Caroline Turkett, 107th birthday

2025-2026 Bill 5389: Caroline Turkett, 107th birthday - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 5389
STATUS INFORMATION
House Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Burns, Chumley, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Grant, 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-0470DG-RM26.docx
Introduced in the House on March 24, 2026
Adopted by the House on March 24, 2026
Summary: Caroline Turkett, 107th birthday
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

3/24/2026

House

Introduced and adopted (
House Journal-page 32
)

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legislative information
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VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
03/24/2026

A
house
RESOLUTION

TO CONGRATULATE CAROLINE DYCHES TURKETT ON THE
OCCASION OF HER ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH BIRTHDAY AND TO WISH HER A JOYOUS BIRTHDAY
CELEBRATION AND MUCH HAPPINESS IN THE DAYS AHEAD.

W
hereas, on April 11,
2026, Caroline Dyches Turkett will awaken to the celebration of a milestone
event: her 107th birthday; and

W
hereas, born on April
11, 1919, in the first quarter of the twentieth century, South Carolina native Caroline
Dyches Turkett has witnessed the many remarkable social changes, technological
advancements, and international developments that have spanned the globe from
that time into the first quarter of the twenty-first century; and

W
hereas, Caroline came
into this world the daughter of Joseph E. and Mattie P. Turkett of Wallaceville
and enjoyed having six brothers and sisters. She still has one living sister,
Frances, who will celebrate her one hundred first birthday in June; and

W
hereas, the young
Caroline attended the local grammar school and Columbia High School, graduating
from the latter in 1935. In further preparation for her life's work, she went
on to attend Winthrop College, where she was in the Strawberry Leaf Honor
Society, and in 1940 she finished her teaching degree at that estimable
institution. Caroline immediately began her teaching career in Blenheim while
her future husband, Carlos Townsend, was in the Army; and

W
hereas, having been
married from her parents' home after Carlos returned from the war, the
newlyweds moved to Woodruff. Carlos Townsend began a career as a South Carolina
state trooper that lasted until his retirement. Caroline taught at Southside
Elementary for a few years and then taught second grade at Northside Elementary
in Woodruff until her 1978 retirement. In all, this beloved teacher served as
an educator for thirty-nine years; and

W
hereas, Caroline was
very active at First Presbyterian Church of Woodruff. There, she taught Sunday
School from 1955 until 1993 and served as an elder at her church. She received
a plaque for her dedicated service; and

W
hereas, further,
Caroline and Carlos were very active in their community and helped troubled
teens, young couples, the sick, and others in need. Caroline stayed in touch
with a large number of her students and was known as "Granny T" around
Woodruff. Caroline and Carlos were married for fifty-five years. Several years
after his death in 1999, she moved to West Columbia to be closer to her brother
Curtis and her two sisters, Frances and Dessa; and

W
hereas, since that
time she has lived in two retirement homes and has served her fellow residents
there, holding Bible studies and singing in the choir. Wherever she lives, she
is loved by everyone; and

W
hereas, over the
years, Caroline was an avid gardener, reader, and knitter, and she loved her
flower gardens. She sent cards to her friends and family for every occasion or
would just write a nice letter. She also loved to cook and shared food from her
large garden with neighbors and friends. Caroline is still in good health and
amazingly takes no medications. Moreover, she relishes the outdoors and keeps
hoping South Carolina will receive a good snow of several inches just once more
in her lifetime; and

W
hereas, it is a great
pleasure to honor this daughter of South Carolina at the celebration of her one
hundred seventh birthday, and it is a further delight to join with her family
and friends in congratulating her on reaching this impressive life milestone.
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, congratulate Caroline Dyches Turkett on the occasion of her
one hundred seventh birthday and wish her a joyous birthday celebration and
much happiness in the days ahead.

B
e it further resolved
that a copy of this resolution be presented to Caroline Dyches Turkett.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on March 24, 2026 at 1:21 PM