South Carolina H 3668: Joseph Elder Reynolds, Sr., sympathy

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3668 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 29, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3668

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 PROFOUND SORROW OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF JOSEPH ELdER REYNOLDS SR. OF 
CALHOUN FALLS AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND MANY 
FRIENDS.

Whereas, the members of 
the South Carolina House of Representatives were deeply saddened to learn of 
the passing of Joseph Elder Reynolds, Sr., on September 14, 2024, at the 
venerable age of 101; and

Whereas, born in 
Calhoun Falls, on January 4, 1923, he was the fifth of six children born to the 
late Reverend Spearman and Mrs. Grace Ware Reynolds; and

Whereas, Mr. Reynolds graduated 
from Abbeville County Training School in 1941, Allen University in 1948, and 
Columbia University in 1956. He proudly served in the United States Air Force 
for three years before starting his career in education; and

Whereas, Mr. Reynolds began as 
a high school English teacher in Elberton, Georgia, and later taught fifth 
grade at Carver Middle School. His exceptional leadership and dedication to his 
profession quickly led to his promotion as principal of Carver School, a 
position he held from 1952 to 1972; and

Whereas, Mr. Reynolds played a 
crucial role in the successful integration of Carver Middle School in 1972, 
ensuring a smooth transition for students, teachers, and parents. Under his 
guidance, the school achieved accreditation by the Southern Association of 
Colleges and Schools; and

Whereas, in 1984, the Abbeville 
County Board of Commissioners decided to close Carver Middle School, and Mr. Reynolds 
was appointed as the principal of Due West Elementary School, where he served 
grades K-6; and

Whereas, Mr. Reynolds was a 
charter member of the Gamma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity at Allen 
University, the Rho Delta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, and a Life Member 
of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He also served on the Abbeville County 
School Board of Commissioners for twenty-two years and received numerous 
awards, including the GLE Erskine College Honorary Alumni Award and The Order 
of the Silver Crescent Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017; and

Whereas, above all, Mr. 
Reynolds was a devout member of Mt. Lebanon AME Church in Due West, SC, where 
he dedicated many years to serving as a steward, Sunday school teacher, Sunday 
school superintendent, and Class Leader; and

Whereas, he will be 
deeply missed by his wife of 68 years, Sylvenia Wardlaw Reynolds, his children, 
grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family and friends. Reynolds 
was preceded in death by his siblings James O. Reynolds, Josephine R. Baskin, 
Edith R. Holmes, Sarah R. Calhoun, and Cornell Reynolds. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House 
of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, express 
profound sorrow upon the passing of Joseph Elder Reynolds, Sr., of Calhoun 
Falls and the deepest sympathy be extended to his family and many friends.

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

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This web page was last updated on January 29, 2025 at 12:14 PM