South Carolina H 5623: Mary “Bridgette� Parker Coates, retirement

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5623 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 30, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 5623

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

A house RESOLUTION

TO HONOR MARY "BRIDGETTE" PARKER COATES UPON THE 
OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT, COMMEND HER FOR THIRTY-FOUR YEARS OF DEDICATED 
PUBLIC SERVICE, AND WISH HER MUCH HAPPINESS AND FULFILLMENT IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

Whereas, the members of 
the South Carolina House of Representatives are pleased to recognize Mary 
"Bridgette" Parker Coates upon the occasion of her retirement from the Pee Dee 
Regional Council of Governments after an outstanding career spanning thirty-four 
years of exemplary public service; and

Whereas, Bridgette 
Coates began her distinguished career in July 1989 as a regional planner with 
the Pee Dee Regional Council of Governments, demonstrating early on her 
commitment to improving the quality of life for citizens throughout the region. 
In 1991, at the request of Executive Director Johnny Brown, she assumed 
leadership in establishing the Jobs Training Partnership Act program, laying a 
strong foundation for workforce development initiatives that would evolve over 
time into the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. After leading the 
program for nine years, she temporarily stepped away in 1997 to devote her time 
to raising her children, returning in 2000 as a workforce developer and 
continuing her legacy of service for more than two additional decades; and

Whereas, throughout her 
tenure, Bridgette Coates has been instrumental in securing and managing 
numerous state, federal, and private grants that have provided critical 
workforce training opportunities for the Pee Dee region, always demonstrating 
humility by recognizing the collective efforts of her team and the Workforce 
Board; and

Whereas, among her many 
accomplishments, in 2020 she successfully authored, compiled, and coordinated a 
grant proposal that resulted in an award of five million dollars from the 
United States Department of Labor, providing essential training resources to 
healthcare institutions, including McLeod Regional Medical Center, and enabling 
countless individuals to enter the healthcare workforce and secure meaningful 
employment; and

Whereas, her work has 
included collaboration with major employers such as Harbor Freight, Honda, 
McLeod Regional Medical Center, Otis, and Perdue, resulting in strengthened partnerships 
that have enhanced workforce training and economic development throughout the 
region; and

Whereas, in 2024, she 
was again appointed director of workforce development and faithfully 
facilitated local workforce development board activities, ensured compliance 
with federal and state requirements, coordinated regional workforce 
initiatives, and maintained effective communication with stakeholders, 
including city and county governments across the Pee Dee, The workforce 
programs she has helped guide or been involved with have delivered millions of 
dollars in training and development funding, creating a profound economic 
impact on the Pee Dee region during her tenure; and

Whereas, a graduate of 
Meredith College with a Bachelor of Arts in political science, she further 
earned a Master of Public Administration from North Carolina State University, which 
equipped her with the knowledge and leadership skills that have benefited the 
citizens of South Carolina; and

Whereas, she is devoted 
to her family, being the beloved wife of Marty Coates and the proud mother of 
two adult children, Luke Coates and Rachel Edwards Coates, and she looks 
forward to retirement, when she will spend more time with her parents and her 
grandson, Benson Edwards. Further, she and her husband are covenant partners at 
First Presbyterian Church in Florence, where they continue to serve their 
community with faith and commitment; and

Whereas, the South 
Carolina House is grateful for Mary "Bridgette" Parker Coates' remarkable 
career and her lasting contributions to workforce development and the economic 
vitality of the Pee Dee region. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the 
South Carolina House of Representatives, 
by this resolution, honor Mary "Bridgette" Parker Coates upon the occasion of 
her retirement, commend her for thirty-four years of dedicated public service, 
and wish her much happiness and fulfillment in the years ahead. 

Be it further resolved 
that a copy of this resolution be presented to Mary "Bridgette" Parker Coates.

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This web page was last updated on April 30, 2026 at 12:50 PM