Elizabeth Romine was a Sargent in The Marine Corps
FLORENCE – Long-time resident, Miss Elizabeth Romine, passed away on Christmas Day. She was 88 years old. Miss Romine was a long-time resident of East Florence and kept watch over the goings on at Florence City Hall.
Before she moved to Florence in the ’60’s, Elizabeth served in the Marine Corps., rising to the rank of Sargent. She was proud of her service to her country.
Miss Romine was outspoken and did not suffer fools, the likes of which, over the years, she considered many members of the City Council. Not one to give much of a care for decorum, she presented herself as a thorn in the side of City politicians. In April, 1999, Miss Romine was arrested for criticizing the Florence City Council. Using her allotted time at the City Council meeting, Ms. Romine accused the Florence politicians of acting like royalty and questioned their mental acuity. According to the ACLU, who later assisted attorney Marshall Gardner in representing her, “Before her allotted time expired, the City Council had Ms. Romine arrested. At the Council meeting, Ms. Romine applied for and was granted five minutes to address the City Council. Although her speech was peppered with derision towards the council members, Ms. Romine never threatened to use force, never cursed, never intimidated anyone, was never disorderly and never committed an illegal act. Nonetheless, the City Council, unable to withstand five minutes of criticism from a constituent, called the police and ordered Ms. Romine removed and arrested. Despite this blatant violation of her rights, Ms. Romine did not resist arrest.She was tried and convicted of ‘obstructing governmental operations’ in Florence Municipal Court.” Elizabeth was fined $150 by Municipal Court judge James Hall. According to an Associated Press archive story, “Her defense lawyer said Romine would appeal.”She’s not in the habit of rolling over,” attorney Marshall Gardner said. ‘She’s a tough cookie.’ Romine said the verdict would not deter her from continuing to appear at the meetings, of which she has appeared at scores to talk about city finances and programs. ‘I expected it,’ she said of the decision. ‘I felt like there had to be a showdown this time,’ she said after the trial. “‘ was going to make a stand.’ ” She appealed her conviction to Circuit Court, where a jury found her not guilty.
She was an avid collector of urban cultural artifacts. Some of her neighbors on Minniehaha Street in East Florence took exception to her hobby and labeled her a hoarder. After the number of complaints became too numerous to count, The City of Florence took action. In 1999, after the dust-up between her and the City Council, Elizabeth was convicted in Florence Municipal Court after being cited in 1998 for failing to clean up her house lot where she lived at 113 Minniehaha Street. Given the option of cleaning up her property or going to jail, she chose the latter. Elizabeth Romine, at the age of 73 was sentenced to 6-months in jail, and served all but 2 weeks of the sentence, when she was released by the Court.
Miss Romine continued throughout her increasing years with her outspoken ways. She was a true and faithful advocate of Free Speech. In 2006, she sat for a video interview with Matt Osborne and this writer at a gas station on Florence Boulevard. The interview was held there because it was Miss Romine’s favorite spot to sit and “hold court”.
Here are some excerpts:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGaO0A-LJQY&feature=youtu.be]
One final note, this from a Facebook comment on Miss Romine’s obituary from one of her fellow church members. Debbie Myrick Ryan, “Our ladies group from church used to go visit her at the nursing home she was such a sweet and funny lady…she would sing for us too…she will be missed by many.”
Here is the LINK to Miss Romine’s obituary.
