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2021 SESSION

21103745D
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 338
Offered February 1, 2021
Celebrating the life of Jane Carey Gardner.
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Patrons-- Favola, Cosgrove, DeSteph, Lewis, Locke, Lucas, Mason and Spruill; Delegates: Jones, Guy, Heretick, Knight, Simonds and Williams Graves
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WHEREAS, Jane Carey Gardner, an esteemed television journalist, longtime anchor at WTKR in Norfolk, and beloved member of the Hampton Roads community, died on July 11, 2020; and

WHEREAS, a Richmond native and graduate of the University of Maryland in College Park, Jane Gardner began her illustrious journalism career in 1974 at WSLS-TV in Roanoke; and

WHEREAS, after several years at WTVR-TV in Richmond, Jane Gardner became the first female anchor at WVEC in Norfolk in 1978, later transferring to WTKR, where she would serve as anchor and medical reporter for nearly two decades and become a cherished fixture in the lives of Hampton Roads residents; and

WHEREAS, Jane Gardner reported on both domestic and international stories of great importance, including the presidential nominating conventions of 1988, the AIDS crisis, and an Operation Smile program in the Philippines and Kenya, and she also hosted a popular hour-long news and talk show on WTKR; and

WHEREAS, the first full-time broadcast medical reporter in the Hampton Roads area, Jane Gardner parlayed her expertise into a subsequent career at Eastern Virginia Medical School, which she served as director of public affairs from 1998 to 2003; and

WHEREAS, an active and engaged member of her community, Jane Gardner gave generously of her time and talents to various organizations, including the former Virginia Region of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, now the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities; the Girl Scouts of the United States of America; and the d’Art Center in Norfolk; and

WHEREAS, Jane Gardner was honored for her contributions to broadcast journalism with state and national awards throughout her career and a 2018 induction into the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame at the Virginia Commonwealth University Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture; and

WHEREAS, Jane Gardner, who would have celebrated her 70th birthday in September 2021, bravely allowed the Virginian-Pilot to chronicle her recent fight with ovarian cancer, promoting greater understanding of the disease and fostering a sense of solidarity among other cancer patients and their families; and

WHEREAS, preceded in death by her parents, Pauline and Samuel, Jane Gardner will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by her loving husband of 47 years, Gary; her brothers, Neill and Sidney, and their families; her dear friend Beth Zeidman; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Jane Carey Gardner, a treasured television news anchor of Hampton Roads whose unwavering kindness, generosity, and dedication to her community touched countless lives; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Jane Carey Gardner as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for her memory.