TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE UPON THE DEATH OF MRS. MARY ANN MOULTRIE OF CHARLESTON AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Ms. Mary Ann Moultrie on April 27, 2015, at the age of seventy-three; and

Whereas, Ms. Moultrie, an icon in South Carolina's civil rights history, was the daughter of the late Dennis and Mable Moultrie of Charleston. She graduated from Burke High School in 1960 and attended the College of Charleston, where she majored in Sociology; and

Whereas, upon her graduation from the College of Charleston, she moved to Manhattan, New York, where she was employed by Goldwater Memorial Hospital. While in New York she earned a Licensed Practical Nursing certificate; and

Whereas, in 1966, Ms. Moultrie moved back to Charleston and began working as a nurse's assistant at the Medical College, now the Medical University of South Carolina; and

Whereas, in 1969, Moultrie, then a twenty-four-year-old nursing assistant, led a strike against the Medical College and Charleston County Hospital in order to protest the discriminatory practices, unequal pay, institutional harassment, and racial discord at the hospital. The 113-day strike began after Moultrie and eleven other employees were unfairly dismissed from their jobs. The strike prompted large rallies and street marches and drew the attention of local and national civil rights leaders, including Esau Jenkins, Septima Clark, Coretta Scott King, and Ralph Abernathy; and

Whereas, after the National Guard was brought in to impose curfews, and dozens of arrests were made, the strike ended with workers receiving increased wages and those who were terminated being reinstated; and

Whereas, Ms. Moultrie went on to work as a center manager for the City of Charleston's Department of Recreation for over twenty-eight years. Even after her retirement from the City of Charleston, Ms. Moultrie continued her efforts to preserve and improve workers' rights by helping the city's sanitation workers as the labor union organizer for Local 1199 from 2006 to 2010. She continues to volunteer her time with Local 1199; and

Whereas, Ms. Moultrie dedicated her life to the service of others. As a result of her service, Ms. Moultrie participated in a host of local and statewide lecture series and programs. She was featured in many news and magazine articles as well as publications chronicling the history of the Civil Rights Movement in Charleston; and

Whereas, in 2006, Ms. Moultrie was a panelist for the thirty-fifth anniversary of the African American Studies Program conference at the University of South Carolina. She was inducted into the South Carolina Black Hall of Fame the same year. Ms. Moultrie was the 2011 recipient of the Harvey Gantt Triumph Award, given annually to a person who has made great strides for civil rights and humanity; and

Whereas, Ms. Moultrie was actively involved in her church, the Evening of Prayer Church of God in Christ in North Charleston. She served as an evangelist and organizer for the women's department's Bible portrayal event. Ms. Moultrie loved to make ceramics, crochet, and give craft lessons to a senior ladies group called the Golden Girls; and

Whereas, Ms. Moultrie leaves behind her daughter, Arnise N. Moultrie of Columbia, and many friends who cherish her memory; and

Whereas, Ms. Moultrie will be remembered for her role in helping shape the civil rights landscape in Charleston and for fighting for the rights for hundreds of African American workers in South Carolina. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the Senate, by this resolution, express their profound sorrow upon the death of Mrs. Mary Ann Moultrie, of Charleston, and extend the deepest sympathy to her family and many friends.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the family of Ms. Mary A. Moultrie.