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2023 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 807
Celebrating the life of James Lawrence Eason.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 21, 2023
Agreed to by the Senate, February 23, 2023

 

WHEREAS, James Lawrence Eason, an esteemed leader of the Hampton community who served as the city’s mayor for 16 years as well as in various other capacities for the benefit of the city and its residents, died on February 14, 2023; and

WHEREAS, James “Jimmy” Lawrence Eason was a star of the football team at Hampton High School, earning first team all-state and honorable mention all-American honors before going on to play for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he received a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1965; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Eason returned to Hampton after college and joined the local accounting firm of Daniels, Turnbull & Freeman, where he rose through the ranks to become manager of the Hampton office before leaving to start his own firm, Eason, Lawson & Westphal, which would grow into the largest Hampton-based accounting firm by the time of his retirement from the industry in 1992; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Eason was elected mayor of Hampton in 1982 and proudly served his constituents until 1998, during which time he transformed the city through various development projects and revitalization efforts; and

WHEREAS, after stepping down from his position as mayor, Jimmy Eason served as president and chief executive officer of the Hampton Roads Partnership from 1998 to 2004, helping to unify the localities of Hampton Roads so that the region could better compete both nationally and globally; and

WHEREAS, from 2004 until his second retirement in 2012, Jimmy Eason was the director of economic development for the City of Hampton, employing his deep knowledge and understanding of his hometown to improve the quality of life of its residents; and

WHEREAS, beyond his public service, Jimmy Eason gave generously of his time in support of the community through his involvement with various local civic and service organizations, including the Hampton Rotary Club, which he had been a member of since 1973; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Eason was a devoted family man who never let his many professional responsibilities and obligations compromise the time he had set aside to be with his wife and daughters; and

WHEREAS, guided throughout his life by his faith, Jimmy Eason enjoyed worship and fellowship with his community at First United Methodist Church of Hampton for many years; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Eason will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his loving wife of 57 years, Midge; his children, Nancy and Katherine, and their families; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of James Lawrence Eason, a pillar of the Hampton community whose commitment to serving others touched countless lives; 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 James Lawrence Eason as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.