H 3995

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 3995
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)
A concurrent RESOLUTION
To Recognize the Historical
Significance of the Bunyon Thompson Family to Fairfield County and Acknowledge
the Contributions of Tommie Lee and Eunice Shelton Thompson, Gethsemane School,
and Gethsemane Baptist Church.
Whereas, Bunyon Thompson, the first Black landowner in Fairfield
County, played a pivotal role in shaping the community's development by
overcoming significant racial and economic barriers to become a prosperous
landowner and community leader, setting a precedent for African American
families in the region during the early twentieth century; and
Whereas, Bunyon Thompson's contributions to the Gethsemane community
were instrumental in the establishment of Gethsemane Baptist Church and
Gethsemane School through the donation of timber, labor, and financial
resources, which provided a foundation for the community's spiritual and
educational advancement; and
Whereas, the Gethsemane Church, built on land donated by the Thompson
family, was founded in 1850 by Reverend Nelson Davis and has served as a beacon
of faith and a gathering place for worship and community unity, enriching the
lives of countless individuals in Fairfield County for one hundred seventy-five
years; and
Whereas, Gethsemane School, also constructed with the support of the
Thompson family, served as a vital educational institution for African American
children in Fairfield County for  decades, with Eunice Shelton Thompson serving
as the first headmaster, educating generations of students, and fostering the
values of learning, discipline, and community service; and
Whereas, Tommie Lee Thompson, son of Bunyon Thompson, continued his
family's legacy of  leadership by serving as a trustee for both Gethsemane
Baptist Church and Gethsemane School while establishing himself as a successful
businessman who provided essential services to the community, including running
a gas station and convenience store that supported the local economy; and
Whereas, the Thompson House, built by Tommie Lee and Eunice Shelton
Thompson in the early 1930s, became a hub for community activity, offering a
place of rest, comfort, and support for local residents, particularly students
and churchgoers who walked miles to school and church, and a source of
stability during times of economic hardship, such as the Great Depression; and
Whereas, the Thompson House is historically significant as the
birthplace of two notable descendants, Tommy Scott Young, an internationally
recognized poet, playwright, and storyteller, and esteemed educator Felicia
Young Trower, both of whom have continued the Thompson family's legacy of
leadership, service, and cultural contribution, inspiring future generations;
and
Whereas, the Thompson family's enduring legacy of community service,
educational leadership, and business enterprise has had a lasting impact on
Fairfield County, contributing to the advancement of African Americans in the
region and embodying the values of resilience, perseverance, and generosity;
and
Whereas, the preservation of the Thompson House, Gethsemane Baptist
Church, and Gethsemane School as historical and cultural landmarks will ensure
that the legacy of the Thompson family and their contributions to Fairfield
County are honored and remembered for  generations to come. 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, recognize the historical
significance of the Bunyon Thompson Family to Fairfield County and acknowledge
the contributions of Tommie Lee and Eunice Shelton Thompson, Gethsemane School,
and Gethsemane Baptist Church.
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This web page was last updated on February 13, 2025 at 11:30 AM