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TO EXPRESS THE CONGRATULATIONS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO MRS. CHRISTINE JOHNSON OF AIKEN COUNTY ON THE OCCASION OF HER ONE HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY ON JUNE 10, 2003, AND TO WISH HER MANY MORE YEARS OF HAPPINESS.
Whereas, Mrs. Christine Johnson of Aiken County was born on June 10, 1903, in Holly Grove, Arkansas, to the late Golphin and Mahala Scott Chavous, and she was the oldest of ten children; and
Whereas, the family stayed in Arkansas for a short time only before they settled in Aiken County, where Mrs. Johnson was raised; and
Whereas, she attended Storm Branch Academy, walking several miles to school every day because the county did not provide transportation for African-Americans during that time; and
Whereas, after the sixth grade, she felt compelled to withdraw from school and help take care of her family, cooking and cleaning for her siblings and parents and becoming educated in domestic skills; and
Whereas, she moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of 19, to seek employment and experienced difficulty trying to find work in the city; and
Whereas, when she moved, her long-time boyfriend followed her and attempted to find a job in Philadelphia. They both eventually found work, and the couple was married on February 7, 1923; and
Whereas, Mrs. Johnson is the mother of five: Miriam Johnson Wright, born in Philadelphia; Nondrus Johnson, Jr., born in Philadelphia and died eighteen months later from pneumonia; Emerson Johnson, born in White Plains, New York; Amy Johnson McLester, born in Aiken; and Christopher Johnson, born in Aiken; and
Whereas, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson moved back to Aiken to farm and to raise their children, instilling in those children the same values that they had learned growing up in South Carolina; and
Whereas, upon returning to the area, Mrs. Johnson worked for several wealthy families in Aiken as a cook during the winter and early spring months, and during the summer and fall, she would help with her family's farm; and
Whereas, Mrs. Johnson is a devoted member of the St. Mark Baptist Church and is a very committed Christian woman who shares her beliefs and faith with her community; and
Whereas, the members of the General Assembly are pleased to be able to recognize such an outstanding South Carolinian on her one hundredth birthday. 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, express their congratulations to Mrs. Christine Johnson of Aiken County on the occasion of her one hundredth birthday on June 10, 2003, and wish her many more years of happiness.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mrs. Christine Johnson of Aiken County.
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