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2013 SESSION
WHEREAS, Harry Cecil Curtis, Jr., an admired business and civic leader from Roanoke, died on October 5, 2012; and
WHEREAS, born in the small community of Stewartsville in Bedford County to Harry C. and Martelia Curtis, Cecil Curtis had dreams at a young age of owning his own businesses; and
WHEREAS, Cecil Curtis pursued an education to help further those dreams, graduating from Lucy Addison High School and attending Virginia State College, (now University); he also later received an honorary doctorate from Bethlehem Bible College; and
WHEREAS, as the United States entered World War II, Cecil Curtis joined the countless other young men of his generation in the war effort, proudly serving his country in the United States Army and receiving an honorable discharge; and
WHEREAS, in 1947, Cecil Curtis bought land at the corner of 10th Street and Moorman Avenue in Roanoke, building the city’s first black drive-in restaurant, The Cozy Corner, and a two-chair barbershop, both of which became popular with area residents; and
WHEREAS, five years later, Cecil Curtis partnered with Lawrence H. Hamlar to form Hamlar-Curtis Funeral Home, which continues to provide caring and professional service to the families of the Roanoke Valley; and
WHEREAS, Cecil Curtis made many contributions to the funeral service industry in the Commonwealth as a member of the Western District Funeral Directors’ Association and Virginia Morticians’ Association, which honored him as its Man of the Year in 1999; and
WHEREAS, in 2005, Cecil Curtis was recognized by the Virginia Funeral Directors Association for his half-century of service in the industry with a 50-Year Golden Licensee Award; and
WHEREAS, from an early age, Cecil Curtis enjoyed a strong faith that he nurtured through fellowship and worship at High Street Baptist Church, where he was a member for more than 50 years and served on the trustee board; and
WHEREAS, Cecil Curtis was a member of the Altruist Club and YMCA Family Center, encouraged and mentored young people, and touched the lives of countless individuals with his quiet and thoughtful generosity; and
WHEREAS, a well-known figure in the community, Cecil Curtis was presented with a Key to the City of Roanoke in recognition of his many contributions to business and civic affairs over the years; and
WHEREAS, predeceased by his partner in life and business, Marilyn, with whom he shared 55 years of marriage, and his daughter, Trevor, Cecil Curtis will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his surviving children, Saundra, Cecil-Maria, Duke, Ceasar, Beatrice, and Chuck, and their families; and numerous other family members and friends; 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 an admired business and civic leader of Roanoke, Harry Cecil Curtis, Jr.; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Harry Cecil Curtis, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.