SR 17 — Celebrating the life of Jameel Jalal Abed.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 22105389DSENATE IRESOLUTION SENAOfferedNO. February 3, 2022 N Celebrating the life of Jameel Jalal Abed.

––––––––––17 TE Patrons––HashmiN andCelebrating McClellan R –––––––––– O WHEREAS, Jameel Jalal Abed, owner of the Mediterraneanlife Bakery & Deli on Quioccasin Road in Henrico County and a founding member of the Islamic Center of Virginia in Chesterfield County, Died on WHEREAS, born on August 16, 1950, in Palestine, Jameel AbedJalal cameAbed. to Richmond with his fatherU in the late 1960s to help him with his importing and exporting business;

andAgreed WHEREAS,to Jameelby Abedthe metSenate, hisFebruary wife,10, Saba,2022 whenR heO wasWHEREAS, visitingJameel PalestineJalal inAbed, theowner 1970s,of and the coupleMediterranean wereBakery married& soonDeli after,on atQuioccasin whichRoad pointin SabaL joinedon JameelAugust in10, Richmond;2021;

andandunding Emember WHEREAS,of Jameelthe andIslamic SabaCenter Abedof openedVirginia Royalin BakeryChesterfield inCounty, thedied mid-1980s,WHEREAS, producingborn pitaon breadAugust and16, other1950, bakedin goodsPalestine, forJameel saleAbed atcame Ukrop'sto SuperRichmond Marketswith locationshis father L in the Greaterlate Richmond1960s area;to help him with his importing and exporting business;

and subsequentlyE transformedcouple thewere restaurantmarried intosoon aafter, communityat spacewhich forpoint individualsSaba fromjoined allJameel walksin ofRichmond; life to gather and take refuge;

and1970s, and the D WHEREAS, Jameel Abedand wasSaba knownAbed foropened hisRoyal generosityBakery andin supportedthe manymid-1980s, refugeesproducing newpita tobread theand Richmondother areabaked bygoods helpingfor themsale navigateat AmericanUkrop's culture,Super secureMarkets employment,locations shop in grocerythe stores,Greater andRichmond obtainarea; driver's licenses;

and WHEREAS, Jameel Abed facedsold racismRoyal andBakery prejudiceto aspurchase anthe ArabMediterranean AmericanBakery in& theDeli Commonwealth and wasgather inspired by these experiences to become politically active and findtake waysrefuge; to fight discrRmination;

WHEREAS,ande Jameelrestaurant Abed'sinto worka tocommunity promotespace equalityfor includedindividuals collaboratingfrom withall thewalks Virginiaof 7life Interfaithto CenterWHEREAS, Jameel Abed was known for Publichis Policy,generosity foundingand supported many refugees new to the Commonwealth'sRichmond firstarea Arabby politicalhelping actionthem committee,navigate andAmerican participatingculture, insecure anti-discriminationemployment, ralliesshop in Richmondgrocery stores, S and Washington,obtain D.C.;driver's licenses;

and WHEREAS,1 Jameeland Abed was ainspired man led by histhese Muslimexperiences faith,to whobecome stoodpolitically tallactive on his convictions and livedfind withways anto openfight heartdiscrimination; toward all humans;

and buildR WHEREAS, Jameel Abed's work to promote equality included collaborating with the IslamicVirginia Interfaith Center offor Virginia,Public Policy, founding the Commonwealth's first Arab political action committee, andWHEREAS, Jameel Abed was a masjidman servingled Muslimsby inhis theMuslim Greaterfaith, Richmondwho area;stood tall on his convictions and lived with an open heart toward all humans;

andsand to WHEREAS, asJameel aAbed's communityfaith leaderalso andmanifested businessitself owner,in Jameelpart Abedthrough consistentlyhis strivedefforts to makeraise Richmondfunds to build the Islamic Center of Virginia, a moremasjid welcomingserving andMuslims compassionatein citythe forGreater all;Richmond area;

and WHEREAS,Richmond Jameel Abed was a longtimemore supporterwelcoming ofand thecompassionate Armeniancity communityfor inall; the Greater Richmond area whose contributions to the annual Armenian Food Festival hosted by St.

JamesandAbed :consistently strived to make WHEREAS, Jameel Abed was a longtime supporter of the Armenian community in the Greater Richmond area whose contributions to the annual Armenian Food Festival hosted by St.

35James ArmenianArmWHEREAS, ChurchJameel inAbed Richmondwill werebe instrumentalfondly toremembered theand event'sdeeply success;missed by his wife of 51 years, Saba;

and 37 Saba;

and 38 numerous other family members and friends;

now, therefore, be it 39 RESOLVED, That the Senate of Virginia hereby note with great sadness the loss of Jameel Jalal Abed;AbeRESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Jameel Jalal Abed as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's respect for his memory.

and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Jameel Jalal Abed as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's respect for his memory.