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2022 SESSION

22100072D
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 23
Offered January 12, 2022
Prefiled January 11, 2022
Celebrating the life of Barbara Pratt Willis.
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Patron-- Stuart
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WHEREAS, Barbara Pratt Willis of Fredericksburg, a preservationist who worked diligently to protect the Commonwealth’s historical, cultural, and natural resources, died on May 17, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Barbara Willis grew up on Camden Farm in Caroline County, where she began to cultivate her love of the outdoors at a young age while exploring nearby historical sites and archaeological digs; and

WHEREAS, Barbara Willis subsequently earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Westhampton College, where she was a member of the varsity field hockey and basketball teams; she maintained her competitive spirit throughout her life and relished opportunities to spend time with family members and friends over a game of bridge or a tennis match; and

WHEREAS, an avid gardener, Barbara Willis worked to beautify the region and protect the Commonwealth’s natural resources as president of the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club, director of the Garden Club of Virginia, and a member of the Rappahannock River Basin Committee; and

WHEREAS, in addition, Barbara Willis worked with the Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, and the James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library, receiving many awards and accolades for her professional achievements; she also proudly served as chair of Fredericksburg’s commemoration of George Washington’s life and achievements; and

WHEREAS, Barbara Willis enjoyed fellowship and worship with the Fredericksburg community at St. George’s Episcopal Church; she served on the vestry and volunteered her time and leadership to several church committees; and

WHEREAS, Barbara Willis’s former home, Camden Farm, was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1971, and she played a vital role in the inclusion of St. George’s Episcopal Church on the National Register of Historic Places; and

WHEREAS, Barbara Willis will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by her husband, Jere; her four sons, Jere III, Richard, Gordon, and Charles, and their families; 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 Barbara Pratt Willis; and, be it

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