Recalled

May 09, 2023

H. 4096

Introduced by Rep. Hardee

S. Printed 05/09/23--S.

Read the first time April 06, 2023

________

A concurrent RESOLUTION

to request the department of transportation name the intersection of s-26-31/Red bluff road and s-26-66 in horry county the "christopher and miles waddell memorial intersection" and place appropriate markers or signs at this location containing these words.

Whereas, Christopher Lee Waddell was born in Conway, South Carolina, the middle son of Tommy Lee Waddell and Myra J. Gore. Miles Thomas Waddell, also born in Conway, was the youngest son born to that union. Said to be as close as any brothers could, they were returning home from Christmas shopping on the night of December 22, 2014, when tragically their vehicle was struck by a drunk driver. Christopher died that night at age 26 and Miles, aged 17, died eight days later. It was said to be "about as long as they could stand to be apart"; and

Whereas, affectionately known as "Critter", Christopher was said to be a very humble and loving young man who loved the Lord, was a prayer warrior, read his Bible daily, and was a faithful member of Loris First Baptist Church. A three-sport star athlete in high school, he graduated from Coastal Carolina University with a degree in history. He was pursuing a degree as a certified registered nurse anesthetist. He worked several years with the Loris Recreation Department, and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and playing pool; and

Whereas, Miles was an honor student at Loris High School where he played junior varsity and varsity football his freshman through junior years, lettering each year. He received the Outstanding Youth Award in 2014 from the Loris Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club, served as junior vice president and historian for the Future Farmers of America, and was a black belt in karate. A loving son, he was devoted to Loris First Baptist Church where he served in the youth choir and Youth Alive; and

Whereas, the brothers grew up in Loris Drug Store where their father was the pharmacist and spent Sunday mornings in the balcony of Loris First Baptist Church. They served as umpires in the youth leagues of the Loris Recreation Department, and had a regular corner booth at Shorty's Grill, where Miles' name still is listed as the high scorer on one of the arcade games; and

Whereas, woven into the fabric of the community, church members remember the brothers volunteering at Loris First Baptist, attending youth group meetings, and going on mission trips. Miles played one of the three kings at the Christmas cantata. At Easter, Christopher was a Roman centurion. Christopher was said to be Miles' hero and both of them were proud of each other; and

Whereas, in death as in life, Christopher and Miles are buried side by side on a gentle slope in the back of Whiteville Memorial Cemetery in North Carolina. Two bronze plates mark their resting places; and

Whereas, it would be fitting and proper to remember Christopher Lee Waddell and Miles Thomas Waddell, two exceptional young men who contributed so much to their community but whose promising futures were cut short, by naming an intersection in Horry County in their memory. 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, request the Department of Transportation name the intersection of S-26-31/Red Bluff Road and S-26-66 in Horry County the "Christopher and Miles Waddell Memorial Intersection" and place appropriate markers or signs at this location containing these words.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Department of Transportation.

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