[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 18 (Monday, February 1, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E83]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN MEMORY OF JOYCE C. HEARN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, February 1, 2021

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, South Carolina cherishes 
the service of Joyce C. Hearn who was devoted to the citizens of South 
Carolina. She served as the Campaign Manager for the late Chairman 
Congressman Floyd Spence and was crucial in building the new Republican 
Party with no elected Republicans, which in 2020 established the 
largest Republican majorities at all levels of government in 140 years.

                             Joyce C. Hearn

                            [Jan. 20, 2021]

       Columbia, South Carolina.--A family only graveside service 
     for Joyce C. Hearn will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, January 
     31, 2021, at Elmwood Cemetery. There will also be a 
     livestream of the service on Dunbar Funeral Home--Devine's 
     Facebook page: www.facebook.com/DunbarDevine.
       The Honorable Joyce C. Hearn died Wednesday. January 20, 
     2021. Born in Cedartown, Georgia, she was the daughter of the 
     late J.C. Camp and Carolyn Carter Camp. At age 16, she 
     enrolled at West Georgia College, where she met her future 
     husband, Thomas H. Hearn. She transferred to the University 
     of Georgia and graduated with a Bachelors in Education from 
     Ohio State University. After graduation, they moved to 
     Columbia, South Carolina, where she taught at Eau Claire High 
     School.
       She was most proud of her service to the people of South 
     Carolina. She entered public life working with the 1970 
     Census, rising through the ranks to become both North and 
     South Carolina's Director of the U.S. Census. She was active 
     in the S. C. Republican Party until her retirement in 2015, 
     working tirelessly to elect Republicans. She championed every 
     Republican presidential candidate from Barry Goldwater to 
     George W. Bush.
       She was involved in every aspect of elective life. She 
     began as a party volunteer in Richland County; by 1972, she 
     was Chair of the Richland County Republican Party. From there 
     she went into elective office, representing District 76 in 
     the South Carolina Legislature from 1975 to 1990. In her 
     first race, she was described by The State newspaper as a 
     ``housewife'' who was just running as a placeholder until a 
     real candidate could be found. But she was never a 
     placeholder. In subsequent elections, The State described her 
     victories as ``landslides'' or once, when she had a 40% lead 
     over a local attorney, an ``earthquake.''
       For years, Representative Hearn was the only woman in the 
     S. C. Legislature, but she was always a force that could not 
     be overlooked. Well respected by her peers, she was named 
     assistant minority leader from 1976 to 1978 and 1987-1989. 
     From that position she worked tirelessly to protect the 
     rights of crime victims. Her work to expand the prosecution 
     of rape to include degrees of criminal sexual assault has 
     changed the way the South Carolina public views rape, giving 
     hope to all victims of domestic violence.
       In 1990, Gov. Carroll Campbell appointed Representative 
     Hearn to be Chairman of the Alcoholic Beverage Control 
     Commission. Afterwards, at a time when many of her colleagues 
     were retiring, she began a second career in public relations 
     with her own company Hearn & Associates, until her final 
     retirement in 2014.
       She was a woman of many interests. She was a founder of the 
     National Order of Women Legislators, which to this day 
     provides a national forum for women's networking across all 
     state legislatures. In 1979, Gov. Edwards awarded her the 
     Order of the Palmetto for her many contributions to South 
     Carolina. She was active in many diverse organizations, such 
     as the Boards of the Columbia Urban League, the Federation of 
     the Blind, Columbia College, and many others.
       She also served on the board of the Columbia Museum. Many 
     associations named her Legislator of the Year; the 
     Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, the S.C. Association 
     of Disabled Citizens, and the S.C. Committee on Sexual 
     Assault, to name a few. She received the 1985 Mothers Against 
     Drunk Driving Distinguished Service Award for her work 
     regarding Open Containers and raising the drinking age to 21. 
     Representative Hearn served as chairman of the National 
     Advisory Commission on Occupational Safety and Health.
       First and foremost, she loved her family; she was a devoted 
     mother and grandmother, always there in time of need. She 
     also loved golfing at Fripp Island (she was an avid fan of 
     Tiger Woods) and playing Bridge with her friends. She was a 
     jokester and highly competitive, making every game fun for 
     all. She was a winner at everything she did.
       Representative Hearn was a member of Kathwood Baptist 
     Church and a Sunday school regular.
       Surviving are her daughters, Terri Hearn Bailey (Joseph 
     Stan), Kimberly H. Johnson of Columbia, and C. Lee Hearn 
     Becker (Karl) of Manassas, VA. She has six grandchildren, 
     Carter Reston Potts, Joyce Carolyn ``Josie'' Bailey (Sudesh 
     Kalyanswamy), Ruth Elisabeth ``Lisa'' Bailey, and Sarah Hearn 
     Bailey, as well as Jason Thomas Becker and Daniel Gustav 
     Becker. She was so looking forward to Sarah's upcoming 
     marriage to Christopher Michael Siercks on February 13. In 
     addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, 
     Thomas Harry Hearn.
       Memorials may be made to Kathwood Baptist Church, 4900 
     Trenholm Rd., Columbia, SC 29206. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine 
     Street Chapel, is assisting the family. Memories may be 
     shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.

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