TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR REVEREND GLORIA ROBINSON OF AIKEN FOR HER MANY YEARS OF SERVICE AS PASTOR TO FIRST CHURCH OF GOD, LEE STREET IN DARLINGTON; FOR HER CAREER IN NURSING; DEVOTED WIFE AND MOTHER; AND FOREMOST FOR BEING A FORGIVING PERSON AS SHE FORGAVE OTHERS AND GAVE HER HEART AND SOUL TO GOD.

Whereas, for two and a half years, Gloria Robinson lay in a hospital bed recuperating from severe burns covering a large portion of her body, including her face, torso and arms that she received when her childhood home was burned by the Ku Klux Klan in March of 1951; and

Whereas, miraculously, she escaped the attack that killed her two sisters and brother and destroyed the home she grew up in. When she thinks back on the attack, these events would change and direct Reverend Robinson's life; and

Whereas, after the attack happened, Reverend Robinson could not reconcile the combination of religion and racism. She did not understand how the cross could be so loving, yet represent so much hate at the same time; and

Whereas, Reverend Robinson was mistreated by nurses in the hospital for one and a half years and was thereafter treated at the Shriner's Hospital where she was the first black patient. The only thing that brought her through her time in the hospital was her dream to become a nurse and to prevent the kind of abuse she experienced in the first year and a half of her hospitalization from happening to others; and

Whereas, Reverend Robinson did become a nurse and became a nurse supervisor. However, after forty years in nursing, she realized her true calling which was to enter full-time ministry and teach others about forgiveness; and

Whereas, once Mrs. Robinson's childhood home was burned, her grandparents knew they could not rebuild the house. They donated the property to the Evening Light Church of God in Graniteville, where Reverend Robinson's husband, Leroy, currently serves as pastor; and

Whereas, Reverend Robinson has served as Pastor at First Church of God, Lee Street, in Darlington, for ten years, and she and her husband both serve at each other's church; and

Whereas, Reverends Leroy and Gloria Robinson have been married for fifty-two years. The Robinson's blessings are exemplified through their fruit. They have four children, five grandchildren and have served in a familial and pastoral capacity, with numerous success stories to many, always teaching love and forgiveness; and

Whereas, the forgiveness that Mrs. Robinson has shown to her siblings' murderers and initial hospital stay is an extraordinary testimony of God's love and the power to overcome evil that exists all around the world; and

Whereas, the members of the Senate are pleased to honor this daughter of South Carolina who, in spite of all of the wrongs committed against her, has given so much of her time serving God and to serving those around her. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the Senate, by this resolution, recognize and honor Reverend Gloria Robinson of Aiken for her many years of service to First Church of God, Lee Street, in Darlington.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mrs. Gloria Robinson.