A rare and historic event took place this past Sunday as the government of the new Town of Jenkinsville was formally created.

Mayor Gregrey Ginyard and Town Council members James Trapp, Gayle Pauling, Odell Baten and Clayrann White were sworn into office as Town officials and the Jenkinsville Town Hall was opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Following a welcome by Mrs. Betty Ginyard, emcee James McConnell acknowledged county and state officials and presented a brief history of Jenkinsville.

Fairfield County Clerk of Court Betty Jo Beckham gave the Oath of Office to Mayor-Elect Ginyard and the new Town Council members.

South Carolina Secretary of State Mark Hammond was introduced by S.C.

Rep. Creighton Coleman. Secretary Hammond presented Mayor Ginyard with a copy of the Articles of Incorporation for the Town of Jenkinsville.

In his remarks, Secretary Hammond said, “incorporating is not an easy thing to do, and everyone who worked so hard on this should be thanked. There’s a lot involved...a lot of paperwork and a lot of appearances before officials...a lot of it is perseverance, and you have persevered, and you have now formed a Town.”

Each of the new council members and the Mayor made remarks on the event as well.

Following the swearing-in, Mayor Ginyard and his new council cut the ribbon to the doors of the Jenkinsville Town Hall.

Information for this story was contributed by Mary Lee Hendrix