2017 SESSION
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 283
Celebrating the life of Jack W. Gravely.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 13, 2017
WHEREAS, Jack W. Gravely, a Richmond radio talk show host,
state and national civil rights advocate, and community leader, died on August
15, 2016; and
WHEREAS, Jack Gravely was a
native of Pocahontas and the seventh of 12 children born to the late Clarence
and Causby Gravely; and
WHEREAS, Jack Gravely earned
a degree in history and government from Fayetteville State University in
Fayetteville, North Carolina, and received a law degree from the University of
Virginia School of Law; he served in a combat support unit in Vietnam in
between earning the two degrees; and
WHEREAS, in September 1995,
Jack Gravely was appointed the first director of diversity at the Federal
Communications Commission; and
WHEREAS, Jack Gravely worked
at the state and national level of the NAACP for 16 years, serving two stints
as the head of the Virginia State Conference NAACP and as a special assistant
to then-national NAACP Executive Director Benjamin L. Hooks; and
WHEREAS, Jack Gravely gained
recognition across the Commonwealth as a frequent guest on local public affairs
shows and as the host of a talk show on WRVA-AM in Richmond from 1996 to 2002;
at the time of his death he was the host of “The Jack Gravely Show” on
Richmond’s Rejoice 990 WREJ-AM (formerly WLEE-AM); and
WHEREAS, Jack Gravely graced
national television airwaves, his commentary appeared regularly in local and
national newspapers, and he was a sought-after speaker, delivering over 600
speeches across the country and in Canada; and
WHEREAS, guided by faith and
grounded in family devotion, Jack Gravely was baptized at an early age and was
a member of the Good Shepherd Baptist Church of Petersburg, where he served
faithfully on the Deacon Board, Male Usher Ministry, and Nehemiah Group
Ministry; and
WHEREAS, Jack Gravely’s
example of faithfulness, demonstration of dignity, and grace will forever
inspire the lives of all of those who he touched, especially his children and
grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Jack Gravely will be fondly remembered and greatly
missed by his devoted wife, Barbara; children, Chekesha, Kimya, Kia, Tony,
Tonya, and Randy, and their families; and numerous relatives and friends; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of
Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of Jack W. Gravely, radio
talk show host, civil rights advocate, and community leader; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the
Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation
to the family of Jack W. Gravely as an expression of the House of Delegates’
respect for his memory.