South Carolina General Assembly
122nd Session, 2017-2018
H. 5195
STATUS INFORMATION
Concurrent Resolution
Sponsors: Rep. Alexander
Document Path: l:\council\bills\gt\5497cm18.docx
Introduced in the House on April 3, 2018
Introduced in the Senate on April 18, 2018
Adopted by the General Assembly on May 8, 2018
Summary: Reverend Edward Hezekiah Thomas Way named
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
DateBodyAction Description with journal page number
4/3/2018HouseIntroduced (House Journalpage71)
4/3/2018HouseReferred to Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions (House Journalpage71)
4/17/2018HouseCommittee report: Favorable Invitations and Memorial Resolutions (House Journalpage2)
4/18/2018HouseAdopted, sent to Senate (House Journalpage70)
4/18/2018SenateIntroduced (Senate Journalpage8)
4/18/2018SenateReferred to Committee on Transportation(Senate Journalpage8)
5/3/2018SenateRecalled from Committee on Transportation(Senate Journalpage1)
5/8/2018SenateAdopted, returned to House with concurrence (Senate Journalpage82)
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
4/3/2018
4/17/2018
5/3/2018
RECALLED
May 3, 2018
H.5195
Introduced by Rep. Alexander
S. Printed 5/3/18--S.
Read the first time April 18, 2018.
[5195-1]
ACONCURRENT RESOLUTION
TO REQUEST THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE PORTION OF NORTH MCQUEEN STREET IN THE CITY OF FLORENCE FROM ITS INTERSECTION WITH WEST LUCAS STREET TO ITS INTERSECTION WITH WEST SUMTER STREET “REVEREND EDWARD HEZEKIAH THOMAS WAY” AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS ALONG THIS PORTION OF HIGHWAY CONTAINING THIS DESIGNATION.
Whereas, the Reverend Edward Hezekiah Thomas was born on March 15, 1917, the son of the late Tommie and Mary Charles Thomas. He entered eternal life on June 11, 1999. Educated in the public schools of Florence County, he received further training through the Civilian Conservation Corps, the federal public works program established during the Great Depression that put millions of young adults to work; and
Whereas, Reverend Thomas was married to Lillian McCoy and together they were blessed with six children. He was trained for the ministry at the Interdenominational Theological Seminary through Benedict and Morris colleges. He was an assistant pastor at St. Beulah Missionary Baptist Church, assistant and later pastor at Carver Street Baptist Church, ending his ministerial duties as pastor at Central Baptist Church, all in Florence County; and
Whereas, Reverend Thomas devoted his life’s work to civic affairs and community involvement. Recognizing that “a voice not connected to a vote is yet silent,” he is credited with establishing voter registration drives which led to an influx of African Americans to the polls. He was a staunch supporter of and participant in the Palmetto Voters Association and later the Voter Education Project; and
Whereas, a life member of the NAACP, Reverend Thomas served as president of the Florence chapter during the tumultuous years of desegregation and served as youth advisor to many of the community’s young people, who later became influential leaders in the state’s Pee Dee area and the nation; and
Whereas, other civic activities were devoted to Morris College and Benedict College alumni associations; Manna House, a nonprofit organization that provides food and services to the less fortunate; the Pee Dee Community Action Agency; and the local Boys and Girls Club. Reverend Thomas also served the Florence and Darlington counties’ Baptist Educational Singing Convention, the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina, and the Pee Dee District Baptist Convention; and
Whereas, an astute businessman and state Notary Public, Reverend Thomas was a licensed brokerincharge for the Middleton Agency, a contractor who built homes throughout Florence County, and a teacher for the community action agency’s “Project TSquare,” which trained young people in brick masonry and carpentry. He also was a board member of Statewide Homes Foundation, established by the late Reverend I. DeQuincey Newman, a former state senator and field secretary of the South Carolina NAACP, to provide housing for lowincome residents; and
Whereas, it is fitting and proper that we pay homage to Reverend Edward Hezekiah Thomas for his dedicated service and contributions to Florence County by naming a portion of North McQueen Street in his honor. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the South Carolina General Assembly request the Department of Transportation name the portion of North McQueen Street in the City of Florence from its intersection with West Lucas Street to its intersection with West Sumter Street “Reverend Edward Hezekiah Thomas Way” and erect appropriate markers or signs along this portion of highway containing this designation.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Department of Transportation.
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