South Carolina S 536: Melva Jean Gilliam Bruton

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 536 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 04, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 536

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

A senate RESOLUTION

TO HONOR AND CONGRATULATE MELVA Jean gilliam BRUTON 
OF LYMAN ON HER RECENT ELECTION AS INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT AT LARGE OF THE 
INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF MINISTERS' WIVES AND MINISTERS' WIDOWS, INC.

Whereas, the South 
Carolina Senate is pleased to learn that Melva Jean Gilliam Bruton of Lyman was 
recently elected international vice president at large of the International 
Alliance of Ministers' Wives and Ministers' Widows Inc. (IAMWMW); and

Whereas, the seventh 
child of ten children, Melva Bruton has been married for fifty-three years to 
the Reverend Jimmie L. Bruton, pastor of New Faith Baptist Church in Lyman. In 
pastoral ministry for nearly forty years, she has been blessed with two 
children, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren; and

Whereas, this committed 
Christian lady, who serves alongside her husband at New Faith Baptist, is an 
Adult Class Sunday School teacher, as well as writer and coordinator of the 
church's Vacation Bible School programs, for which she develops, designs, and 
writes all original material and literature for all classes; and

Whereas, her Ministers' 
Wives and Ministers' Widows (MWMW) affiliations include service as past local 
president of the Greenville and Vicinity Interdenominational MWMW (1995-1999). 
She presently serves on the President's Council of the Greenville Ministers' 
Wives and Widows and various committees. Further, for sixteen years she served 
on the International Association of MWMW Finance Team as asset recovery 
specialist. In this position, she recovered over twenty thousand dollars in 
organizational assets; and

Whereas, among other 
offices past and present, she has held the post of state president of the South 
Carolina Association of Ministers' Wives and Ministers' Widows (2012-2016) and also 
has served as first vice president, secretary, and dean of education in the 
state association. Prior to her election as vice president at large of the 
international organization, she served as Southeast regional financial 
secretary (2000-2004), and she is the immediate past Southeast regional vice 
president (2018-2022); and

Whereas, Mrs. Bruton 
retired in 2015 from BI-LO/Southeastern Grocer Corporation after more than 
forty-five years of service and was certified in customer service management 
and asset recovery; and

Whereas, in preparation 
for her career, the young Melva completed her studies at Cecil's Business 
College and earned certificates through Furman University, Equifax Accounts 
Receivable Services, and other organizations. She also earned a Bible 
certificate from Dallas Theological Seminary (2020) and completed further 
studies; and

Whereas, in recognition 
of her spirit of excellence and dedicated service, Melva Bruton has received 
various honors, among them the 2005 South Carolina Ministers' Wife of the Year 
award; 2005 Shining Star Award from Dean Cohagan, CEO of BI-LO/Bruno LLC; and 
2016 South Carolina Senate Outstanding Community Service Award. In 2017, she 
was inducted into the International Association of MWMW Gallery of Fame, and in 
2023 she was a graduate in the First Cohort of the International Leadership 
Academy; and

Whereas, the South 
Carolina Senate appreciates the outstanding service that the IAMWMW provides to 
the citizens of this great State and beyond, and the members take great 
pleasure in recognizing Melva Bruton of Lyman as this fine organization's new 
international vice president at large. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, honor and 
congratulate Melva Jean Gilliam Bruton of Lyman on her recent election as 
international vice president at large of the International Alliance of 
Ministers' Wives and Ministers' Widows Inc.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution 
be presented to Melva Bruton.

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This web page was last updated on April 04, 2025 at 03:29 PM