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2013 SESSION
13105151DWHEREAS, Dawn Michele Lawson, a respected federal government employee and dedicated community advocate, died on February 7, 2013; and
WHEREAS, a graduate of Richmond Senior High School in Rockingham, North Carolina, Dawn Lawson earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she was a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and a master’s degree from George Mason University; and
WHEREAS, Dawn Lawson enjoyed a successful 25-year career with the federal government, holding various positions with the United States Department of the Army, the United States Air Force, and the Defense Information Systems Agency; and
WHEREAS, a trusted professional, Dawn Lawson established the United States Department of Defense’s first blanket purchase agreement for open source software and negotiated a multimillion-dollar agreement for Microsoft licenses for Defense Information Systems Agency offices worldwide; and
WHEREAS, Dawn Lawson was a member of numerous professional organizations and was a member of the local chapter of Blacks in Government and participated in its outreach program, working with a local school to deliver items donated through a coat, hat, glove, and scarf drive; and
WHEREAS, Dawn Lawson took an active role in the Democratic Party on the local, state, and national level, serving as a member of the Eleventh Congressional District Democratic Committee, the Democratic Party of Virginia Central Committee, and the Democratic Black Caucus of Virginia; and
WHEREAS, Dawn Lawson also served as a Virginia state delegate at the 2008 and 2012 Democratic National Conventions; and
WHEREAS, Dawn Lawson remained active in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., through her membership first in the Zeta Chi Omega chapter, which she served as anti-grammateus and historian, and then in the Lambda Kappa Omega chapter, in which she was Connections chair; and
WHEREAS, Dawn Lawson also attended Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., day at the United States Capitol, served as chair of the Time and Place Committee for the 58th Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference, ran for a national position with the organization, and was a member of the International Nominating Committee from 2006 - 2008; and
WHEREAS, a respected leader, Dawn Lawson was a graduate of the Minority Political Leadership Institute at Virginia Commonwealth University and Leadership Fairfax, Inc.; earned a scholarship to the Virginia Leadership Institute; and was appointed by Governor Timothy M. Kaine to serve as the chair for United Nations Day in Virginia; and
WHEREAS, Dawn Lawson earned Defense Information Systems Agency, United States Army, and United States Air Force achievement and performance awards and a Blacks in Government Meritorious Service Award and Board of Directors Appreciation Award; and
WHEREAS, Dawn Lawson earned numerous awards for her service to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., including Soror of the Year and Outstanding Soror in the Global and Political Arena; she was particularly honored to receive the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Marguerite Adams Award for Political Action; and
WHEREAS, Dawn Lawson enjoyed fellowship and worship at Antioch Baptist Church, where she was an active member; and
WHEREAS, known for her gentle smile and willingness to help others, Dawn Lawson made many contributions through her work and community endeavors; and
WHEREAS, predeceased by her father, Leonard, Dawn Lawson will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by her mother, Mildred; siblings, Ella, Carol, Mary, Joel, Stanley, and Lynn, and their families; numerous other family members and friends; and others whose lives she touched; 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 a respected citizen of Springfield, Dawn Michele Lawson; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Dawn Michele Lawson as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for her memory.