A concurrent RESOLUTION

TO REQUEST THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE INTERSECTION LOCATED AT BELTLINE BOULEVARD AND SHOP ROAD IN RICHLAND COUNTY “MOTHER LAURA TOLIVER JEFFERSON MEMORIAL INTERSECTION” AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS AT THIS LOCATION CONTAINING THESE WORDS.

Whereas, Mrs. Laura Toliver Jefferson, daughter of the late Simpson and Ida Harrington Toliver, was born on October 29, 1902, in Richland County. She completed her earthly journey on March 6, 1996; and

Whereas, she was educated at St. Mary’s Episcopal School in the City of Columbia, graduating from the tenth grade, the highest grade; and

Whereas, Mrs. Jefferson was united in Holy Matrimony to the late Mr. Willie Jefferson, Sr., a marriage that lasted fifty‑nine years, until his death. To this union eleven children were born; and

Whereas, she was a committed Christian who devoted her life to serving the Lord, her church, Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church which she joined at an early age and served as the Mother of the church for seven years, and her community; and

Whereas, during her lifetime, she worked as a supervisor in the Works Progress Administration under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. She also worked in the public library, school cafeteria, as an insurance agent with the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, and as a homemaker; and

Whereas, Mrs. Jefferson became a community activist early in life. Her work in this field included fighting for infrastructure improvements for the elderly and underprivileged residents of the Little Camden, Arthurtown, and Taylors communities. She became know as “Mama Laura” throughout the community for her activism; and

Whereas, Mrs. Jefferson realized the importance of registering to vote and exercising one’s right to vote. She was the first registered voter in her community and campaigned door to door encouraging her neighbors to vote. It was through encouragement and support that many Black political leaders emerged and were elected from her community; and

Whereas, she was the recipient of many awards including the Jefferson Award, and the keys to the City of Columbia and Eastover; and

Whereas, Mrs. Jefferson served on the Board of Directors for the Greater Columbia Community Relations Council, the Advisory Board of the Richland County Council, and the Governor’s Energy Assistance Program; and

Whereas, Mrs. Jefferson was a strong woman. Her strength came from her faith in God. She used this strength to be a spokeswoman for those without a voice; and

Whereas, it would be only fitting and proper to pay tribute to this daughter of South Carolina by naming an intersection in Richland County in her honor. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, request the Department of Transportation name the intersection located at Beltline Boulevard and Shop Road in Richland County “Mother Laura Toliver Jefferson Memorial Intersection” and erect appropriate markers or signs at this location containing these words.

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

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