SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 20 Celebrating the life of Charles E. Flowers.   Agreed to by the Senate, January 17, 2008 Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 25, 2008  

WHEREAS, Dr. Charles E. Flowers of Virginia Beach, a respected citizen and outstanding educator, died on August 19, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Charles “Doc” Flowers was born on January 14, 1929, in Hamilton, Ohio, the son of the late Milton and Rosa Flowers, and he was very close to his four sisters, Marcia, Marva, Gertrude, and Helen and three brothers Delbert, Harold, and the late Milton Jr.; and

WHEREAS, Charles Flowers graduated from Hamilton High School, and he decided to work for a year in an iron foundry so that he and his brother Delbert could attend Lincoln University in Oxford, Pennsylvania; the brothers earned degrees and became loyal members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, during the Korean War, Charles Flowers served his country in the United States Army, and when he returned home, he joined the Hampton Public Schools and was an excellent teacher and coach for many years; and

WHEREAS, Charles Flowers went back to school to continue his education, earning a master’s degree in education from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio; attended Syracuse University specializing in a program designed to improve the plight of disadvantaged youngsters; and received a doctoral degree in education administration at Columbia University; and

WHEREAS, on August 6, 1957, Charles Flowers married Alice Jean Slaughter of Columbus, Ohio, and the couple shared a wonderful marriage together and have two daughters, Alison Flowers Bond and Alyssa Flowers Lane; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Flowers held many leadership positions during his distinguished career as an educator and administrator, including as dean of students at Central State University and associate professor of education, department chair, and director of student personnel services at Fisk University; and

WHEREAS, Charles Flowers and his family decided to make their home in Virginia Beach, where he became executive assistant to the president at Norfolk State University; and

WHEREAS, Charles Flowers’ first love was teaching and mentoring young people, so he joined the Virginia Beach Public Schools, and over his longtime service, was employed as a classroom teacher, guidance counselor, consultant, and assistant principal; and

WHEREAS, Charles Flowers, together with his wife Alice, became the first African Americans to acquire a Sylvan Learning Center franchise, which has expanded to four centers providing quality educational assistance to students in Hampton Roads for 16 years; and

WHEREAS, a dedicated resident of Virginia Beach and community supporter for over 30 years, Charles Flowers has given his time and many talents to numerous civic and professional organizations, including as a member of the National Urban League, Tidewater Area Business and Contractors Associates, and Community Development Corporation; and

WHEREAS, Charles Flowers was an active member of the NAACP, 200+ Men, Virginia Beach Library Board, and the Kiwanis Club and received many awards and accolades over the years, including special recognition by Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society, Phi Delta Kappa Honor Society, and the National Defense Education Act Fellowships; and

WHEREAS, Charles Flowers was a faithful member of Bank Street Memorial Baptist Church of Norfolk, where he served as a deacon, trustee, chairman of the board of trustees, and member of the senior choir; and

WHEREAS, Charles E. Flowers will be fondly remembered for his kind and generous nature and greatly missed by his devoted wife; his loving children and their wonderful families, especially his grandchildren, Alexandria, Jeffrey “Max,” and John Charles; his numerous other family members and friends; his students and colleagues; and the congregation of Bank Street Memorial Baptist Church; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of a fine educator and outstanding Virginian, Charles E. Flowers; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Charles E. Flowers as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 20 Offered January 9, 2008 Prefiled December 28, 2007 Celebrating the life of Charles E. Flowers. ---------- Patron-- Miller, Y.B. ----------

WHEREAS, Dr. Charles E. Flowers of Virginia Beach, a respected citizen and outstanding educator, died on August 19, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Charles "Doc" Flowers was born on January 14, 1929, in Hamilton Ohio, the son of the late Milton and Rosa Flowers, and he was very close to his four sisters, Marcia, Marva, Gertrude, and Helen and three brothers Delbert, Harold, and the late Milton Jr.; and

WHEREAS, Charles Flowers graduated from Hamilton High School, and he decided to work for a year in an iron foundry so that he and his brother Delbert could attend Lincoln University in Oxford, Pennsylvania; the brothers earned degrees and became loyal members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, during the Korean War, Charles Flowers served his country in the United States Army, and when he returned home, he joined the Hampton Public Schools and was an excellent teacher and coach for many years; and

WHEREAS, Charles Flowers went back to school to continue his education, earning a master's degree in education from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio; attended Syracuse University specializing in a program designed to improve the plight of disadvantaged youngsters; and received a doctoral degree in education administration at Columbia University; and

WHEREAS, on August 6, 1957, Charles Flowers married Alice Jean Slaughter of Columbus, Ohio, and the couple shared a wonderful marriage together and have two daughters, Alison Flowers Bond and Alyssa Flowers Lane; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Flowers held many leadership positions during his distinguished career as an educator and administrator, including as dean of students at Central State University and associate professor of education, department chair, and director of student personnel services at Fisk University; and

WHEREAS, Charles Flowers and his family decided to make their home in Virginia Beach, where he became executive assistant to the president at Norfolk State University; and

WHEREAS, Charles Flowers' first love was teaching and mentoring young people, so he joined the Virginia Beach Public Schools, and over his longtime service, was employed as a classroom teacher, guidance counselor, consultant, and assistant principal; and

WHEREAS, Charles Flowers, together with his wife Alice, became the first African Americans to acquire a Sylvan Learning Center franchise, which has expanded to four centers providing quality educational assistance to students in Hampton Roads for 16 years; and

WHEREAS, a dedicated resident of Virginia Beach and community supporter for over 30 years, Charles Flowers has given his time and many talents to numerous civic and professional organizations, including as a member of the National Urban League, Tidewater Area Business and Contractors Associates, and Community Development Corporation; and

WHEREAS, Charles Flowers was an active member of the NAACP, 200+ Men, Virginia Beach Library Board, and the Kiwanis Club and received many awards and accolades over the years, including special recognition by Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society, Phi Delta Kappa Honor Society, and the National Defense Education Act Fellowships; and

WHEREAS, Charles Flowers was a faithful member of Bank Street Memorial Baptist Church of Norfolk, where he served as a deacon, trustee, chairman of the board of trustees, and member of the senior choir; and

WHEREAS, Charles E. Flowers will be fondly remembered for his kind and generous nature and greatly missed by his devoted wife; his loving children and their wonderful families, especially his grandchildren, Alexandria, Jeffrey “Max,” and John Charles; his numerous other family members and friends; his students and colleagues; and the congregation of Bank Street Memorial Baptist Church; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of a fine educator and outstanding Virginian, Charles E. Flowers; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Charles E. Flowers as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.