Essie M. Richards

2025-2026 Bill 5143: Essie M. Richards - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 5143
STATUS INFORMATION
House Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Grant, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, Huff, J.E. Johnson, J.L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lastinger, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, C. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, Moss, Neese, B. Newton, W. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, Rivers, Robbins, Rose, Rutherford, Sanders, Schuessler, Scott, Sessions, G.M. Smith, M.M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Waters, Weeks, Wetmore, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow
Document Path: LC-0286HA-GM26.docx
Introduced in the House on February 11, 2026
Adopted by the House on February 11, 2026
Summary: Essie M. Richards
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

2/11/2026

House

Introduced and adopted (
House Journal-page 5
)

View the latest
legislative information
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VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
02/11/2026

A
house
RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND
HONOR ESSIE M. RICHARDS FOR A LIFETIME OF SERVICE TO HER COMMUNITY AND FOR THE
EXAMPLE OF A LIFE WELL SPENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS.

W
hereas, it is fitting
and proper for the House of Representatives to pause in its deliberations to
commend the community service of Essie Richards. Born in White Hall, Colleton
County, on January 10, 1926, Ms. Richards is the seventh of twelve children
born to Elijah and Laura Richards; and

W
hereas, reared in a
loving Christian home, she was converted at an early age and joined Jerusalem
African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church of White Hall in 1937. After she
moved to Savannah, Georgia, she united with Flipper Chapel A.M.E. Church, where
she served faithfully as a Sunday school teacher and superintendent, church
secretary, trustee, president of the Lay Organization, president of the Flower
Club, and a member of the Senior Choir and of the Missionary Society; and

W
hereas, in 1986, Ms.
Richards transferred her membership to Julia Fountain A.M.E. Church where she
continued to serve in the same auxiliaries with distinction. In 2005, she
returned to Jerusalem A.M.E., now White Hall A.M.E., and was appointed to the
Steward Board; and

W
hereas, she attended Pyne
Elementary School in Green Pond, SC and later at Beach-Cuyler Junior and Senior
High schools in Savannah, Georgia, where she ranked in the top ten of her 1945
graduating class. She received a scholarship to attend Fort Valley State
College and earned a master's degree in cosmetology in 1954 from Madame B.
Freeman's School of Cosmetology; and

W
hereas, Ms. Richards
was employed by the United States Air Force and then the United States Army as
an office manager, retiring after thirty-five years of service. Because of her
integrity, professionalism, and dedication, her service as office manager was
highly respected; and

W
hereas, she was widely
known for her community activism and leadership in the Carver Heights Community.
She served as community president for twenty-three years and also as community
secretary and was a transformative force in making Carver Heights a thriving
historic neighborhood. In 1994, she oversaw the groundbreaking of Carver
Heights Community Center; and

W
hereas, Ms. Richards
played pivotal roles in such community programs as Neighborhood Watch/ National
Night Out; senior citizen programs; Meals on Wheels; World Changers home repair
projects; block grant partnerships; historic research initiatives; youth
development and support of the Carver Heights Stallions; community
beautification, "House of the Month," and block captain programs; and

W
hereas, her decades of
service earned extensive recognition from churches, civic organizations, and
local and state officials, such as the Block Grant Award in 1995, Environmental
Justice Pioneer Award in 1995, National Exchange Club membership and leadership
honors, Resident Leadership Training and Community Development certifications,
volunteer appreciation awards for senior and youth service, Retired Senior
Volunteer Program Appreciation Award, and multiple certificates of appreciation
from the City of Savannah and community agencies; and

W
hereas, Ms. Richards
is the mother of one fine son, Elijah Richards, who has blessed her with two loving
grandchildren, Lance Richards and Kimya R. Smith. She has been pleased to see
the continuation of her family legacy in three great-grandchildren: Christian
Smith, Jordon Smith, and Ciara Richards; and

W
hereas, the South
Carolina House of Representatives values individuals who labor for the
well-being of their communities, like Essie Richards, and the members wish her
a belated one hundredth birthday and many more years of continued health and
prosperity. Now, therefore,

B
e it resolved by the
House of Representatives
:

T
hat the members of the
South Carolina
House of Representatives
,
by this resolution, recognize and honor Essie M. Richards for a lifetime of
service to her community and for the example of a life well spent for the
benefit of others.

B
e it further resolved
that a copy of this resolution be presented to Essie M. Richards.

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This web page was last updated on February 11, 2026 at 11:11 AM