Juanita Bryson 100th Birthday

2025-2026 Bill 797: Juanita Bryson 100th Birthday - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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S. 797
STATUS INFORMATION
Senate Resolution
Sponsors: Senator Jackson
Document Path: LC-0284DG-GM26.docx
Introduced in the Senate on January 13, 2026
Adopted by the Senate on January 13, 2026
Summary: Juanita Bryson 100th Birthday
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

1/13/2026

Senate

Introduced and adopted (
Senate Journal-page 56
)

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
01/13/2026

A
senate
RESOLUTION

TO CONGRATULATE Juanita Therese Brown Hartley Bryson
ON THE OCCASION OF HER ONE HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY AND TO WISH HER A JOYOUS BIRTHDAY
CELEBRATION AND MANY YEARS OF CONTINUED HEALTH AND HAPPINESS.

W
hereas, the South
Carolina Senate is delighted to learn that Juanita Therese Brown Hartley Bryson
of Richland County was honored on July 26, 2025, for the celebration of her one
hundredth birthday; and

W
hereas, born on July
23, 1925, in the first quarter of the twentieth century, she 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, the first
child of William "Junior" and Annie "Blossom" Green Brown, Juanita was reared
in the Taylors Community of Columbia and commenced her early childhood
education in the primer at Taylor's School. She enjoyed spending her early
years close to the State Fairgrounds with her maternal grandparents, Papa Ben
and Grandma Rosa, who watched after her while her mother taught; and

W
hereas, during those
years, her father continued to work on a large family estate in Saluda County,
but he desired for his family to be together in one location, as it was at that
time a long, difficult journey between Columbia and Saluda due to the poor
roads; and

W
hereas, Juanita
transferred to Batesburg-Leesville schools where she completed her K-11
education before schools switched to K-12 education, and instead of walking a
half mile to schools in Columbia, she had to walk five miles each way in the
country; and

W
hereas, as a young
child, Juanita assisted with the care of her seven younger siblings: sisters
Audrey, Lovie, Zenobia, Delaine, Evaughn, and Helen, and brother Charles. After
high school, she married Matthew Hartley Sr., and they were blessed with nine children:
sons James, Matthew Jr., John, Christopher, Vinson, and Vernon, and daughters
Shirley, Alice, and Sandra; and

W
hereas, Mrs. Hartley
was known for her keen cooking skills, especially baking wedding cakes and her
homecooked meals for anyone stopping by her home at a moment's notice. She
worked at numerous jobs, including as a domestic worker, seamstress, an
employee at Garber's Clothing store, a factory worker at Knight's Industries,
and an employee at Harris Shealy Furniture Company. She also served for many
years as a case worker with the Lexington County Department of Social Services
(DSS); and

W
hereas, Mrs. Hartley returned
to live in Columbia in 1977 on her late maternal grandparent's land in the
Taylors community, and she retired from DSS in 1983. After retiring, she
married Ezell Bryson and was blessed with a bonus daughter, Ella Dean Wider; a
grandson, Gary Wider; and a bonus niece, Barbara Suber, all of whom she enjoyed
over the years; and

W
hereas, she was
delighted in all of her fine children: all six of her sons served in various
branches of the military, and her daughters and bonus daughter held jobs in
careers, such as teaching, ministry, and state and local government. She has
been blessed to see the continuation of her loving family legacy in over one
hundred grandchildren and great-grandchildren who affectionately call her
MommaNita; and

W
hereas, living by the Golden
Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," Mrs. Bryson
regularly attended churches throughout her life and is now a member of Second
Union Baptist Church in Columbia. She enjoyed travel across the United States
and abroad and loves to read; and

W
hereas, the members of
the South Carolina Senate are pleased to honor this daughter of South Carolina
at the celebration of her one hundredth birthday and join with her family and
friends in congratulating her on reaching this extraordinary milestone. Now, therefore,

B
e it resolved by the
Senate
:

T
hat the members of the
South Carolina
Senate
, by this resolution,
congratulate Juanita Therese Brown Hartley Bryson on the occasion of her one
hundredth birthday and wish her a joyous birthday celebration and many years of
continued health and happiness.

B
e it further resolved
that a copy of this resolution be provided to Juanita Therese Brown Hartley
Bryson.

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This web page was last updated on January 13, 2026 at 1:05 PM