SJ 237 — Celebrating the life of the Honorable Onzlee Ware.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 24108662D I SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO.

237 E N Offered March 4, 2024 Celebrating the life of the Honorable Onz––––––––––Onzlee TWare. Patrons––Suetterlein, Aird, Bagby, Boysko, Carroll Foy, Craig, Deeds, DeSteph, Diggs, Durant, ERbin, Favola, French, Hackworth, Hashmi, Head, Jordan, Locke, Lucas, Marsden, McDougle, McGuire, McPike, Mulchi, Obenshain, Peake, Pekarsky, Perry, Pillion, Reeves, Roem, Rouse, Salim, Stanley, Stuart, Sturtevant, Subramanyam, Surovell, VanValkenburg and Williams Graves;

Delegates:Agreed to by the Senate, March 6, 2024 R Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 7, 2024 O L Delegates who later served as a district and circuit court judge in Roanoke, died on February 10, 2024;

Dand McNamaraL WHEREAS, Onzlee Ware was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, and Rasoulattended ––––––––––North UCarolina DelegatesE whoAgrWHEREAS, laterafter servedan asincident ain districtwhich he was shot and circuitseverely courtwounded judgefor inbeing Roanoke,a diedpolice onD Februaryinformant, 10,Onzlee 2024;Ware resolved to change his life for the better and rededicated himself to the service of others;

and E WHEREAS, in the 1980s, Onzlee Ware earned a law degree from North Carolina Central University andWHEREAS, Onzlee Ware was bornone of the few Black attorneys operating in Greensboro,the NorthRoanoke Carolina,Valley at the time, and attendedhe Northbecame Carolinaa Agriculturalpivotal andleader Technicalin Statethe University;local Black community;

and D WHEREAS, afterdesirous anto incidentbe inof whichfurther heservice wasto shotthe andCommonwealth, severelyOnzlee woundedWare ran for beingand awas policeS informant,elected Onzleeto Warethe resolvedHouse toof changeDelegates hisin life2003, forbecoming the betterfirst andBlack rededicateddelegate himselffrom toa district west of 3he BluWHEREAS, Onzlee Ware ably represented the serviceresidents of others;the 11th District for 10 years;

andhe E introduced and relocatedsupported many important pieces of legislation to Roanokebenefit his district and all Virginians, and he offered his leadership and expertise to openthe acommittees privateon practice;Appropriations, Counties, Cities and Towns, and Education;

andeand fromunderstanding, Northforging Carolinamany Centralstrong Universityfriendships WHEREAS,across Onzleeparty Warelines, wasand onehe ofproudly theserved fewas Blacka attorneysmentor operatingto innew thelegislators Roanoke Valley at the time, and heyounger becamemembers aof pivotal leader in the localGeneral BlackAssembly; community;

and WHEREAS, desirous to be of further service to the Commonwealth, Onzlee Ware ran for and was S elected to the House of Delegates in 2003, becoming the first Black delegate from a district we3t of the Blue Ridge Mountains;

and 7 WHEREAS, Onzlee Ware ably represented the residents of the 11th District for 10 years;

he and he offered his leadership and expertise to the committees on Appropriations, Counties, Cities andans, Towns, and Education;

and WHEREAS, Onzlee Ware was known as a "quiet giant" who worked to build consensus and understanding, forging many strong friendships across party lines, and he proudly served as a mentor to new legislators and younger members of the General Assembly;

32 he presided over the court with great fairness and wisdom and was elected as chief judge;

and 33 WHEREAS, Onzlee Ware was subsequently elevated to the Roanoke City Circuit Court and made /Commonwealth 34and historythe asresidents of the firstRoanoke BlackValley circuitwith courtthe judgeutmost indedication theand city;distinction;

in all his endeavors, he served the 35 Commonwealth and the residents of the Roanoke Valley with the utmost dedication and distinction;

now, therefore, be it noteRESOLVED withby greatthe sadnessSenate, the lossHouse of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby notRESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of the Honorable Onzlee Ware;Ware as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.

and, be itneral Assembly hereby RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of the Honorable Onzlee Ware as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.