HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5076 Offered June 6, 2006 Celebrating the life of the Reverend Dr. Bernard Sylvester Giles, Sr. ---------- Patrons-- Hargrove, Janis and Peace ----------

WHEREAS, the Reverend Dr. Bernard Sylvester Giles, Sr., of Mechanicsville, longtime pastor of First Union Baptist Church, died April 11, 2006; and

WHEREAS, born April 11, 1920, Bernard Giles attended Chesterfield County and Richmond City public schools; graduated from Virginia Union University; completed seminary at Virginia Union, while serving as a weekend counselor at the YMCA; and committed to lifelong learning, continued his education at Virginia Commonwealth University and Springfield College; and

WHEREAS, in 1944 Bernard Giles joined Zion Baptist Church of South Richmond as its minister and was ordained on August 1, 1947; and

WHEREAS, Bernard Giles became the eighth pastor of First Union Baptist Church in Mechanicsville on January 1, 1951, and faithfully served his beloved congregation for over five decades; and

WHEREAS, Bernard Giles was devoted to his congregation and the residents of Hanover County and was a mentor to countless preachers called to the ministry throughout the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, among his many accomplishments, Bernard Giles served as the director of the YMCA’s Youth Work program; a staff member of the former Hanover School for Boys, now Hanover Learning Center; a public school teacher in Hanover County and the City of Richmond; president of the Baptist Ministers’ Conference of Richmond; a member of the Mayor’s Committee for Church Hill; and chairman of the Board of Trustees and named trustee emeritus of the Virginia Baptist Children’s Home; and

WHEREAS, during his longtime ministry, Bernard Giles generously contributed his many gifts and talents to numerous civic, professional, and religious entities, including as a moderator of the Chickahominy Baptist Association; an advisory board member for the American Red Cross and the Hanover Learning Center; president of the Voters League; a member of the Hanover Civic Association, the Housing Committee for Hanover, and the Hanover Branch of the NAACP; vice-chairman of the Hanover Ministers’ Conference; chaplain of the National Alumni Association of Virginia Union University and other entities; a board member of the National Baptist Convention; and a member and leader in the Forum of Black Leadership Council, the Lee-Davis Medical Center, the Richmond Interracial Clergy, the Mechanicsville Clergy, and the East Hanover Ministers’ Conference; and

WHEREAS, the Richmond Theological Seminary awarded Bernard Giles an honorary Doctor of Divinity in 1982 and Virginia Union University recognized him as an Outstanding Alumnus in 1995 for his numerous achievements as a community advocate and for his dedication to the education of young ministers; and

WHEREAS, Bernard Giles was foremost a remarkable and compassionate spiritual leader, and will also be remembered as an inspirational civic benefactor on the local, state, and national level; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the loss of a fine pastor and outstanding Virginian, the Reverend Dr. Bernard Sylvester Giles, Sr.; 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 the Reverend Dr. Bernard Sylvester Giles, Sr., as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.