HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 748 Offered January 15, 2007 Celebrating the life of James Kelly Cecil. ---------- Patrons-- Armstrong, Hurt and Marshall, D.W.; Senator: Reynolds ----------

WHEREAS, James Kelly Cecil of Bassett, a respected citizen and dedicated member of the Henry County School Board for a decade, died on September 19, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Kelly Cecil was born in Martinsville on March 6, 1950, to Harlan Thomas "Tommy" Cecil and Elizabeth Merriman Cecil; and

WHEREAS, a 1968 graduate of John D. Bassett High School, Kelly Cecil received an associate degree in mortuary science from John Tyler Community College and was a licensed life insurance agent in Virginia and North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, Kelly Cecil was an outstanding employee for the Alderwoods Group as a regional sales manager for Virginia, North Carolina, and Maryland and retired in 2006; and

WHEREAS, in 1995, Kelly Cecil was appointed to the Henry County School Board from the Blackberry District, and he held an elected position on the board until he retired in 2005; and

WHEREAS, a wonderful mentor and great believer in young people, Kelly Cecil served as a member and president of the Bassett High School Athletic Booster Club and participated in the lunch buddy program and other school activities in the Henry County Public Schools; and

WHEREAS, Kelly Cecil was a faithful member of the Fort Trial Baptist Church, where he served as deacon, chairman of the transportation committee, and a member of the bus ministry program; and

WHEREAS, Kelly Cecil will be fondly remembered for his kind and generous nature and greatly missed by his devoted wife of 34 years, Karen Clark Cecil, his son Brian, his brother Kenneth, and numerous other loving family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of an exemplary community leader and outstanding Virginian, James Kelly Cecil; 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 James Kelly Cecil as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.