SR 98 (161st Virginia General Assembly)

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 98 Celebrating the life of Mary Holley.

Agreed to by the Senate, January 28, 2021

WHEREAS, Mary Holley, an esteemed educator, civil rights advocate, and beloved member of the Portsmouth community, died on December 31, 2020; and

WHEREAS, born and raised in New Jersey, Mary Holley studied at Virginia Union University, where she supported many of her peers as a dormitory house mother; and

WHEREAS, Mary Holley was an accomplished educator who supported the intellectual and emotional development of innumerable children, contributing greatly to their success both in and out of the classroom; and

WHEREAS, Mary Holley and her husband, the Honorable James W. Holley III, the former mayor of Portsmouth, were frontline proponents of the civil rights movement, advancing many initiatives to promote inclusivity over their lifetimes; notably, they hosted the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., at their home during his visits to Portsmouth in 1961 and 1963; and

WHEREAS, preceded in death by her husband, James, Mary Holley will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by her children, Omar, James IV, Cheryl, and Robin, and their families; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of Virginia hereby note with great sadness the loss of Mary Holley, a cherished member of the Portsmouth community whose unwavering kindness and generosity 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 Mary Holley as an expression of the Senate of Virginia’s respect for her memory.