SR 602 — Celebrating the life of James Brinkley Chapman.

SPECIAL SESSION I INTRODUCEDENROLLED 22208024D I SENATE RESOLUTION NO.

602 NE Offered April 4, 2022 Celebrating the life of James Brinkley Ch––––––––––Chapman. T Patron––Lucas R –––––––––– WHEREAS, James Brinkley Chapman, an honorable veteran, esteemed mortician and businessman, O dedicated public servant, and beloved member of the Smithfield community, died on March 19, 202D;

andN Agreed to by the Senate, June 1, 2022 R O WHEREAS, followingJames hisBrinkley graduationChapman, froman thehonorable formerveteran, Isleesteemed mortician and businessman, dedicated public servant, and beloved member of Wightthe TrainingSmithfield School,community, Jamesdied Uon WorldMarch War19, II;2022;

andeL UnitedandWHEREAS, Statesfollowing Navy, proudly serving his countrygraduation infrom the Pacificformer TheaterIsle durinCof WHEREAS,Wight afterTraining studyingSchool, mortuary science in New York City, James L Chapman embarkedjoined uponthe aUnited EStates nobleNavy, careerproudly asserving ahis morticiancountry with Pretlow Funeral Home in Smithfield,the whichPacific heTheater laterduring purchasedE inWorld 1965War andII; renamed Pretlow and Chapman Funeral Home;

and D WHEREAS, forafter morestudying thanmortuary ascience half-century,in JamesNew ChapmanYork providedCity, exceptionalJames serviceChapman andembarked careupon toa familiesD inand theirrenamed timePretlow of need as they honored and rememberedChapman theirFuneral departedHome; loved ones;

andHome in Smithfield, which he later purchased in 1965 WHEREAS, for more than a half-century, James Chapman provided exceptional service and care to families in their time of need as they honored and remembered their departed loved ones;

andast president, member, and former S WHEREAS, James Chapman was elected to the Smithfield Town Council in 1978 and persevered R through setbacks to ultimately receive the title of mayor of the Town of Smithfield in 1990, becomingbecoming2 the first African American to hold the position in the town's history;

and SR WHEREAS, James Chapman would serve more than three decades on the Smithfield Town Council, 6 including 19 years as mayor, making a lasting impact on the community that will resonate for ma2ymany years to come;

and WHEREAS, James Chapman's most rewarding accomplishments in public service include the annexation of the Rising Star community off Battery Park Road in the 1980s and other public works projectsproWHEREAS, as a testament to enhancehis legacy in Smithfield, the qualitySmithfield ofTown lifeCouncil forholds Smithfield'sits citizens;meetings today in the James B.

and WHEREAS, as a testament to his legacy in Smithfield, the Smithfield Town Council holds its meetings today in the James B.

and WHEREAS, active and engaged in his community in various other capacities, James Chapman supportedPlace manyApartments localin andSmithfield, nationalthe civicNAACP, organizations,and including the BoardVirginia ofElks DirectorsAssociation, forwhich Covenanthe 35served asnant president for 19 years;

andeld, the NAACP, and the Virginia Elks Association, which he served as 36 WHEREAS, dedicated to the well-being of his fellow veterans, James Chapman was a founding 37 organizer of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8545 in Smithfield;

and / 38 WHEREAS, guided throughout his life by his faith, James Chapman enjoyed worship and fellowship 39 with his community at Main Street Baptist Church in Smithfield, serving five years as president of its Usher Board;

andandty at Main Street Baptist Church in Smithfield, serving five years as president of its WHEREAS, James Chapman will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his nephews, Kevin numerous other family members and friends;Ranya;

now,his therefore,godchildren, beJohn, itames,Norma, Selden, Troy, Stacey, James, Benzie, and Michelle;

and RESOLVED,numerous Thatother thefamily Senatemembers ofand Virginiafriends; hereby note with great sadness the loss of James Brinkley Chapman, former mayor of the Town of Smithfield, whose devotion to serving others touched countless lives;

now, therefore, be it Chapman, former mayor of the Town of Smithfield, whose devotion to serving others touched countless lives;