Section of Darlington road being named for Patrol’s commander

S.C. Highway Patrol Commander Col. Christopher N. Williamson is being honored by having a section of Society Hill Road named after him. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

A section of Society Hill Road in Darlington County is being named after a Darlington native who is now the first African-American commander of the S.C. Highway Patrol. A ceremony was held Saturday at Darlington Raceway to dedicate that section of road to Col. Christopher N. Williamson. Col. Christopher N. Williamson Road will run from the intersection of Society Hill Road and Greenfield Road to its intersection with S.C. 34. The Legislature passed a resolution approving the change. The resolution says: “Whereas, Col. Christopher N. Williamson, a native of Darlington, attended Rosenwald High School in Society Hill, where he excelled in academics and athletics. It was his athletic prowess that earned him a track scholarship to Fayetteville State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1985. Upon graduation, he returned home and began a career in law enforcement with the S.C. Department of Corrections, followed by a stint with the Darlington County Sheriff’s Department; and “Whereas, in 1988 he joined the S.C. Highway Patrol, completing the Highway Patrol Academy in May of that year. Through hard work and dedicated service to the people of this great state, he was promoted to the rank of corporal in 1998, lieutenant in 2001, captain in 2003, lieutenant colonel in 2011, and he served as deputy commander of the Highway Patrol; and “Whereas, on June 30, 2017, Williamson was bestowed the honor of being named commander of the South Carolina Highway Patrol, becoming the first African-American commander to lead this law enforcement agency; and “Whereas, during his storied law enforcement career, he earned a master’s degree in Clinical and Behavioral Counseling from Webster University. He went on to found Williamson Forward Progress Youth Services Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides services to youths and their families that include mentoring, discipline, behavioral intervention, and anger management, among others; and “Whereas, he is married to Deloris Williamson and together they are the proud parents of two daughters, Krissy and Daysha. They also have two granddaughters, Kristina and Kailyn. A strong believer in serving his community, he is a member of numerous organizations and serves on several boards statewide; and “Whereas, it would be fitting and proper to recognize this son of South Carolina for his lifelong commitment to serving and protecting the citizens of this state by having a highway interchange named in his honor.”

Author: Stephan Drew

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