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TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR MAGGIE J. JAMES FOR HER TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF DEDICATED AND OUTSTANDING SERVICE ON THE CHESTER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
Whereas, for a quarter century, the Chester County School District Board of Trustees has enjoyed the benefit of the dedication, experience, and leadership of Maggie J. James, who presently serves as board chair; and
Whereas, Mrs. James enjoys the distinction of being the first African-American woman to serve on the board and is the longest serving such member. Further, she is the first African-American woman to serve as board chair and the second African-American in nearly forty-five years to hold this title; and
Whereas, a native of Chester, Maggie J. James is the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Amos Feaster and Mr. Alexander Jones. She and her husband of forty-eight years, Robert Kenneth James, Sr., are the proud parents of three adult children, Carmen, Robert, and Alexander, as well as the delighted grandparents of ten and the joyful great-grandparents of the youngest member of the family; and
Whereas, Mrs. James was one of several African-American students in Chester to integrate the public schools of Chester County in 1965 when she attended eighth grade at Brockman Junior High School. In 1970, she graduated from Chester Senior High School, next furthering her education at York Technical College, from which she graduated in the General Business Management Program. Mrs. James has had extensive training through the Clemson Palmetto Leadership Program, Clemson Administrative Training, and South Carolina School Boardsmanship Institute; and
Whereas, this woman of faith is an active member of the Metropolitan AME Zion Church, where she serves as a steward, Sunday School superintendent, and president of Laity. She also serves on the advisory board of WH&OMS Missionary Society of the York-Chester District AME Zion Churches and on the South Carolina Conference AME Zion Churches Finance Committee; and
Whereas, Mrs. James retired from the Chester County Department of Health and Human Services after thirty-four years of service to the citizens of Chester County and the State of South Carolina; and
Whereas, because she believes strongly in active service to her community, Maggie J. James has served on boards and commissions for many organizations, including the United Way, Chester County Literacy Council, Communities in Schools, Neighbors Care Home Health, and Chester Metropolitan Water District. She previously served as vice president of the Chester State Employees Association and is a former member of the Friends of the Chester County Library; and
Whereas, for her committed service, she has received numerous awards, such as the Chester Kappa Kappa Zeta Chapter Humanitarian Award, NAACP Presidents Award, Martin Luther King, Jr., Trailblazer Award, appointment as grand marshal of the MLK Holiday Parade, Ida Massey Federated Club Woman of the Year, Chester Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Service Award, and National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc., Community Service Award; and
Whereas, grateful for Maggie J. James's many years of faithfulness in serving the people of South Carolina, most particularly those of Chester County, the Senate takes great pleasure in commending her for her contributions to quality education in this great State. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize and honor Maggie J. James for her twenty-five years of dedicated and outstanding service on the Chester County School District Board of Trustees.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Maggie J. James.
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