SJ 77 — Celebrating the life of Leri Melissa Thomas.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 24100343D I SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO.

77 OfferedE January 30, 2024 N Celebrating the life of Leri Melissa Thomas.

TN Patrons––Reeves,Agreed Favola,to McDougleby the Senate, February 1, 2024 R Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 5, 2024 O WHEREAS, Leri Melissa Thomas, an accomplished writer and Stanley;educator, enterprising business L 2023;

Delegates:andt and advocate, and beloved member of the Madison County community, died on August 23, L WHEREAS, Leri Thomas contributed deeply to community affairs through her work with E MadisonMatters, which focuses on local government employees and budgeting, and through MadisonCares, which addresses the most pertinent issues and curative possibilities for K-12 education;

Cordoza,D Ennis,andWHEREAS, Feggans,Leri Fowler,Thomas GreeR,also Henson,focused Laufer,her Lopez,energies Lovejoy,on Owen,the Rasoul,future Scott,of P.A.,her Warecommunity andthrough Webertparticipation ––––––––––in Oeconomic WHEREAS,development Leri Melissa Thomas, an accomplished writer and educator,policy enterprising business D consultant and advocate,the anddevelopment beloved member of thea Madisoncomprehensive Countyplan; community, died on August 23, 2023;

and U WHEREAS, Leri Thomas contributed deeply to community affairs through her work with C MadisonMatters, which focuses on local government employees and budgeting, and through andisonCares, which addresses the most pertinent issues and curative possibilities for K-12 eduEation;

WHEREAS, Leri Thomas also focused her energies on the future of her community through D participation in economic development and policy and the development of a comprehensive plan;

and WHEREAS, Leri Thomas was a lifelong learner whose educational pursuits included a bachelor's degree from what was then Mary Washington College and a master's degree and doctoral degree in the S social foundations of education from the University of Virginia;

and 7 WHEREAS, Leri Thomas achieved success as a consultant in various fields over her career, helping E several small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and private clients improve their operations and achieveR theirachWHEREAS, goals;Leri Thomas demonstrated a deep commitment to the well-being of her community during her life, serving as chair of the Madison County Electoral Board, as treasurer of the Madison County Republican Committee, and as director of the Madison County Commonwealth Attorney's Office's Victim/Witness Assistance Program;

and 7officials, WHEREAS,and Leriall Thomaswithin demonstrated a deep commitment to the well-being of her communitysphere, duringproviding herwise life,and servingunobtrusive ascounseling chairand ofpromoting the Madisonself-worth County Electoral Board, as treasurer of the Madison County Republican Committee, and asesteem director of theothers; Madison County Commonwealth Attorney's Office's Victim/Witness Assistance Program;

and WHEREAS, Leri Thomas served as a mentor to students, educators, candidates for office, elected officials, and all within her sphere, providing wise and unobtrusive counseling and promoting the selWHEREAS, between 1993 and 2008, Leri Thomas lent her artistic and creative talents to numerous theater productions at Woodberry Forest School in her capacity as a scenic artist, designer, and instructor,insWHEREAS, helpingan countlessexpert childrencommunicator discoverwith theira lovebackground in newspapers and advertising, Leri Thomas provided freelance publishing, graphic design, public relations, and research and writing services for the theater;benefit of both individuals and corporations over the years;

and WHEREAS, anin expertrecognition communicatorof withher knowledge and understanding of the mountain regions that comprise a backgroundsignificant inportion newspapersof andthe advertising,Commonwealth, Leri Thomas 34was providedappointed freelanceby publishing,Governor graphicGeorge design,AllWHEREAS, publicpossessed relations,with andan researchunerring andsense writingof servicesfairness forthat thewas 35consistent benefitwith ofher bothdoctoral individualsdissertation andon corporationsbullying, overwhen theasked years;what she wished to be remembered for, Leri Thomas responded "standing up for rights";

and 36 WHEREAS, preceded in recognitiondeath ofby her knowledgeloving andpartner understanding of the30 mountainyears, regionsJames, that 37 comprise a significant portion of the Commonwealth, Leri Thomas waswill appointed by Governor George AllWHEREAS, possessed with an unerring sense of fairness that was consistent with her doctoral dissertation on bullying, when asked what she wished to be rememberedfondly for,members Leriand Thomasfriends; responded "standing up for rights";

andnow, WHEREAS,therefore, preceded in death by her loving partner of 30 years, James, Leri Thomas will be fondlyiter, remembered and dearly missed by her daughter, Shyla, and her family;

and by numerous other family membersRESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Leri Melissa Thomas, a Renaissance woman of many gifts and friends;interests who left an indelible impact on the Madison County community;

now,and, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Leri Melissa Thomas, a Renaissance woman of many gifts and intRESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Leri Melissa Thomas as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for her memory.