By Jackie Perrone jacper@bellsouth.net Mary Richardson Briggs of Summerton died last week, but something special lives on, not only for her extensive family but for the entire state of South Carolina.

Mary Richardson Briggs with her great niece, Gretchen Huggins, May 2008.

This 85-year-old lady was responsible for the tune which became the official State Waltz of South Carolina, "The Richardson Waltz."

The Richardsons have been citizens of South Carolina since the early 1700s, and their descendants were taught music was an important part of the fabric of their lives.

Ninth-generation descendant Gretchen Huggins describes it this way:

"The Richardson Waltz is something we all grew up with, learning that our ancestors played mostly by ear, for many parties and dances. We have no way of knowing which ancestor actually put the tune together, but it has been passed down through our family for more than 200 years.

"My great- aunt Mary Richardson Briggs is the genuine musician who made an arrangement of the song, put it on paper, and had it copyrighted. The first time I heard her play it, I felt chills. It was just something so special. It has brought our large family together with a common pride in her accomplishment."

Mary Richardson Briggs is a descendant of Gen. R. C. Richardson, pictured above.

In 1985, "The Richardson Waltz" was introduced to the South Carolina Legislature through a bill which described it this way:

"This waltz is a beautiful and soulful melody, is a memento of the musical tradition of the Richardson family, and has for many generations played an unofficial but important role in the musical history of South Carolina."

The bill was ratified by the South Carolina Legislature as the official state waltz on June 22, 2000. The Governor signed it into law on July 21 of that year.

Visit Gretchen Huggins' page on MySpace: http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=37065843.

Mary Richardson Briggs

 

Mary Richardson Briggs was born October 10, 1922, in Summerton. She was the daughter of the late Henry Burchill and Elizabeth Allen Richardson. She was a graduate of Winthrop College, co-founder of the Richardson School of Dance, and a former teacher. Her arrangement of "The Richardson Waltz" was adopted as the Official State Waltz by the General Assembly of South Carolina on July 21, 2000.

She is survived by her husband, James Richardson Briggs, a son, Tourie R. Briggs, two daughters, Mary S. Briggs and Norvelle Dawson; a sister, Noddie R. Hutto, and four grandchildren.