Floor SpeechCeremonial2024-12-11

TRIBUTE TO MARY WITHERSPOON BLANDING

TaxesEducation

Context

On 2024-12-11, Representative James E. Clyburn (D-SC-6) delivered a floor speech titled "TRIBUTE TO MARY WITHERSPOON BLANDING" in the House. The speech addressed taxes and also covered education.

Full Text

TRIBUTE TO MARY WITHERSPOON BLANDING

Congressional Record, Volume 170 Issue 184 (Wednesday, December 11, 2024) [Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 184 (Wednesday, December 11, 2024)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E1256-E1257] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO MARY WITHERSPOON BLANDING ______ HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN of south carolina in the house of representatives Wednesday, December 11, 2024 Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a long-time public servant in my hometown of Sumter, South Carolina. Mrs. Mary Witherspoon Blanding is retiring as Clerk to the Sumter County Council after 34 years. Mrs. Blanding was selected as County Clerk in April, 1990 and is the longest serving Clerk in Sumter County Council history. Mrs. Blanding is the third child of the late Dea. John Ivory Witherspoon and the late Deaconess Dorothy Mae Smith Witherspoon. She grew up in South Sumter and attended Sumter County schools during the days of segregation. After graduating from Sumter High School, she received a Diploma from Palmer Junior College and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Morris College. She later attended Phoenix University, and earned her certification as a Certified Clerk to County and Certification as a Master Clerk to County Council from the Riley Center of the College of Charleston. Mary is also certified as a Dean of Christian Education through the South Carolina Baptist Congress of Christian Education (SCBCCE), where she also earned her teacher Certificate and a Diploma for Christian Education. Mrs. Blandings public service stems from many years of volunteer services rendered toward grassroots efforts, in schools, and faith- based activities throughout Sumter and Clarendon Counties. She has served as a committee member of the Sumter Chamber of Commerce, the former Secretary and Treasurer of the Santee Wateree Regional Transportation Board of Directors, and a member of the Business and Office Advisory Board for Central Carolina Technical College. During her tenure on the S.C. Clerks to Council Association, she was selected as President and served on the Certification Committee. She is also an active member of the newly established Women Pioneer Luncheon Committee and, in 2020, served as an Honorary Wing Commander at Shaw Air Force Base. Over her career, Mrs. Blanding has been selected for numerous honors and awards, such as the J. T. McCain Public Service Award, the American Association of Women in Community and Junior Colleges Award, a TWIN Honoree (Tribute to Women In Business and Industry), a Government Honoree for Mt. Zion Baptist Church Black History Month, and the Woman of Excellence Award by the Social Justice Consortium. Prior to her professional career, Mrs. Blanding became the first student to be honored as Miss Sumter High School in 1970, and the first Black student crowned as Ms. Palmer Junior College in Charleston, South Carolina. Mrs. Blanding is married to Kenneth Orlando Blanding. They have four children, Jamie (Carl), Kimberly (Eric), Elijah, and Zoie, and two grandsons, Brian and Micah. She is a member of Hopewell Baptist Church where she serves as a Deaconess, Program Committee Chairwoman, Christian Education Director, Church School Teacher, and a member of the Praise and Workshop Ministry, Sanctuary Choir, and Women Ministry. She loves gardening--especially herbs, peppers, and tomatoes--and traveling and trying new dishes during her travel. Mrs. Blanding has fostered peace and prosperity for the entire Sumter Community throughout her decades of service. One of Mrs. Blanding's life mottos is ``as much as possible within you, live peaceably with all persons.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and our colleagues join me in recognizing the remarkable career of Mrs. Mary Witherspoon Blanding, and wishing her continued success and many [[Page E1257]] blessings as she begins the next chapter of her life. ____________________

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TRIBUTE TO MARY WITHERSPOON BLANDING Congressional Record, Volume 170 Issue 184 (Wednesday, December 11, 2024) [Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 184 (Wednesday, December 11, 2024)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E1256-E1257] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO MARY WITHERSPOON BLANDING ______ HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN of south carolina in the house of representatives Wednesday, December 11, 2024 Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a long-time public servant in my hometown of Sumter, South Carolina. Mrs. Mary Witherspoon Blanding is retiring as Clerk to the Sumter County Council after 34 years. Mrs. Blanding was selected as County Clerk in April, 1990 and is the longest serving Clerk in Sumter County Council history. Mrs. Blanding is the third child of the late Dea. John Ivory Witherspoon and the late Deaconess Dorothy Mae Smith Witherspoon. She grew up in South Sumter and attended Sumter County schools during the days of segregation. After graduating from Sumter High School, she received a Diploma from Palmer Junior College and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Morris College. She later attended Phoenix University, and earned her certification as a Certified Clerk to County and Certification as a Master Clerk to County Council from the Riley Center of the College of Charleston. Mary is also certified as a Dean of Christian Education through the South Carolina Baptist Congress of Christian Education (SCBCCE), where she also earned her teacher Certificate and a Diploma for Christian Education. Mrs. Blandings public service stems from many years of volunteer services rendered toward grassroots efforts, in schools, and faith- based activities throughout Sumter and Clarendon Counties. She has served as a committee member of the Sumter Chamber of Commerce, the former Secretary and Treasurer of the Santee Wateree Regional Transportation Board of Directors, and a member of the Business and Office Advisory Board for Central Carolina Technical College. During her tenure on the S.C. Clerks to Council Association, she was selected as President and served on the Certification Committee. She is also an active member of the newly established Women Pioneer Luncheon Committee and, in 2020, served as an Honorary Wing Commander at Shaw Air Force Base. Over her career, Mrs. Blanding has been selected for numerous honors and awards, such as the J. T. McCain Public Service Award, the American Association of Women in Community and Junior Colleges Award, a TWIN Honoree (Tribute to Women In Business and Industry), a Government Honoree for Mt. Zion Baptist Church Black History Month, and the Woman of Excellence Award by the Social Justice Consortium. Prior to her professional career, Mrs. Blanding became the first student to be honored as Miss Sumter High School in 1970, and the first Black student crowned as Ms. Palmer Junior College in Charleston, South Carolina. Mrs. Blanding is married to Kenneth Orlando Blanding. They have four children, Jamie (Carl), Kimberly (Eric), Elijah, and Zoie, and two grandsons, Brian and Micah. She is a member of Hopewell Baptist Church where she serves as a Deaconess, Program Committee Chairwoman, Christian Education Director, Church School Teacher, and a member of the Praise and Workshop Ministry, Sanctuary Choir, and Women Ministry. She loves gardening--especially herbs, peppers, and tomatoes--and traveling and trying new dishes during her travel. Mrs. Blanding has fostered peace and prosperity for the entire Sumter Community throughout her decades of service. One of Mrs. Blanding's life mottos is ``as much as possible within you, live peaceably with all persons.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and our colleagues join me in recognizing the remarkable career of Mrs. Mary Witherspoon Blanding, and wishing her continued success and many [[Page E1257]] blessings as she begins the next chapter of her life. ____________________