South Carolina H 3787: John Stroman sympathy

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3787 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 28, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3787

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A house RESOLUTION

to EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE 
SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF Civil Rights Activist 
John Wesley Stroman OF Orangeburg COUNTY AND TO EXTEND THEIR DEEPEST SYMPATHY 
TO HIS LARGE AND LOVING FAMILY AND HIS MANY FRIENDS.

Whereas, the members of 
the South Carolina House of Representatives were saddened to learn of the death 
of John Wesley Stroman at the age of eighty-one on Sunday, October 6, 2024; and

Whereas, born in Orangeburg 
on November 25, 1942, he was the son of Johnetta Maxwell and Moses Clay 
Stroman. As a toddler, he was taken to Savannah where he was reared by his 
maternal grandparents, John and Emma Maxwell; and

Whereas, young John was 
educated in the public schools of Savannah, Georgia, graduating from Beech High 
School in 1960. On St. Patrick's Day of that year, he became involved in the 
Civil Rights Movement when a white man pushed a black girl, and she struck 
back, jumping on him. Blacks and whites started fighting and disrupted the 
parade. Mr. Stroman was among the group of Blacks rounded up by the police, 
placed into a paddy wagon and taken to jail; and 

Whereas, in 1963, he 
enrolled as a freshman at South Carolina State College in Orangeburg. At that 
time, the Civil Rights Movement was challenging the segregated society even 
more. In 1967, Stroman and two other students started the Student Action 
Committee, a civil rights organization, on the campus of South Carolina State. 
They were very instrumental in turning the wheels of justice at South Carolina State 
and in the State of South Carolina. Their movement, known as "The Cause," focused 
on grievances at South Carolina State College; and

Whereas, the most 
notable event of Mr. Stroman's collegiate life was the students' effort to 
integrate the All-Star Triangle bowling alley on Russell Street. On February 8, 
1968, state police opened fire on a group of about 200 unarmed student 
protestors on the campus of South Carolina State. The Orangeburg Massacre 
claimed the lives of three students and caused injury to some twenty-eight others; 
and

Whereas, Mr. Stroman 
went on to graduate from South Carolina State where he earned a bachelor's 
degree in professional chemistry in 1969 and later, a master's degree in 
mathematics education in 1976. He enjoyed a twenty-nine-year career as a 
teacher of mathematics and chemistry at Edisto High and Elloree Elementary schools 
before going to Walterboro where he taught math at Colleton High School. He 
continued to remain active in civil rights and community events with 
memberships in the NAACP, the Concerned Citizens of District 96, and as a 
member of Masjid Taqwa, the Islamic Center and place of worship in Orangeburg; 
and

Whereas, Mr. Stroman's 
decades-long service to the Civil Rights Movement was honored in June 2010 as the 
Edisto Drive community renamed the old Blue Light Cafe as The John W. Stroman 
Senior Citizen Center. This became a location for seniors to congregate, enjoy 
activities, and serve as mentors to a younger population. The center has since 
been renamed The Edisto Drive Senior Citizens Center; and

Whereas, together with 
his beloved wife, Mary Cox Stroman, he reared three fine children: Mossi 
Stroman of Orangeburg, Zakiyyah Stroman of Blythewood, and Khaleelah Stroman of 
Aiken. His children blessed him with the affections of five loving grandchildren: 
Zaiid, Khaleel, LeeLan, ZaLeeah, and Jaycceon; and

Whereas, the members of 
the South Carolina House of Representatives are grateful for the life and 
legacy of John W. Stroman and for the example of service and courage he set for 
all who knew him. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House 
of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, express 
their profound sorrow upon the passing of Civil Rights activist John Wesley 
Stroman of Orangeburg County and extend their deepest sympathy to his large and 
loving family and his many friends.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this 
resolution be presented to the family of John Wesley Stroman. 

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This web page was last updated on January 28, 2025 at 01:17 PM