A concurrent RESOLUTION

TO CONGRATULATE Loureatha Lawson Pittman as her tenure as the President of the Gethsemane Woman Auxiliary comes to a close, TO COMMEND HER FOR HER four YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE, AND TO WISH HER MUCH HAPPINESS AND FULFILLMENT IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are pleased to recognize Loureatha Lawson Pittman as her tenure as the president of the Gethsemane Woman Auxiliary comes to a close on May 17, 2024; and

Whereas, a native of Bamberg, Mrs. Pittman was born May 24, 1944 to parents James Talmadge and Julie Mae Lawson Fields. She is an alumna of the University of South Carolina where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education, Master of Arts in Elementary Education, Specialist Certificate in Special Education, and advance study in School Administration; and

Whereas, Mrs. Pittman retired from her role as a teacher and an administrative assistant with Richland School District I (W. A. Perry Middle School) in 2000; and

Whereas, over the years, Mrs. Pittman has received a number of honors and awards, including the Woman's Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina Legacy Award; Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Association Outstanding Leadership and Missionary awards; Church Women United Human Rights Award; Gethsemane Woman's Auxiliary Dedicated Service Award; Gethsemane Youth Department Outstanding Christian Leadership Award; Zion Chapel Baptist Church #1 Outstanding Missionary Service Recognition; Midland's Martin Luther King Education Award; and the Martin Luther King Community Service Award; and

Whereas, a devout Christian, she is a member of Member of Zion Chapel Baptist Church #1, 1975 where she is an ordained deaconess, Missionary Ministry president, Junior Jubilee Choir leader, Grief Ministry co-chairperson, a devotion committee member of the Woman's Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina, among many other vital roles; and

Whereas, Mrs. Pittman has served as the treasurer, first vice president, and then 2020-2024 president of the Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Association Woman's Auxiliary; and

Whereas, Mrs. Pittman is married to Deacon Charlie R. Pittman, and together, they have two children, Andrew and Charlene; a son-in-law, Cedrick Sweeper; daughter in-law, Tiffany McDonald Pittman; and two grandchildren, Chamar Ellis and Cheyla Nicole Sweeper; and

Whereas, in her free time, she enjoys gardening, cooking, singing, and coordinating licensing and ordination programs for deacons and ministers. On May 24, 2024, she will be celebrating her eightieth birthday; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate appreciate the passion and dedication that Mrs. Pittman has shown in serving the people and the State of South Carolina.  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, congratulate Loureatha Lawson Pittman as her tenure as the president of the Gethsemane Woman Auxiliary comes to a close, commend her for her four years of dedicated service, and wish her much happiness and fulfillment in the years ahead.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Loureatha Lawson Pittman.

----XX---