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2011 SESSION

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11103224D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 666 Offered January 12, 2011 Prefiled January 12, 2011 Celebrating the life of Ellen Dickson Pearson. ---------- Patron-- McQuinn ----------

WHEREAS, Ellen Dickson Pearson, a devoted civil rights activist and civic leader in Richmond, died on August 15, 2010; and

WHEREAS, Ellen Pearson was born March 7, 1923, to the late Henry and Viola Grant Dickson in Bowman, South Carolina; and

WHEREAS, intelligent, vivacious, and diligent, Ellen Pearson graduated from South Carolina State College, where she pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and worked at the law school; and

WHEREAS, Ellen Pearson married the late Harry Louis Pearson, Sr., and relocated to Richmond, where the couple lived with their five children; and

WHEREAS, in her adopted city, Ellen Pearson worked for 27 years at Virginia Commonwealth University where she was a valuable and respected employee, joined Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, and dedicated her time and efforts to improving the lives of fellow citizens through her leadership in Richmond civic, political, and school-related organizations; and

WHEREAS, Ellen Pearson was a lifetime member of the NAACP, a member of the State Central Committee of the Democratic Party of Virginia, and was appointed by Governor Douglas Wilder to serve on the Virginia Education Loan Authority; and

WHEREAS, Ellen Pearson worked to facilitate voter empowerment through voter registration, voter education, and voter mobilization as the president of the Richmond Crusade for Voters from 1981 to 1984; and

WHEREAS, Ellen Pearson helped revitalize downtown Richmond through advocacy, marketing, festivals, and events as a member of the Richmond Renaissance Executive Committee; and

WHEREAS, predeceased by her husband and son, Ranier, Ellen Pearson will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by her four surviving children, Henry, Marlin, Andrew, and Sheila, and their wonderful families and other family members, friends, and fellow activists; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with sadness the loss of a dedicated activist and civic leader, Ellen Dickson Pearson; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Ellen Dickson Pearson as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for her memory.