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2012 SESSION

12104760D
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 155
Offered February 3, 2012
Celebrating the life of Russell V. Palmore, Jr.
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Patrons-- Stosch, Edwards, Garrett, Reeves, Stuart and Vogel; Delegates: Albo, Carr, Loupassi, McClellan, Miller and O’Bannon
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WHEREAS, Russell V. Palmore, Jr., beloved Chancellor of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and Parliamentarian of the annual Diocesan Council since 1987, departed this life on April 7, 2011, to make his home with the saints at rest; and

WHEREAS, Russ Palmore had spent his entire life in service to God as a member of the Episcopal Church in The Diocese of Virginia, to wit:

As a baptized infant member of the church of St. James the Less in Ashland;

As a chorister and acolyte at that church;

As a camper and counselor in the diocesan camps at Roslyn and Shrine Mont, and assistant director of St. George’s Camp;

As acolyte master, vestryman, senior warden, and captain of the softball team of St. Paul’s, Richmond;

As Memorial Trustee of Roslyn, Trustee of the Church Schools, a member of the St. Christopher’s School Foundation, a member of the Board of the Forward Movement, and a member of the Standing Committee of the Diocese;

As a deputy from Virginia to eight consecutive triennial General Conventions of the Episcopal Church from 1988–2009, elected to serve a ninth time as deputy to the 2012 Convention;

As a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance of the General Convention; and

As a member of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church and chair of its Standing Committee on Administration and Finance; and

WHEREAS, Russ Palmore graduated from Patrick Henry High School in Ashland, Hampden-Sydney College, and the University of Virginia Law School before joining the bar and becoming a member of the Richmond firm of Mays & Valentine, L.L.P., later Troutman Sanders; served as president of the Richmond Bar Association and as president of the Virginia Law Foundation; and in 2008 was awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa, by the Virginia Theological Seminary; and

WHEREAS, Russ Palmore advised the Bishop of Virginia as his Chancellor for 25 years, through many difficult and challenging times, giving support as well to the Catholic Bishop of Richmond and the Bishop of the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church on issues of clergy discipline and church policy; served as a trusted and careful adviser on the legal issues of dissident congregations; and chaired a special committee that dealt with property issues with congregations in which the majority of laity and clergy decided to leave the Episcopal Church; and

WHEREAS, Russ Palmore is survived by his wife, Susan Armstrong; by his daughters, Annie Witthoefft of Richmond and Jessie Yancey of Nashville; by his sisters Conde Hopkins and Lelia Wehman; and by his grandchildren, Charles Russell Witthoefft and Russell Vaughan Palmore Yancey; and

WHEREAS, Russ Palmore was a gentleman fair and knowledgeable, full of graciousness and wisdom, humor and faithfulness, passion and conviction; he was attentive and generous; a trustworthy friend and ally; and

WHEREAS, Russ Palmore loved baseball, knew “Casey at the Bat” by heart, was a best friend to dozens of people, and through more than half a century of service helped to shape and anchor the spirit and quality of life of the Diocesan Council, the City of Richmond, the Diocese of Virginia, and the entire Episcopal Church; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of, and express its heartfelt gratitude for the life, ministry, and friendship of Russell V. Palmore, Jr., beloved Chancellor and Parliamentarian; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the General Assembly extend to his wife and family, his parish and his law partners, his colleagues and his friends, its sympathy for the loss of a true, consummate southern gentleman, Russell V. Palmore, Jr.; and, be it

RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Susan Armstrong, Annie Witthoefft, and Jessie Yancey, as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.