South Carolina H 3712: Dr. Margaree Crosby sympathy

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3712 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 15, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3712

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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A house RESOLUTION

TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE 
SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF Civil Rights leader 
Dr. Margaree S. Crosby OF Greenville COUNTY AND TO EXTEND THEIR DEEPEST 
SYMPATHY TO HER LARGE AND LOVING FAMILY AND HER MANY FRIENDS.

Whereas, the members of 
the South Carolina House of Representatives were saddened to learn of the death 
of Dr. Margaree S. Crosby at the age of eighty-two on Friday, November 8, 2024; 
and

Whereas, born in 
Greenville County, she was the youngest of four girls born to the late Mark 
Seawright and Josie Williams Seawright. She graduated from Sterling High School 
in Greenville in 1959 and earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education 
from then South Carolina State College in 1963; and

Whereas, Dr. Crosby 
actively protested for the improvement of social issues, and in 1960 as one of 
the "Greenville 8" which included Jessie Jackson, she made her first mark in 
the fight for Civil Rights and equality as part of a sit-in protest, resulting 
in the desegregation of the Greenville County Public Library; and 

Whereas, in 1973, she 
earned a master's degree in reading education from Clemson University and a doctorate 
in reading/elementary education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst 
in 1976. She began working at Clemson University in 1977, becoming a full professor 
of reading and language arts and retiring in 1985 as professor emerita of 
Clemson University; and

Whereas, dedicated to 
her community, Dr. Crosby was also a proud life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha 
Sorority, Inc., Epsilon Tau Omega Chapter, and participated in the sorority's 
mission of sisterhood and service. She was a charter associate and life member 
of the Greenville Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., a charter member of 
the Greenville chapter of The MOLES, Quette of Mu Pi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi 
Fraternity, Inc., and a member The Chums, Greenville Chapter; and

Whereas, she was the 
first woman board member to serve in the over-eighty-year history of the 
Greenville Memorial Hospital System, and the first African American female to 
become a professor of education at Clemson University, where she tenured in 
1992. She was also South Carolina's first recipient of the Women's Achievement 
Award, in addition to Who's Who in American Education; and 

Whereas, Dr. Crosby was 
a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church and was later baptized and joined 
Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Greenville; and

Whereas, together with 
her late husband of almost sixty years, Willis Herman Crosby Jr., she reared three 
fine children: Michelle Beasley of Simpsonville; Anthony Crosby of Atlanta, Georgia; 
and Erich Garrett of Greenville. She enjoyed the adoration of eight 
grandchildren: Lauren Alexis Beasley, Peyton Rockefeller Beasley, Anjali Bianca 
Crosby, Avi Bernard Crosby, Bri Young, Tyrell Young, Domonique Garrett, and 
Adrian Mansell. She was blessed to see the continuation of her courageous 
family legacy in her great-grandchild, Cairo Young; and

Whereas, the South 
Carolina House of Representatives is grateful for the life and legacy of Margaree 
Crosby and for the example of courage and commitment she set for all who knew 
her. 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 leader Dr. Margaree S. 
Crosby of Greenville County and extend their deepest sympathy to her large and 
loving family and her many friends.

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

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This web page was last updated on January 15, 2025 at 04:25 PM