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TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF JUANITA WILLMON GOGGINS, THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN TO SERVE IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND TO REMEMBER HER EFFECTIVE DETERMINATION AS SHE ADVOCATED FOR THE NEEDS OF OTHERS IN THE PALMETTO STATE.
Whereas, it is altogether fitting that the South Carolina House of Representatives should pause in its deliberation to acknowledge Juanita Willmon Goggins, the first African-American woman to be elected to serve in the South Carolina General Assembly; and
Whereas, born in Pendleton on May 11, 1934, to parents who instilled in her their Christian values of hard work and the reward of work well done, Juanita used those ideals as she prepared for a life of service to others and graduated from the Anderson County Training School; and
Whereas, she earned a bachelor's degree in home-economics education from South Carolina State University in 1957 and continued her education at the University of South Carolina and Winthrop University. She taught in the public elementary schools in York, Chester, and Fairfield counties; and
Whereas, in 1974, just four years after the first Afican-American men were elected to the South Carolina Legislature since Reconstruction, Ms. Goggins became the first African-American woman ever to be elected to the South Carolina General Assembly where she served on the House Ways and Means Committee; and
Whereas, that same year, she became the first African-American woman honored with an appointment to serve on the United States Civil Rights Commission; and
Whereas, during the six years that Ms. Goggins represented the citizens of York County's District 49 in the state legislature, she used her influence to improve public health facilities in the State, introducing and championing legislation to require the availability of sickle cell anemia testing in all county health departments; and
Whereas, she maintained a lifelong emphasis on the importance of education, authoring the original South Carolina kindergarten legislation which emphasized the urgency of early education. The state's entire early childhood education grew from her initiative; and
Whereas, twice a guest of President Jimmy Carter at the White House, Ms. Goggins was the first African-American woman to be elected National Committeewoman for a major political party in South Carolina; and
Whereas, after spending her lifetime working to advocate for others while inspiring many to follow in her footsteps, Juanita Willmon Goggins passed away in February 2010. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the significant accomplishments of Juanita Willmon Goggins, the first African-American woman to serve in the South Carolina General Assembly, and remember her effective determination as she advocated for the needs of others in the Palmetto State.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Juanita Willmon Goggins.
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