By Carley Wiggins
On Friday, January 15, Mr. Major Bethea was honored for his 60 years of service in the tailor and dry cleaning business serving the people of Dillon County since 1955 with a ceremony to unveil the naming of the Major Bethea Intersection.
If you have passed the intersection of Calhoun and MacArthur streets lately, I am sure you have noticed the signs at this intersection erected back in July for Bethea due to the efforts of our state representative, Jackie Hayes.
I could not think of a more deserving person to be remembered with this honor than Mr. Major Bethea.
Due to the heavy rains on Friday, the program was moved to the Dillon County Courthouse.
Judge James E. Lockemy was the master of ceremonies for the program.
There were many on hand to witness this presentation including Dillon County Council members, pastors from several churches, family members and friends. There were several speakers on the program who gave accolades and thanks to this grand old gentleman of 89 years upon this earth. The program included scripture and prayer by Jerry Gladden, Assistant Pastor of Lambs Chapel; welcome by Johnnie Luehrs, Dillon County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director; remarks by Kenny Smith, Pastor Ricky Rogers, and Delores McRae; remarks and response by members of the Bethea family; unveiling by Rep. Jackie Hayes; and closing prayer by Ronald McCall, McCoy’s Chapel.
His dear wife, Hattie, sat beside him as she has done for the past 65 years.
For the final part of the program, those who could took their umbrellas and went to the official unveiling of the signs.
The concurrent resolution to name the intersection states the following:
A CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
TO REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE INTERSECTION LOCATED AT THE JUNCTURE OF CALHOUN STREET AND MacARTHUR AVENUE IN THE TOWN OF DILLON “MAJOR BETHEA INTERSECTION” AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS AT THIS INTERSECTION THAT CONTAIN THIS DESIGNATION.
Whereas, it is altogether fitting that the South Carolina General Assembly should pause in its deliberations to commend the lifelong service of Major Bethea; and
Whereas, born in Robeson County, North Carolina, Major Bethea was reared by his loving grandmother and by his mother and stepfather, who early modeled a work ethic that shaped young Major’s life; and
Whereas, after graduating from high school in Baltimore, Maryland, he joined the United States Army in 1944 and served during World War II and in the Philippines. He was honorably discharged and completed Denmark Technical College on the G. I. Bill; and
Whereas, on March 18, 1947, Major Bethea married Hattie McDuffie, and together they reared six fine children, who have blessed their parents with the affection of thirteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. The Bethea’s have celebrated sixty-eight years of loving marriage to one another; and
Whereas, a professional tailor by trade, Major Bethea has owned and operated the same dry cleaning, laundry, and alterations business in Dillon since 1955. Although he started in a small rented facility, his business has successfully grown at three different locations and since 1993, has served the public on East Calhoun Street; and
Whereas, faithful members of McCoy’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Little Rock, the Bethea’s have been deeply involved in the church’s ministry and activities. He has served as a certified lay speaker-preacher with the United Methodist Church and even returned to the Philippines in 1993 on a missionary trip, and two years later he ministered in Israel; and
Whereas, Mr. Bethea was recognized for serving on the board of directors of the South Carolina Association of Regional Councils Pee Dee Regional Council of Governments for twenty-five years, and was one of thirty-two South Carolinians who were selected Businessmen of the Year in 2001 by the Wall Street Journal; and
Whereas, among his numerous honors for civic, religious, and commercial involvement, he was honored with induction into the Pee Dee Black Hall of Fame and received an invitation in 2007 to attend the President’s Dinner with President of the United States, George W. Bush; and
Whereas, it would be fitting and proper to recognize the many accomplishments of Major Bethea by naming an intersection in the Town of Dillon in his honor.
Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly request that the Department of Transportation name the intersection located at the juncture of Calhoun Street and McArthur Avenue in the Town of Dillon “Major Bethea Intersection” and erect appropriate markers or signs at this intersection that contain this designation.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Department of Transportation.
During Black History Month coming up next month, I will be telling you a lot more about one of Dillon County’s most deserving African-American citizens.
