For the last 34 years, the Walterboro Shrine Club of Arabian Temple #139 has sponsored the town’s parade honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The nation honors the slain civil rights leader whose mission was to fight for all people who had been oppressed by unjust laws and immoral abuses. King vowed, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Serving this year as parade marshal is longtime educator (now retired) and community activist Dr. Queenie L. Crawford. She said, “I am most grateful and humbled to have been chosen for this honor, knowing I was selected from among many other candidates. It lets me know that the Shriners saw something I have done as an educator and a community activist to be deserving of such an honor.”
Dr. Crawford’s desire is to continue to engage in and create community, civic, and service programs to honor Dr. King’s life and lasting legacy. “I appreciate the legacy of Dr. King in his role of opposing racial decimation policies and leading the Civil Rights Movement,” she said. “As a seventh-grader, I vividly recall the experience of accompanying my mother as she stood in line waiting to register to vote. She diligently studied to learn the preamble of the United States Constitution, fearing that she would not pronounce all the words correctly. I shall always remember that beaming smile as she exited the general store with her voter registration credentials. Thoughts of growing up in the household of a single parent serve as my impetus to work with our youth and other members of our communities, especially in the area of volunteerism.”
A native Colletonian, Dr. Crawford, a dedicated “Wolverine,” is a 1966 graduate of Colleton High School. In 1970 she graduated with a bachelor of arts in English from Claflin University in Orangeburg. She did further study at South Carolina State University, also in Orangeburg, receiving a masters of education in learning disabilities (1979), and both an education specialist (1998) and a doctorate of education (2002) in educational administration/counseling degrees. Her academic appointments include the following: English teacher and department head at Walterboro High School; principal, Ruffin High School; executive director of South Carolina Curriculum Congress, S.C. State Department of Education; director, Colleton County Alternative School; and interim principal, Edisto Beach Elementary School.
Further, her employment consists of church administrator (presently), Faith Tabernacle Deliverance Temple in Orangeburg, although she has served as a longtime volunteer of the church; Fifth Grade Transition Project, Colleton County School District; consultant for teacher evaluation, staff development presenter, and Colleton County principal evaluation Project.
In 2013 Dr. Crawford founded Institute of HOPE for Excellency Inc., and currently remains the president. This organization is a nonprofit that is committed to Helping Others Pursue Excellence (HOPE), focusing on career development and character building for youth and adults. From 2001-present, she has been the CEO of Genes For Glory Consulting Agency. The agency provides services to schools in areas such as teacher evaluations, parent involvement programs, motivating the high-risk child, and motivational speaking. She has traveled the state conducting workshops and giving professional presentations in a number of areas and levels.
Since 1995, she has been a motivational speaker, not only for her church and other local organizations, but also for several in South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Virginia. When the Shriners select someone as their Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., parade marshal each year, their focus is to highlight someone who has made significant contributions in service and support to the Colleton County community and surrounding areas, and promotes Dr. King’s legacy.
Dr. Crawford’s commendations for her work include: Forest Hills Elementary Certificate of Appreciation-Volunteering, 2007 Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Orangeburg County Certificate of Achievement, 2005 Colleton County Pre-school Program Certificate of Commendation, Volunteering, 2001 Technical College of the Lowcountry Service Award in support of the Educational Talent Search Program, 1995-96 S.C. Department of Education Certificate of Commendation Review Committee for Jasper County School District 1998 S.C. Association for Rural Education Service Award, President 1997-98 S.C. Association for Rural Education Service Award, President 1996-97 S.C. Association for Rural Education Service Award Vice President, 1995-96 S.C. Association for Rural Education Service Award, Board of Directors 1993-96 Recognition of Ruffin High School under the leadership of Crawford for exceptional performance on the educational criteria established by the Board of Education, declaring the school as an Incentive Reward Program winner, 1992-1993 Ruffin High School Outstanding Motivation and Leadership Award, 1992
Recognition by Faith Tabernacle Deliverance Temple as Dedicated church administrator, outstanding choir member, outstanding member of the women’s department, outstanding support staff of the FTDT Media Ministry, special recognition for service in the FTDT Sunday School Department, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2001.
Crawford served as chairperson of the scholarship committee and the Electrical Improvement Project for Colleton Training School/Colleton High School Alumni Association Inc.; worked with the Teachers’ Closet, sponsored by the Colleton High School Class of 1966; and volunteered in the schools — a testament to Dr. Crawford’s desire to promote and continue the legacy of Dr. King.
Although we celebrate him every third Monday in January, his actual birthday is January 15. When Crawford’s mother passed away, it was on Dr. King’s birthday. As we celebrate the mission of this great leader’s mission and legacy, let us remember a poignant statement he made about progress toward justice: “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.”
The Walterboro Shrine Club’s Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade will take place on Sunday Jan. 19, 2020, at 2:30 p.m. on Jefferies Boulevard.
