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2016 SESSION
WHEREAS, for 135 years, members of the Stokes family have lived, worked, and worshipped in Isle of Wight County and Southampton County, making many significant contributions to the region, the Commonwealth, and the United States; and
WHEREAS, the Hampton Roads branch of the Stokes family traces its roots to 1881, when William Stokes of Fauquier County and Hannah Lawrence of Southampton County, both former slaves who had been freed after the Civil War, married and settled in Isle of Wight County; and
WHEREAS, in 1903, William and Hannah Stokes made their home on a 90-acre farm, where they reared their children; affectionately known as “pap” and “muh,” they were an inspiration to both their growing family and many members of the community; and
WHEREAS, William and Hannah Stokes’ 14 children—William, Jr., Israel, James, Luke, Johnny, Robert, Jeremiah, Wilbur, Richard, Annie, Martha, Odania, Zella, and Rosa—learned the values of respect, hard work, responsibility, and faith from their parents, and all of them imparted those same values to their children and nieces and nephews; and
WHEREAS, members of the Stokes family have become physicians, nurses, teachers, college professors, farmers, spiritual leaders, local and state government officials, and admired leaders in their communities; and
WHEREAS, the Stokes family has maintained a proud tradition of military service from World War I to the present day; members of the Stokes family have served honorably in every branch of service and in every major war of the 20th and 21st centuries, with family members earning many decorations for their valorous actions; and
WHEREAS, as founding members of Chapel Grove United Church of Christ in Windsor, six generations of Stokes family members have enjoyed fellowship and worship with the community at the church; and
WHEREAS, every two years, the Stokes family gathers for a reunion, a longstanding tradition to celebrate the family’s history, achievements, and dreams and aspirations; the 2016 reunion takes place on June 24 - 26 at the Airfield Conference Center in Wakefield; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the Stokes family hereby be commended for 135 years of service to Isle of Wight County, Southampton County, the Commonwealth, and the United States; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Stokes family as an expression of the House of Delegates’ admiration for the family’s deep roots in Hampton Roads and its legacy of service to the community.