HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 872 Offered February 7, 2007 Celebrating the life of Viola Hopson Clark. ---------- Patrons-- Dance, McClellan and Ward ----------

WHEREAS, Viola Hopson Clark of Ettrick, a beloved citizen, teacher, and community supporter, died on January 19, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Viola Clark was born on November 5, 1930, in Salem, the daughter of the late James Robert and Pearl Quarles Hopson-Davis; and

WHEREAS, Viola Clark attended Carver High School in Salem and received a bachelor's and master's degree from what is now Virginia State University (VSU); and

WHEREAS, a great mentor and believer in young people, Viola Clark was an outstanding teacher and administrator in the Commonwealth for many years; and

WHEREAS, Viola Clark was a member of many civic and professional organizations, such as The Queens, Petersburg Chapter; The Links, Inc. and its Southside Women’s Investment Club; the Greater Petersburg Area Alumni Association of VSU; the Red Hat Society; the Women’s Committee of the Petersburg Symphony Orchestra; and the Wives of Beaux–Twenty; and

WHEREAS, a tireless community benefactor, Viola Clark served as a board member for Mary Carter Beacon House for the Elderly & Visually Handicapped Adults and a tutor at the Virginia State University Academic Support Center and the Achiever’s Plus Tutorial Program of the Baptist Children’s Home of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Viola Clark was a dedicated member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Petersburg Alumni Chapter, and received its President's Award for organizing the DARE program, or Delta Adventures in Reading Enrichment, and she was honored by her alma mater and several other organizations for her volunteerism and commitment to educational excellence; and

WHEREAS, one of Viola Clark's greatest joys was to serve as a faithful member of Gillfield Baptist Church, where she served as a deacon, chair of the board of deacons, a leader on numerous committees and councils, and an enthusiastic participant in the church's countless missions in the community; and

WHEREAS, Viola Clark received many awards and accolades for her accomplishments, including the United Negro College Fund Leadership Service Award in 1985; an Appreciation Award for Leadership and Dedication to the 50th Reunion of VSU, Class of 1952; and she was also inducted into the prestigious Senior Volunteer Hall of Fame for Chesterfield County in 2005; and

WHEREAS, Viola Clark will be fondly remembered for her kind and generous nature and greatly missed by her devoted husband, James R. Clark, Sr., two sons, James and Jeffrey, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; her other loving family members and friends; and the congregation of Gillfield Baptist Church; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of a fine educator and outstanding Virginian, Viola Hopson Clark; 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 Viola Hopson Clark as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for her memory.