A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of margaret taylor harper, former candidate for LIEUTENANT governor.

Whereas, Margaret Taylor was born on February 17, 1917, in Southport, North Carolina, to Charles Edward Taylor and Jessie Stevens Taylor; and
Whereas, Margaret Taylor earned a bachelor's degree from Greensboro College in 1937; and
Whereas, after college, Margaret Taylor married James M. Harper, Jr., editor of the State Port Pilot, a local newspaper in Southport; and
Whereas, Margaret Taylor Harper successfully ran an insurance company founded by her grandfather for a number of years and edited the State Port Pilot while her husband served in the United States Navy during World War II; and
Whereas, Margaret Taylor Harper went on to serve as executive secretary of the North Carolina Press Association from 1969 to 1978 and was inducted into the North Carolina Journalism Hall of Fame in 1987; and
Whereas, Margaret Taylor Harper rendered distinguished service to her community, serving on many boards in various leadership capacities, including the Southport Woman's Club, Brunswick County Library Board, and North Carolinians for Better Libraries; and
Whereas, Margaret Taylor Harper served on the Boards of Trustees for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of North Carolina, and North Carolina Wesleyan College, the Board of Governors for Research Triangle Institute, and Board of Directors of Carolina Power and Light Company; and
Whereas, Margaret Taylor Harper served as president of the North Carolina Democratic Women and chair of the North Carolina Council of Women's Organizations; and
Whereas, Margaret Taylor Harper sought the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor during the 1968 and 1972 elections; and
Whereas, Margaret Taylor Harper was devoted to the Trinity United Methodist Church in Southport, serving as a Sunday school teacher and the organist for more than 50 years; and
Whereas, Margaret Taylor Harper served as chair of the Methodist Retirement Home in the City of Durham and played a vital role in establishing Croasdaile Village, a retirement community in that city; and
Whereas, Margaret Taylor Harper was recognized for her many contributions, receiving honorary degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Greensboro College and recognition from the Council of Women's Organizations as a Woman of Distinction in 1987; and
Whereas, Margaret Taylor Harper died on October 11, 2009, at the age of 92; and
Whereas, Margaret Taylor Harper leaves to cherish her memories two sons, James M. Harper III and Edward T. Harper; four grandchildren, James M. Harper IV, Margaret Tuttle, Julianne Hollingsworth, and Morgan Harper of Southport; and seven great-grandchildren, Kathleen Tuttle, Clay Tuttle, Sierra Shell, Anna Holcomb, Jonah Gouger, Joshua Mote, and Marisa Mote; Now, therefore,

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

SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the life of Margaret Taylor Harper and expresses the appreciation of this State and its citizens for her life and service to her community and State.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly extends its sympathy to the family of Margaret Taylor Harper for the loss of a beloved family member.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of Margaret Taylor Harper.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 1st day of July, 2010.

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		 Walter H. Dalton
	 President of the Senate

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		 Joe Hackney
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives