[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 60 (Tuesday, April 9, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E321-E322]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY CLARA WILLIAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 9, 2024

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all South 
Carolinians, I am grateful to wish Mrs. Clara Singleton Williams a 
happy 100th birthday.
  Clara Williams, a native of South Carolina, was born on April 9, 
1924, to parents Isaiah Singleton and Annie Livingston Singleton. She 
attended schools in Fairfield, Aiken, and Orangeburg County, where she 
graduated from Wilkerson High School. After, she furthered her 
education at Claflin University for two years.
  In 1946, Clara married Blanton Everett Williams, and together they 
had eleven children, twenty-nine grandchildren, forty-five great 
grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren. They purchased land 
and a home in Salley, South Carolina, where to this day Clara enjoys 
watching her vegetables and flowers grow. Blanton and Clara were 
happily married for sixty-one years until his death in 2007.
  Clara lives each day to the fullest with warm-hearted memories. Over 
the years, she has embraced diverse pursuits, including

[[Page E322]]

cooking, canning, farming, quilting, and caring for babies, all while 
dedicatedly managing her household and working for Aiken County Public 
Schools. Her spirit of generosity shines through in her unwavering 
commitment to caring for others. Whether tending to her own children 
and many grandchildren or extending her kindness to members of her 
community, Clara's compassion knows no bounds.
  As a devout Christian, Clara acknowledged her faith at an early age 
and was baptized at Good Hope Baptist Church in Ridgeway, South 
Carolina. She later became a member of Samaria Baptist Church in 
Springfield, South Carolina, where she still faithfully attends. Her 
love for both her church and her family is palpable, evident in her 
years of dedicated service to both.
  At the age of 100, Clara has witnessed many significant landmarks of 
American history: the Great Depression, World War II, Briggs v. 
Elliott, Brown v. Board of Education, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the 
Cold War,
9/11, and the first African American President of the United States.
  Today, I honor Mrs. Clara Singleton Williams and wish her a happy 
100th birthday. I am pleased to join her family and friends in 
congratulating her on this remarkable milestone.