1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 10 11 TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE 12 MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE 13 OF SOUTH CAROLINA UPON THE DEATH OF LOVING 14 MOTHER, EDUCATOR, AND COMMUNITY LEADER, 15 MARY LILLIES WILLIAMS RILEY GRANT OF 16 BISHOPVILLE ON FEBRUARY 2, 2005, AND TO EXTEND 17 DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER FAMILY AND MANY 18 FRIENDS. 19 20 Whereas, the members of the General Assembly were deeply 21 saddened to learn of the death of such a model South Carolinian as 22 Mary Lillies Williams Riley Grant of Bishopville on February 2, 23 2005; and 24 25 Whereas, Ms. Grant was born November 14, 1938, in Bishopville 26 to the late Ferry Williams and Mary Williams Morgan; and 27 28 Whereas, Ms. Grant graduated first in her class from Dennis High 29 School in Bishopville. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree 30 from South Carolina State College and a Masters Degree from City 31 College in New York; and 32 33 Whereas, an inspiring teacher, Ms. Grant began her career as an 34 educator in Brooklyn and continued by teaching keyboarding for 35 thirteen years in Queens. She was also an adjunct professor at 36 Kingsborough Community College; and 37 38 Whereas, after sixteen years with the New York Board of 39 Education, Ms. Grant began the arduous work as Executive 40 Director of The Robert Ross Johnson Family Life Center, the 41 second family life center opened in the United States, where she 42 touched countless lives, young and old; and

1 [3809] 1 1 2 Whereas, Ms. Grant also worked in the United Church of Christ, 3 implementing the first leadership training for African American 4 youth and young adults and other racial and ethnic youth in a 5 ninety-five percent Caucasian denomination; and 6 7 Whereas, in 1995, Ms. Grant returned to Bishopville where she 8 was an inspiration to the community becoming, among other 9 things, the first African American Chairman of the Lee County 10 Arts Council. One of her best-known projects is the We C.A.R.E. 11 (Children Are Reason Enough) Advocacy Group, helping Lee 12 County Schools through numerous activities; and 13 14 Whereas, Ms. Grant was an active member of the Mount Hermon 15 Missionary Baptist Church where she coordinated the youth and 16 adult drama ministry and the Mount Hermon Community 17 Development Corporation. She also served as Church 18 Administrator and Director of Capital Stewardship Campaign; and 19 20 Whereas, with an abundance of energy, Ms. Grant has served in 21 many community and national organizations including the 22 National Council of Negro Women, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, 23 National Association of Female Executives, and National 24 Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and she has 25 received numerous public and community awards; and 26 27 Whereas, Mary Grant will be greatly missed and forever 28 remembered in the hearts of many for her positive influence, 29 indomitable spirit, boundless wisdom, and generous philanthropy; 30 and 31 32 Whereas, Mary Lillies Williams Riley Grant is survived by one 33 son, Anthony Riley and his wife, Sylvia, of Long Island, New 34 York; two daughters, Valerie Riley of Charlotte, and Gabrielle 35 Bebette Riley of Queens, New York; two granddaughters, Nicole 36 and Ayanna Riley of Long Island; one great granddaughter, Tylah 37 Mary Riley of Long Island; one sister, Cora Williams Harry of 38 Bamberg; one brother, Tommy Williams and his wife, Dorothy, of 39 Winston-Salem; a special cousin, Liza Lee White; a stepson, Dalio 40 Grant, a special daughter, Ninfa Wilson and her husband, Issac, all 41 of Charlotte; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and 42 loved ones. Now, therefore, 43

1 [3809] 2 1 Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate 2 concurring: 3 4 That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South 5 Carolina, by this resolution, express their profound sorrow upon 6 the death of loving mother, educator, and community leader, Mary 7 Lillies Williams Riley Grant of Bishopville on February 2, 2005, 8 and extend deepest sympathy to her family and many friends. 9 10 Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to 11 the family of Mary Lillies Williams Riley Grant. 12 ----XX---- 13

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