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TO CONGRATULATE THE REVEREND THOMAS CHARLES COPELAND "THOM" JONES OF WEST COLUMBIA ON THE OCCASION OF HIS NINETIETH BIRTHDAY AND TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR HIM FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO THE ARTS COMMUNITY OF THIS GREAT STATE AND TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA UNITED METHODIST CONFERENCE.
Whereas, born in Sumter to Officer Thomas "Snook" and Mary Drose Jones, the Reverend Thomas Charles Copeland "Thom" Jones of West Columbia came into this world on February 11, 1931; and
Whereas, having graduated from Wofford College in 1953, he was accepted to the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City, where he completed a master's degree in voice. After finishing at Juilliard, Thom went on to earn a Master of Divinity degree from Duke University and began his ministry with the South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1957; and
Whereas, in God's good time, he met and married the lovely Sue Moormann Jones, and the two have celebrated sixty years of wedded bliss together. Thom and Sue raised a family of two charming daughters and enjoy the further fun of five delightful grandchildren; and
Whereas, Reverend Jones ministered as a local pastor in Catawba, Charleston, Aiken, and the Columbia area, as well as serving as director of creative arts in worship for the United Methodist Church Worldwide Board of Discipleship, for over forty years; and
Whereas, he retired from Ashland United Methodist Church in the St. Andrews area in 2001. After his retirement, he continued to work as a chaplain at Lexington Medical Center until the COVID-19 pandemic prevented him from doing so in 2020. He recently retired from Lexington Medical Center after over thirty years of service; and
Whereas, soon after moving to Columbia, Thom Jones became involved in the area arts community. He performed with Columbia Lyric Opera and Town Theatre and was a cast member in the very first show presented by Workshop Theatre in 1967. He also has performed with Columbia College, Lexington County Arts Association, Columbia City Ballet, The Palmetto Mastersingers, and Upstage Theatre, among many other such groups. Some of his most memorable parts include the title role in Sweeney Todd and The King and I and Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly; and
Whereas, as an advocate for the arts in South Carolina, Thom has been a generous benefactor and has served in many leadership roles, including as president of Columbia Music Festival Association, president of The Palmetto Mastersingers, and board member of the University of South Carolina Dance Department; and
Whereas, may the joy and blessing Thom Jones has given others throughout his life, in both ministry to the spirit and entertainment that lifts the soul, return to him in abundance. With great pleasure, the House applauds his contributions to the betterment of this State and honors this son of South Carolina at the celebration of his ninetieth birthday. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, congratulate the Reverend Thomas Charles Copeland "Thom" Jones of West Columbia on the occasion of his ninetieth birthday and recognize and honor him for his many years of distinguished service to the arts community of this great State and to the South Carolina United Methodist Conference.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Reverend Thom Jones.
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