HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 272 Offered February 6, 2006 Celebrating the life of Waverly Crawley, Jr. ----------
Patrons-- McClellan, Amundson, Armstrong, Bowling, Bulova, Ebbin, Eisenberg, Hall, Howell, A.T., Joannou, Johnson, Jones, D.C., Marsden, McEachin, Melvin, Miller, Plum, Shuler, Spruill, Tyler, Valentine and Ware, O.
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WHEREAS, Waverly Crawley, Jr., devoted community activist and "the heart and soul of Jackson Ward," died on April 25, 2005; and

WHEREAS, Waverly Crawley was born in 1932, grew up in the Carver area, graduated from Armstrong High School in 1949, and attended Bronx Community College; and

WHEREAS, Waverly Crawley served his country in the United States Army in Germany from 1951 through 1955; and

WHEREAS, Waverly Crawley worked in New York at Tyme Letter Service for 17 years and returned to his hometown of Richmond in 1977 to work for the E.R. Carpenter Company as a machinist for 16 years; and

WHEREAS, after his retirement, Waverly Crawley joined the buildings and grounds staff at the Science Museum of Virginia on West Broad Street; and

WHEREAS, a Richmond icon, Waverly Crawley dedicated his life to improving the City of Richmond and was Jackson Ward's unofficial leader; he made the neighborhood rounds and did his utmost to clean up the community's trash and crime problems; and

WHEREAS, Waverly Crawley, often referred to as the "Mayor of Second Street,” was devoted to revitalizing Jackson Ward while maintaining its rich culture and history; and

WHEREAS, Waverly Crawley attended Richmond City Council meetings and made sure that his voice and concerns on behalf of his neighbors were heard; he loved the city and relished every opportunity to inspire his fellow citizens to get involved in the political process and make a difference; and

WHEREAS, Waverly Crawley will be fondly remembered for his great passion and commitment to the community, as well as his cheerful nature and superior singing voice; and

WHEREAS, Waverly Crawley will be missed by his family, his numerous friends and admirers, the citizens of the City of Richmond and Jackson Ward, and the congregation of the Moore Street Baptist Church; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of an outstanding Virginian, Waverly Crawley, Jr.; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Waverly Crawley, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.