HJ 577 — Celebrating the life of Barbara Jean Smith Taylor.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 23103778D I HOUSE JOfferedJOINT JanuaryRESOLUTION 23,NO. 2023 N Celebrating the life of Barbara Jean Smith Taylor.

––––––––––577 TE Patrons––Rasoul;Celebrating the life of Barbara Jean Smith Taylor.

Senator:N Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 30, 2023 R Agreed to by the Senate, February 2, 2023 O WHEREAS, Barbara Jean Smith Taylor, former first lady of the City of Roanoke and an active and L beloved member of the Roanoke community, died on November 15, 2022;

Edwardsand RL –––––––––– O WHEREAS, Barbaraaffectionately Jeanknown Smithby Taylor,friends formerand firstfamily ladyas of"B.J.," theBarbara CityTaylor ofgraduated Roanokefrom andandfton anForge activeHigh andSchool, belovedwhere membershe ofexcelled theat Roanokevarious community,activities, diedincluding oncheerleading Novemberand 15,music; 2022;

andE DWHEREAS, CliftonBarbara ForgeTaylor Highwas School,a wheretalented shepianist excelledand vocalist who taught herself to play piano at variousD activities,an includingearly cheerleadingage and music;who took great joy in performing before others throughout her adult life;

and WHEREAS, Barbara Taylor wasmarried athe talentedReverend pianistNoel andC. vocalist who taught herself to play piano at an early age and who took great joy in performing before others throughout her adult life;

Taylor in 1955 and Edevoted WHEREAS,herself Barbarato TaylorChurch marriedin Clifton Forge, then at First Baptist Church in Norfolk, and ultimately at High Street Baptistist Church in Roanoke, where the ReverendTaylors Noelsettled C.in 1961;

Taylorand inWHEREAS, 1955Barbara Taylor and devotedher herselfhusband toNoel supportingled hisHigh workStreet asBaptist aChurch pastor,for both37 throughyears, herandping musicto ministrydevelop andit otherwise,into initiallyone atof Firstthe Baptistmost Churchprominent inand Roanoke,influential wherechurches in the TaylorsRoanoke settledValley; in 1961;

andNorfolk,J WHEREAS, Barbara Taylor became the first lady of the City of Roanoke in 1975 when Noel Taylor 7 assumed the office of mayor, notably becoming the first African American mayor in the city's history R and ultimatelythe atcity's Highlongest-serving Streetmayor, Baptistand WHEREAS,she proudly carried out the duties and responsibilities of her rolWHEREAS, guided throughout her life by her faith, Barbara Taylor enjoyed worship and herfellowship husbandwith Noelher ledcommunity at High Street Baptist ChurchChurch, forwhere, 37in years,addition helping to developsupporting ither intohusband onein ofhis position as pastor, she was involved in the mostSanctuary prominentChoir and influentialthe churchesannual seasonal holiday decorations andWHEREAS, preceded in thedeath Roanokeby Valley;her loving husband, Noel, Barbara Taylor will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by her children, Sabrina and Deseree, and their families and by numerous other family members and friends;

andnow, WHEREAS,therefore, Barbarabe Taylorit becameRESOLVED theby first lady of the CityHouse of RoanokeDelegates, inthe 1975Senate whenconcurring, NoelThat Taylorthe assumedGeneral theAssembly officehereby ofcommunity mayor,whose notablypoise, becominggrace, theand firstcommitment Africanto Americancaring mayorfor inothers thewas city'sa historygreat roleunifying untilforce hein leftthe officecity infor 1992;many years;

andandand, shebe proudlyit carriedRESOLVED outFURTHER, That the dutiesClerk and responsibilitiJs of herthe WHEREAS,House guidedof throughoutDelegates herprepare lifea bycopy herof faith,this Barbararesolution Taylorrespect enjoyedfor worship and fellowship with her communitymemory. at High Street Baptist Church, where, in addition to supporting her husband in his position as pastor, she was involved in the Sanctuary Choir and the annual seasonal holiday decorations and also served as the caretaker of the church's Upper Room;

andfamily WHEREAS,of precededBarbara inJean deathSmith by her loving husband, Noel, Barbara Taylor willas bean fondlyexpression numerousof otherthe familyGeneral membersAssembly's and friends;

now, therefore, be ite, and their families and by RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Barbara Jean Smith Taylor, a cherished member of the Roanoke community whose poise, grace, and commitment to caring for others was a great unifying force in the 34 city for many years;

and, be it 35 RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution 37 respect for her memory.

family of Barbara Jean Smith Taylor as an expression of the General Assembly's 1