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2013 SESSION

13100761D
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 271
Offered January 9, 2013
Prefiled December 13, 2012
Celebrating the life of the Honorable Yvonne Bond Miller.
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Patrons-- Alexander, Barker, Black, Blevins, Carrico, Colgan, Deeds, Ebbin, Edwards, Favola, Garrett, Hanger, Herring, Howell, Locke, Lucas, Marsden, Marsh, Martin, McDougle, McEachin, McWaters, Miller, Newman, Norment, Northam, Obenshain, Petersen, Puckett, Puller, Reeves, Ruff, Saslaw, Smith, Stanley, Stosch, Stuart, Vogel, Wagner and Watkins; Delegates: Albo, Anderson, BaCote, Bell, Richard P., Bell, Robert B., Brink, Bulova, Byron, Carr, Cline, Cole, Comstock, Cosgrove, Cox, J.A., Cox, M.K., Crockett-Stark, Dance, Dudenhefer, Edmunds, Fariss, Farrell, Filler-Corn, Garrett, Gilbert, Greason, Habeeb, Head, Helsel, Herring, Hester, Hodges, Hope, Howell, A.T., Howell, W.J., Hugo, Iaquinto, Ingram, James, Joannou, Johnson, Jones, Keam, Kilgore, Knight, Kory, Krupicka, Landes, LeMunyon, Lewis, Lingamfelter, Lopez, Loupassi, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., Massie, May, McClellan, McQuinn, Merricks, Miller, Minchew, Morefield, Morris, Morrissey, O'Bannon, O'Quinn, Orrock, Peace, Plum, Pogge, Poindexter, Purkey, Putney, Ramadan, Ransone, Robinson, Rush, Rust, Scott, E.T., Scott, J.M., Sherwood, Sickles, Spruill, Stolle, Surovell, Tata, Torian, Toscano, Tyler, Villanueva, Ward, Ware, O., Ware, R.L., Watson, Watts, Webert, Wilt, Wright, Yancey and Yost
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WHEREAS, the Honorable Yvonne Bond Miller, a proud Democratic member of the Senate of Virginia and the first African American woman to serve in the Virginia General Assembly, died on July 3, 2012; and

WHEREAS, Yvonne Bond Miller was born on July 4, 1934, in Edenton, North Carolina, one of thirteen siblings; and

WHEREAS, Yvonne Miller received her bachelor’s degree in 1956 from the Norfolk Division of Virginia State College, now known as Norfolk State University, and later earned a master’s degree from Columbia University and a doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh; and

WHEREAS, Yvonne Miller began her career in education as a teacher at Young Park Elementary School, in the then-segregated Norfolk City Public Schools; and

WHEREAS, Yvonne Miller later became Professor of Early Childhood Education at Norfolk State University, retiring as Professor Emeritus in 2000; and

WHEREAS, Yvonne Miller was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates from the 89th District in 1983, becoming the first African American woman to serve in that body; and

WHEREAS, Yvonne Miller was elected to the Senate of Virginia from the 5th District in 1987, becoming the first African American woman to serve in that body, and eventually rose to become chair of the Committee on Transportation; and

WHEREAS, Yvonne Miller always sought to improve educational opportunity in Virginia, based on her lifelong dedication to the betterment of all children; and

WHEREAS, Yvonne Miller always fought for fair and equal treatment for all Virginians, and especially defended the precious right to vote, even for those ex-convicts who sought to reenter society and participate as ordinary citizens; and

WHEREAS, Yvonne Miller always stood up for the poor and the disadvantaged, knowing that we all bear a duty to look after the least of our brothers and sisters; and

WHEREAS, Yvonne Miller was known to all as beautiful in thought, gorgeous in spirit, and handsome in her resolve to be of service to others; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby express its profound sorrow at the loss of its beloved sister, the Honorable Yvonne Bond Miller; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of the Honorable Yvonne Bond Miller as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for her memory and gladness at having shared in her life.