A house RESOLUTION

TO CONGRATULATE Mrs. Winifred Agnes Aida Greenwood "Winnie" Watson OF Beaufort COUNTY ON THE OCCASION OF HER NINETIETH BIRTHDAY AND TO WISH HER A JOYOUS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AND MANY YEARS OF CONTINUED HEALTH AND HAPPINESS.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are delighted to learn that Mrs. Winnie Watson of Beaufort County will celebrate her ninetieth birthday on January 21, 2023; and

Whereas, born on January 21, 1933, in the first half of the twentieth century, she has witnessed the many remarkable social transformations, scientific advancements, and international events that have traversed the globe from that time into the first quarter of the twenty first century; and

Whereas, the daughter of Edward Arthur Greenwood and Adelaide Cirilli Greenwood, Winnie grew up in her birthplace in Nicosia, Cyprus, with her two siblings, Mary and Willie; and

Whereas, in 1957, she married a United States Marine, Henry Lee Watson, Jr., returned stateside with him a month later, and moved with him to duty stations across the nation: Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Beaufort and Laurel Bay, both in South Carolina; Hawaii; New Jersey; and Marietta, Georgia; and

Whereas, between 1959 and 1969, Mrs. Watson gave birth to six fine children whom she reared into adulthood: Henry A. Watson, Geralyn Watson, Heather E. Watson, Christopher J. Watson, Cameron B. Watson, and Theresa L. Watson. Her children have blessed her with the affection of ten loving grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; and

Whereas, she became a United States citizen on July 1, 1963, and finally made her home in Beaufort in 1968, where she opened her business, The Cake Boutique in 1975. For two decades, until she closed in 1997, her cake creations served locals and celebrities alike in town to film movies under Beaufort's peaceful Spanish moss. They included the cake for the 1976 Bicentennial held by the Beaufort Chamber of Commerce, birthday cakes for The Great Santini and The Prince of Tides, and a wedding cake for Forrest Gump. During the filming of The War, she made the cake for the cast party, and during the filming of Something to Talk About, she made Robert Duvall's birthday cake; and

Whereas, when the original owner of The Tapestry, a cross stitch and needlework store, sold it to move away, Mrs. Watson bought it to add to her entrepreneurial endeavors and enjoy one of her hobbies; and

Whereas, a faithful member of St. Peters Catholic Church in Beaufort since 1968, Mrs. Watson enjoys baking and decorating cakes, knitting, crocheting, cross stitching, and playing mahjong; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are pleased to honor this daughter of South Carolina at the celebration of her ninetieth birthday and join with her family and friends in congratulating her on reaching this extraordinary milestone. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, congratulate Mrs. Winifred Agnes Aida Greenwood "Winnie" Watson of Beaufort County on the occasion of her ninetieth birthday and wish her a joyous birthday celebration and many years of continued health and happiness.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Mrs. Winifred Agnes Aida Greenwood "Winnie" Watson.

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