South Carolina H 3995: Dr. Norman Gamble, 30th pastoral anniversary

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3995 Text of Previous Version (Feb. 13, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3995

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

A concurrent RESOLUTION

To Recognize the Historical 
Significance of the Bunyon Thompson Family to Fairfield County and Acknowledge 
the Contributions of Tommie Lee and Eunice Shelton Thompson, Gethsemane School, 
and Gethsemane Baptist Church.

Whereas, Bunyon Thompson, the first Black landowner in Fairfield 
County, played a pivotal role in shaping the community's development by 
overcoming significant racial and economic barriers to become a prosperous 
landowner and community leader, setting a precedent for African American 
families in the region during the early twentieth century; and 

Whereas, Bunyon Thompson's contributions to the Gethsemane community 
were instrumental in the establishment of Gethsemane Baptist Church and 
Gethsemane School through the donation of timber, labor, and financial 
resources, which provided a foundation for the community's spiritual and 
educational advancement; and 

Whereas, the Gethsemane Church, built on land donated by the Thompson 
family, was founded in 1850 by Reverend Nelson Davis and has served as a beacon 
of faith and a gathering place for worship and community unity, enriching the 
lives of countless individuals in Fairfield County for one hundred seventy-five 
years; and 

Whereas, Gethsemane School, also constructed with the support of the 
Thompson family, served as a vital educational institution for African American 
children in Fairfield County for decades, with Eunice Shelton Thompson serving 
as the first headmaster, educating generations of students, and fostering the 
values of learning, discipline, and community service; and 

Whereas, Tommie Lee Thompson, son of Bunyon Thompson, continued his 
family's legacy of leadership by serving as a trustee for both Gethsemane 
Baptist Church and Gethsemane School while establishing himself as a successful 
businessman who provided essential services to the community, including running 
a gas station and convenience store that supported the local economy; and 

Whereas, the Thompson House, built by Tommie Lee and Eunice Shelton 
Thompson in the early 1930s, became a hub for community activity, offering a 
place of rest, comfort, and support for local residents, particularly students 
and churchgoers who walked miles to school and church, and a source of 
stability during times of economic hardship, such as the Great Depression; and 

Whereas, the Thompson House is historically significant as the 
birthplace of two notable descendants, Tommy Scott Young, an internationally 
recognized poet, playwright, and storyteller, and esteemed educator Felicia 
Young Trower, both of whom have continued the Thompson family's legacy of 
leadership, service, and cultural contribution, inspiring future generations; 
and 

Whereas, the Thompson family's enduring legacy of community service, 
educational leadership, and business enterprise has had a lasting impact on 
Fairfield County, contributing to the advancement of African Americans in the 
region and embodying the values of resilience, perseverance, and generosity; 
and 

Whereas, the preservation of the Thompson House, Gethsemane Baptist 
Church, and Gethsemane School as historical and cultural landmarks will ensure 
that the legacy of the Thompson family and their contributions to Fairfield 
County are honored and remembered for generations to come. Now, therefore,

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

That the members of the South 
Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize the historical 
significance of the Bunyon Thompson Family to Fairfield County and acknowledge 
the contributions of Tommie Lee and Eunice Shelton Thompson, Gethsemane School, 
and Gethsemane Baptist Church.

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This web page was last updated on February 13, 2025 at 11:30 AM