A concurrent RESOLUTION

 

TO REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME S-1022 (Washington Street) from L-4349 (Laurens Street) North to the end of state maintenance IN Charleston COUNTY "Christine Jackson Road" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS AT THIS LOCATION CONTAINING THE DESIGNATION.

 

Whereas, Christine Jackson was one of the leaders of Charleston's female and African American communities during the transformative civil rights movement. She served as the executive director of the YWCA Greater Charleston for thirty-six years; and

 

Whereas, a native of Marion, Alabama, Mrs. Jackson attended school and church with her cousin Coretta Scott, who married Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the mid-1950s. Their grandfather led the church, and when he died, her father took over, picking up people around town and driving them to church in a Model T Ford he had transformed into a pickup truck; and

 

Whereas, Mrs. Jackson earned a college degree in home economics. Along the way, she babysat and cooked for many white families in the community, interacting with a wide variety of people in Alabama, Tennessee, and North Carolina, which was experience that would serve her well when she later took on the post of the Charleston YWCA executive director; and

 

Whereas, Mrs. Jackson married the Reverend Dr. E. L. Jackson, and the two found themselves in South Carolina after he was fired in Alabama for marching for civil rights with Dr. King. Mrs. Jackson taught home economic classes to rural families and girls from the local 4H program through the Clemson University Extension Service; and

 

Whereas in 1963, Mrs. and Rev. Dr. Jackson moved to Charleston, where she took a post at the Charleston YWCA as a home economics demonstrator and sewing instructor. When the then-executive director of the Charleston YWCA retired, the program director recommended Mrs. Jackson for the role; and

 

Whereas, Mrs. Jackson was reluctant to lead a segregated branch of the YWCA, but after her husband encouraged her to take the role, suggesting she might be able to change it, she took the reins of the Charleston YWCA Coming Street branch in 1966; and

 

Whereas, YWCA Greater Charleston played an important role in the civil rights movement in Charleston with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s wife, Coretta Scott King, participating with its members and board in the historic 1969 MUSC hospital strike; and

 

Whereas, YWCA Greater Charleston continues to make history as it strives to eliminate racism and empower women through many programs, including regular Racial Equity & Inclusion workshops, led by Racial Equity Institute experts; WE 360° workshops, designed to help women entrepreneurs of color overcome barriers in business; and Y Girls Code clubs, which empower girls of color by preparing them to enter male-dominated technology fields; and

 

Whereas, after many years of dedicated service, Mrs. Jackson retired as executive director of YWCA Greater Charleston in 2003; and

 

Whereas, it would be only fitting and proper to pay tribute to this daughter of South Carolina by naming a portion of road in the State 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 that the Department of Transportation name S-1022 (Washington Street) from L-4349 (Laurens Street) north to the end of state maintenance in Charleston County "Christine Jackson Road" and erect appropriate markers or signs at this location containing the designation.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Department of Transportation and presented to Mrs. Christine Jackson.

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