A concurrent RESOLUTION

 

TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA General assembly UPON THE PASSING OF Betty Ann Williams Henderson OF Orangeburg COUNTY AND TO EXTEND THEIR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER LARGE AND LOVING FAMILY AND HER MANY FRIENDS.

 

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly were saddened to learn of the death of Betty Ann Williams Henderson at the age of seventy-eight; and

 

Whereas, born in Branchville on January 1, 1947, she was the youngest of ten children born to the late Nuncie and Sallie Williams. Educated in Orangeburg County and New York City public schools, she completed IAOO coursework at The Citadel and the University of South Carolina, as well as business courses at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College; and

 

Whereas, Mrs. Henderson's life of service began when the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law, followed by the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Orangeburg County-Wide Concerned Citizens organization was founded during her fifty-year advocacy of voter education/registration, and she served as its co-chair. She was a founding member of Concerned Citizens of District 93, currently known as District 66, serving as its first treasurer; and

 

Whereas, she was the first African American since Reconstruction to be elected to the Town Council in Branchville, where she served twelve years, and ten years as mayor pro tempore. She was a founding member of Orangeburg County Family Health Center; a member of Orangeburg County Department of Social Services Board; Orangeburg-Calhoun-Allendale-Bamberg (OCAB) Adult Literacy Board; The Regional Medical Center Board; chair of the Strategic Planning and Facilities Committee; and former CASA Family System Board.  She was a member of the NAACP; and

 

Whereas, as a licensed real estate appraiser, Mrs. Henderson was employed at The Davis Law Firm in Orangeburg as a legal assistant for more than fifteen years. Prior to retiring in 2018, she served for twenty-eight years as a tax assessor of Orangeburg County. She was the first African American female assessor in South Carolina and the only African American to be inducted into the South Carolina Association of Assessing Officials Hall of Fame. She served her profession as vice president of the Executive Board of Directors of the South Carolina Association of Assessing Officials; and

 

Whereas, Mrs. Henderson served for twenty years as chair of the Orangeburg County Democratic Party, founding the party's first cook-off, which became an annual event and a major fundraiser, attracting local and national Democratic leaders. Under her leadership, voter participation became a top priority,  and Orangeburg hosted then Senator Barack Obama, a presidential candidate, at Claflin University and  was the host county for the first 2008 presidential debate. In 2018, she was named chair emerita of the Orangeburg Democratic Party, and the party renamed their renowned cook-off in her honor; and

 

Whereas, a faithful member of Canaan Baptist Church in Branchville, Mrs. Henderson served the congregation as budget chair, hospitality chair, and program committee member, where she was recognized as a trailblazer, an entrepreneur, a visionary, and a servant leader; and

 

Whereas, her community service was recognized with a plethora of awards, yet she found time to rear three fine children: Sheila, Ernest, and Kathy. Her children blessed her with four loving grandchildren: Reginald Jr., Kimberly, Ernest II, and Michael; and two great-grandchildren, Sol and Ivy; and 

 

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly are grateful for the life and legacy of Betty Henderson and for the example of service and love she set for all who knew her. 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, express their profound sorrow upon the passing of Betty Ann Williams Henderson of Orangeburg 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 Betty Ann Williams Henderson.

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