HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 856 Offered February 5, 2007 Celebrating the life of Elizabeth Kesler Williams. ----------
Patrons-- Waddell, Abbitt, Albo, Alexander, Amundson, Armstrong, Athey, BaCote, Barlow, Bowling, Bulova, Caputo, Carrico, Cline, Cole, Cosgrove, Cox, Crockett-Stark, Dance, Dudley, Ebbin, Eisenberg, Englin, Fralin, Gear, Griffith, Hall, Hamilton, Hargrove, Hugo, Hull, Hurt, Iaquinto, Joannou, Johnson, Jones, D.C., Jones, S.C., Kilgore, Landes, Lewis, Lohr, Marsden, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., May, McClellan, McEachin, McQuigg, Melvin, Miller, J.H., Miller, P.J., Morgan, Nixon, Nutter, O'Bannon, Oder, Orrock, Phillips, Plum, Purkey, Putney, Rapp, Reid, Rust, Saxman, Scott, E.T., Scott, J.M., Shannon, Sherwood, Shuler, Spruill, Suit, Tata, Toscano, Tyler, Valentine, Ward, Wardrup, Ware, O., Watts, Welch and Wright; Senators: Deeds, Herring, Locke, Marsh, Obenshain and Puller
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WHEREAS, Elizabeth Kesler Williams of Chesterfield, a respected citizen and mother and an advocate for breast cancer awareness, died on November 5, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Elizabeth "Beth" Williams, mother of five, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997 while pregnant with her third child; and

WHEREAS, Beth Williams decided to speak publicly about her battle with cancer in order to increase awareness of the disease and ways to treat it and live with it; and

WHEREAS, a graduate of James Madison University and the University of Richmond's T.C. Williams School of Law, Beth Williams used her background as a lawyer and lobbyist to work with a number of different organizations, lobbying on behalf of people diagnosed with breast cancer; and

WHEREAS, outgoing and determined, Beth Williams shared her story in the Virginia State Capitol and the U.S. Congress, as well as in high school classrooms, where she talked to teenage girls about the importance of early detection; and

WHEREAS, Beth Williams' strength, dedication, and enthusiasm helped increase awareness of the importance of research to give hope to families facing breast cancer; and

WHEREAS, Beth Williams' energy, generosity, and indomitable spirit will be keenly missed, and she will be devotedly remembered by her husband, Jim Williams, and their five children and by many other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the passing of a brave advocate and mother and a fine Virginian, Elizabeth Kesler Williams; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Elizabeth Kesler Williams as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for her memory.