TO CONGRATULATE AND COMMEND CHARLES EDWARD WILSON, SR., FOR THIRTY-NINE YEARS OF SERVICE AS A MEMBER OF THE SANTEE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC. BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND TO WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Whereas, from 1974 to 2013, Charles Edward Wilson, Sr., served as a member of the Santee Electric Cooperative Inc. Board of Trustees, retiring after thirty-nine years of distinguished service to the members of the cooperative; and

Whereas, born on July 21, 1942, Charles Edward Wilson, Sr., was the son of Robert Wilson, Sr., and Alice Easterling Wilson of Salters. A 1964 graduate of Tomlinson High School in Kingstree, the young Charles obtained his barber's license from the State of South Carolina and pursued further studies at Williamsburg Technical College, where he received a certificate for repairing small engines; and

Whereas, Mr. Wilson was employed by Drexel Heritage Furniture Company, Inc., in Kingstree for several years. In addition, he worked for Baxter Travenol Laboratories, Inc., for twenty-seven years until the plant closed in 1995. He also worked as a bus driver for Williamsburg School District. Currently, he is employed by Redmond-Richardson Funeral Home; and

Whereas, the first black appointed to the Santee Electric Cooperative Inc. Board of Trustees, Charles Wilson also was the first black to be elected trustee for the Santee Electric Cooperative by the members at large. Further, Mr. Wilson served on the Williamsburg County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Committee. As a man of faith, he is a member of Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Salters, where he serves on the board of trustees; and

Whereas, Charles Wilson finds strength for his labors in the strong support of his family: his wife of forty-nine years, the former Helen Susie Mae Epps; their five children, Thaddeus, Chandra, Felicia, Corey, and Charles; and their eight delightful grandchildren, Alexis, Ashton, Ahmad, Joshua, Caleb, Christina, Gabrielle, and Myles; and

Whereas, grateful for the legacy of consistent commitment and leadership Charles Wilson has bestowed on this great State, the Senate takes great pleasure in wishing him well and trusts he is finding much enjoyment in the more leisurely pace of his retirement days. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, congratulate and commend Charles Edward Wilson, Sr., for thirty-nine years of service as a member of the Santee Electric Cooperative Inc. Board of Trustees, and wish him continued success and happiness in all his future endeavors.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be provided to Charles Edward Wilson, Sr.