Pearl Fryar

2025-2026 Bill 1136: Pearl Fryar - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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S. 1136
STATUS INFORMATION
Senate Resolution
Sponsors: Senators Graham and Chaplin
Document Path: SR-0646KM-VC26.docx
Introduced in the Senate on April 22, 2026
Adopted by the Senate on April 22, 2026
Summary: Pearl Fryar
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

4/22/2026

Senate

Introduced and adopted (
Senate Journal-page 5
)

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
04/22/2026

A
senate
RESOLUTION

TO EXPRESS PROFOUND SORROW UPON THE PASSING OF Pearl
Fryar AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.

W
hereas, the members of
the South Carolina Senate were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pearl
Fryar on April 4, 2026; and

W
hereas, a native of Clinton,
North Carolina, Mr. Fryar was born in 1939 to a family of sharecroppers. His parents
instilled in him a powerful work ethic, moral responsibility, and the
importance of kindness to all. Like his brother and sister, he helped out on
the family farm from a young age, and then he attended North Carolina College,
now North Carolina Central University in the 1960s; and

W
hereas, a veteran of
the United States Army, Mr. Fryar served in Korea. After marrying his boyhood
sweetheart, Metra, the couple lived in New York City; and

W
hereas, Mr. Fryar worked
for American Can Company/Rexam for thirty-six years, including during the
manufacturing transition from steel to aluminum. While working full time, he
moved to Bishopville and started his topiary garden by pruning trees and shrubs
on his home property; and

W
hereas, beginning in
the 1980s, Mr. Fryar cleared a cornfield on his home property to create a
three-acre topiary garden that is stunningly beautiful, whimsical, educational,
and inspiring. Many of the plants in the garden were rescued from nursery
compost piles. Mr. Fryar transformed discarded trees and shrubs into an
arresting landscape of living plant sculptures; and

W
hereas, over the
years, Mr. Fryar became known for his extraordinary handiwork. He was featured in
newspapers and magazines, appeared on television, and spoke far and wide at
gardens, galleries, and festivals. The acclaimed documentary,
A Man Named
Pearl
, charts his creative journey. He made a John Deere tractor commercial
and attracted visitors by the thousands; and

W
hereas, Mr. Fryar's garden
is intentionally apolitical and spiritually non-sectarian, expressing the
message of "Love, Peace, and Goodwill." Offering a special feeling of sanctuary
and oasis, the garden's living plant invocation is universal, transcending all
differences among people and ideologies. Mr. Fryar wanted his garden to remain
free to all, retaining a self-contained, intimate presence amid a quiet,
semi-rural neighborhood; and

W
hereas, a caring
member of his community, Mr. Fryar created a scholarship fund for "average"
students in South Carolina in support of their post-high school education; and

W
hereas, from the
humble wellspring of ancestral African American roots, Mr. Fryar bears the
torch of hard work, passion, and humility. Living modestly in simple abundance,
he considered himself richly blessed. He viewed his life as service to family, spirit,
and community. His garden is an enthusiastic offering to all; and

W
hereas, Mr. Fryar
leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Metra, and his son, Patrick. He will be
greatly missed. Now, therefore,

B
e it resolved by the
Senate
:

T
hat the members of the
South Carolina
Senate
, by this resolution,
express profound sorrow upon the passing of Pearl Fryar and extend the deepest
sympathy to his family and many friends.

B
e it further resolved
that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Pearl Fryar.

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This web page was last updated on April 22, 2026 at 10:12 AM