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2018 SESSION

18100746D
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 11
Offered January 10, 2018
Prefiled January 9, 2018
Celebrating the life of Willie Melvin Smith, Jr.
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Patron-- Jones, S.C.
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WHEREAS, Willie Melvin Smith, Jr., a beloved father and husband and dedicated first responder who aided his community as the longest-serving member of the Nansemond-Suffolk Volunteer Rescue Squad, died on May 1, 2017; and

WHEREAS, a Suffolk resident and United States Army veteran, Melvin Smith spent his entire career as a loyal employee of the Ford Motor Company, working at various dealerships as an outside sales representative for parts; and

WHEREAS, Melvin Smith joined the Nansemond-Suffolk Volunteer Rescue Squad just three months after it was chartered in 1960; his 56-year tenure with the unit, including over 20 years as its president, earned him the distinction of being the longest-serving volunteer in its history; and

WHEREAS, as one of the first Advanced Life Support providers in the Commonwealth, Melvin Smith was a highly valued and respected member of the Nansemond-Suffolk Volunteer Rescue Squad; fellow volunteers knew him as a man who eagerly recruited new rescue squad members and thrived on helping others and saving lives; and

WHEREAS, Melvin Smith’s devotion to public safety was evident in his personal life; a rescue squad ambulance was almost permanently parked in the driveway of his home, and he often provided medical care to sick or injured neighbors; and

WHEREAS, outside of his career and his service with the rescue squad, Melvin Smith enjoyed spending time with his family and taking photographs; and

WHEREAS, in honor of Melvin Smith’s 56 years as a first responder and member of the Nansemond-Suffolk Volunteer Rescue Squad, more than 25 fire and rescue units from Suffolk, Chesapeake, Isle of Wight, Carrollton, Windsor, Chuckatuck, Courtland, and Smithfield took part in his funeral procession; and

WHEREAS, Melvin Smith will be fondly remembered by his wife, Leola; daughters, Arlene and Lisa, and their families; and countless other family members, friends, and members of the Suffolk community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of Willie Melvin Smith, Jr., a diligent first responder who gave generously of his time in service to the Suffolk community; 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 Willie Melvin Smith, Jr., as an expression of the House of Delegates’ respect for his memory.