South Carolina S 552: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO REMEMBER AND CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF PRESTON JACK DAVIS, JR., OF RICHLAND COUNTY AND TO EXTEND DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS LARGE AND LOVING FAMILY AND HIS MANY FRIENDS.

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 552 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 15, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 552

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

A concurrent RESOLUTION

TO congratulate Ridgewood Missionary Baptist church 
on the occasion of its centennial ANNIVERSArY AND TO CONGRATULATE AND HONOR 
REVEREND DARRIUS GRAVES AND THE CONGREGATION FOR THEIR YEARS OF DEDICATED 
SERVICE TO THE RIDGEWOOD COMMUNITY.

Whereas, the members of 
the South Carolina General Assembly are pleased to learn that Ridgewood 
Missionary Baptist Church of Richland County will celebrate its 
one-hundred-year anniversary in November 2025; and

Whereas, founded in 
1925 by Reverend Zachariah E. Dennis, the first service for the Ridgewood 
Tabernacle was held in the living room of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Knightner. As 
the congregation grew, the location, affectionately remembered as "Brush 
Arbor," moved to the front yard of the Knightner's home on Monticello Road. 
The edifice had no floors and the benches they sat on had no backs; and

Whereas, a building 
fund committee, formed in 1927 to raise monies for land in the Ridgewood 
community, purchased the lot at 5326 Ridgeway Street in Columbia. The first 
church was erected by Reverend Z.E. Dennis and men of the Ridgewood community. Candidates 
for baptism were baptized in a branch behind the church until a pool could be 
built under the pulpit inside of the church. Mr. Talley T. Marsh was the first 
person to be baptized in the branch; and

Whereas, upon the death 
of Rev. Dennis in 1955, Assistant Pastor Jeremiah W. Witherspoon was elected to 
serve as pastor. During his twelve-year tenure, ground was broken for the 
building of a new sanctuary in 1963. A time capsule was placed in the 
cornerstone of the new church; and

Whereas, Reverend Levi 
C. Chavous, a true visionary, took the helm of Ridgewood Missionary in 1967 and 
led the congregation to what would become decades worth of expansion and 
opportunity for community involvement, programs, community service, and 
interpersonal growth. Ridgewood Foundation Incorporated, a nonprofit tax-exempt 
organization was established, and the building fund grew. Improvements included 
a central heating and air system, carpeting, new pews, a ten thousand dollar 
organ, a communion table, and a surface parking lot. A new Family Life Center, 
now known as the L.C. Chavous Conference Center, added a daycare center, and 
gymnasium; and 

Whereas, Reverend 
Chavous pastored Ridgewood Missionary for forty years before retiring and 
handing the torch to Assistant Pastor Reverend Fred W. Coit, who was installed 
on June 1, 2008. Under Reverend Coit's guidance, business operations, 
ministries, and committees were expanded. Reverend Coit also appointed deacons, 
trustees, and named Reverend Darrius Graves as assistant pastor; and 

Whereas, while serving 
Ridgewood Missionary, Reverend Graves has been a member of the male chorus, the 
first responders ministry, and youth minister. On the retirement of Reverend 
Coit's June 1, 2024, Pastor Graves became the senior pastor and was installed 
in September of that year; and

Whereas, community 
involvement always has been a key component of Ridgewood Missionary as it 
enters its second century, with celebrations set for November 2025. A banquet, 
old-fashioned service, neighborhood picnic, a celebratory Sunday service, and 
the opening of a fifty-year-old time capsule are planned; and 

Whereas, it is only 
fitting and proper that the South Carolina General Assembly pause to 
congratulate Ridgewood Missionary on the occasion of its century of serving God 
and the community. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of 
Representatives concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General 
Assembly, by this resolution, congratulate Ridgewood Missionary Baptist church 
on the occasion of its centennial anniversary, and congratulate and honor 
Reverend Darrius Graves and the congregation for their years of dedicated 
service to the Ridgewood community.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution 
be presented to Reverend Darrius Graves, executive pastor of Ridgewood 
Missionary Baptist Church.

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This web page was last updated on April 15, 2025 at 12:35 PM