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1996 SESSION


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 171
On the death of James Abner Allison, Jr.

Agreed to by the Senate, March 8, 1996
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 9, 1996

WHEREAS, James Abner Allison, Jr., died on Wednesday, January 17, 1996; and

WHEREAS, born in Richlands, James Allison was reared by his grandparents on a farm near Draper in Pulaski County; and

WHEREAS, after graduating from Virginia Military Institute, James Allison served as an Army Airborne Infantry officer and chaplain during World War II and the Korean War; and

WHEREAS, upon his return from the Army, James Allison attended Princeton Theological Seminary; and

WHEREAS, while at Princeton Theological Seminary, James Allison married Margaret Anderson and they became the first married couple to complete their studies at that institution; and

WHEREAS, as a student preparing for seminary, James Allison came across a Bible verse in the first book of John: "If anyone says 'I love God', and hates his brother, he is a liar..." which became a credo upon which he based his life's work and his commitment to the social issues of our day; and

WHEREAS, in the '60s, James Allison joined leaders of the black community to demand the closing of an open garbage dump in Roanoke's Washington Park; and

WHEREAS, while President of the Roanoke Valley Minister's Conference, James Allison spoke on behalf of black students seeking to desegregate National Business College; and

WHEREAS, throughout his 31 years as pastor of Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church, James Allision espoused the union of evangelism with social action and urged his parishioners to become more involved in inner-city ministry at local jails and to adopt a sister church in Central America; and

WHEREAS, James Allison's civic service includes six years as a member of the Roanoke City School Board, including terms as chairman, during a tumultuous and important era for Roanoke City Schools, where he was seen as a peacemaker on the board, and according to former Mayor Noel C. Taylor, his "judgment and fidelity to truth helped carry us through"; and

WHEREAS, James Allison devoted his energies and imparted his gentle wisdom to the Valley Chaplaincy Committee, Center for Human Development and Total Action Against Poverty; and

WHEREAS, honored for his humanitarian service to his community, James Allison was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Hampden-Sydney College in 1974 and the Brother/Sisterhood Citation by the National Conference of Christians and Jews in 1989; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of James Abner Allison, Jr., and extend its sincerest sympathy to his family and many friends; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of James Abner Allison, Jr., as an expression of respect and gratitude for his many years of service to his community and to the Commonwealth.