A house RESOLUTION

 

TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF Civil Rights leader Dr. Margaree S. Crosby OF Greenville COUNTY AND TO EXTEND THEIR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER LARGE AND LOVING FAMILY AND HER MANY FRIENDS.

 

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives were saddened to learn of the death of Dr. Margaree S. Crosby at the age of eighty-two on Friday, November 8, 2024; and

 

Whereas, born in Greenville County, she was the youngest of four girls born to the late Mark Seawright and Josie Williams Seawright. She graduated from Sterling High School in Greenville in 1959 and earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from then South Carolina State College in 1963; and

 

Whereas, Dr. Crosby actively protested for the improvement of social issues, and in 1960 as one of the "Greenville 8" which included Jessie Jackson, she made her first mark in the fight for Civil Rights and equality as part of a sit-in protest, resulting in the desegregation of the Greenville County Public Library; and

 

Whereas, in 1973, she earned a master's degree in reading education from Clemson University and a doctorate in reading/elementary education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1976. She began working at Clemson University in 1977, becoming a full professor of reading and language arts and retiring in 1985 as professor emerita of Clemson University; and

 

Whereas, dedicated to her community, Dr. Crosby was also a proud life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Epsilon Tau Omega Chapter, and participated in the sorority's mission of sisterhood and service. She was a charter associate and life member of the Greenville Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., a charter member of the Greenville chapter of The MOLES, Quette of Mu Pi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and a member The Chums, Greenville Chapter; and

 

Whereas, she was the first woman board member to serve in the over-eighty-year history of the Greenville Memorial Hospital System, and the first African American female to become a professor of education at Clemson University, where she tenured in 1992. She was also South Carolina's first recipient of the Women's Achievement Award, in addition to Who's Who in American Education; and

 

Whereas, Dr. Crosby was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church and was later baptized and joined Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Greenville; and

 

Whereas, together with her late husband of almost sixty years, Willis Herman Crosby Jr., she reared three fine children: Michelle Beasley of Simpsonville; Anthony Crosby of Atlanta, Georgia; and Erich Garrett of Greenville.  She enjoyed the adoration of eight grandchildren: Lauren Alexis Beasley, Peyton Rockefeller Beasley, Anjali Bianca Crosby, Avi Bernard Crosby, Bri Young, Tyrell Young, Domonique Garrett, and Adrian Mansell.  She was blessed to see the continuation of her courageous family legacy in her great-grandchild, Cairo Young; and

 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is grateful for the life and legacy of Margaree Crosby and for the example of courage and commitment she set for all who knew her. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, express their profound sorrow upon the passing of Civil Rights leader Dr. Margaree S. Crosby of Greenville County and extend their deepest sympathy to her large and loving family and her many friends.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Dr. Margaree S. Crosby.

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