SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

1999 SESSION

996205759
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 526
Offered February 3, 1999
On the death of Y. B. Williams, Jr.
----------

Patrons-- Williams, Maxwell, Lambert, Marsh, Miller, Y.B. and Norment; Delegates: Behm, Crittenden, Diamonstein and Hamilton
----------

WHEREAS, Y. B. Williams, Jr., of Hampton, a former member of the Hampton City Council and a retired vice president of community affairs at Newport News Shipbuilding, died on January 25, 1999; and

WHEREAS, a native of North Carolina, Y. B. Williams grew up in Newport News, Eastville, and Richmond, where he earned a bachelor’s degree at Virginia Union University; and

WHEREAS, following service with the U.S. Army, Y. B. Williams was a teacher and administrator in the public schools of Richmond and Lynchburg and earned his master’s degree from the University of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Y. B. Williams joined Newport News Shipbuilding in 1971, and following six years of service as assistant to the president, he was named vice president of community affairs, thereby becoming the shipyard’s first African-American officer; and

WHEREAS, in 1973, the Hampton City Council appointed Y. B. Williams to fill the unexpired term of a council member who resigned, thus making him the council’s first African-American member in 50 years; and

WHEREAS, in addition to breaking racial barriers, Y. B. Williams was widely known and highly respected for his numerous community service activities, which encompassed dozens of charitable, civic, and educational organizations; and

WHEREAS, Y. B. Williams was a member of the boards of Virginia Union University, Radford University, and Thomas Nelson Community College; and

WHEREAS, Y. B. Williams also served on the boards of the United Way of the Virginia Peninsula, the Peninsula Drug Abuse Council, the Peninsula YMCA, the Peninsula Association for Sickle Cell Anemia, the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and many others; and

WHEREAS, a man of substantial professional accomplishment, Y. B. Williams leaves an enduring legacy of service to the communities of the Peninsula and to the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly note with sadness the loss of an invaluable member of the Hampton community, Y. B. Williams, Jr.; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Y. B. Williams, Jr., as an expression of the high regard in which his memory is held by the members of the General Assembly.