseball, basketball, and assisted with football, they reared five fine children together: Leewine, Tyranny, Terry, Vittoro, and Jolillian. These children blessed him with five adoring grandchildren: Travis, Imari, Tremayne, Tamara, and Langston, as well as three great-grandchildren: Kevin, Kaylea, and Kami; and
Whereas, as a tribute to his excellence as a teacher, he was selected by the Leon County Teachers Association as Teacher of the Year, and he served as principal of Rainey Elementary School in Leon County, Florida; and
Whereas, when Dr. Hunter was tapped in the summer of 1965 to serve as the principal at Gifford High School, he moved his young family to Gifford and began a four-year tenure of excellence until the school closed in 1969; and
Whereas, at that time, he became assistant superintendent for research and evaluation, chief negotiator, and director of employee relations for the Indian River County School District, retiring in 1986, after thirty-seven years as an educator in Florida; and
Whereas, having given his life to Christ at an early age, Dr. Hunter devoted energy and passion to the lay organization of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. When the family relocated to Gifford, they joined New Bethel AME Church where he faithfully served in a number of leadership positions; and
Whereas, he served as the International Church School Episcopal and Conference Level Superintendent and authored the Lay Benediction, which is the Sunday school creed, and the Commissioners Process of the Lay Organization and Missionaries. His extensive work as a layman was honored when he was elected Layman of the Year during the 1995 Connectional Lay Convention in Kansas City, Kansas; and
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are grateful for the life and legacy of Dr. Samuel A. Hunter and for the example of excellence and kindness 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 Dr. Samuel Alphine Hunter of Gifford, Florida, and extend their deepest sympathy to his large, loving family, his many friends and colleagues in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and those lives in the community he impacted in the State of Florida and across the country.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Dr. Samuel Alphine Hunter.
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