SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 29 Celebrating the life of Collins H. Howlett III.   Agreed to by the Senate, January 17, 2008 Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 25, 2008  

WHEREAS, Collins H. Howlett III of Richmond, a respected citizen and community advocate for many city neighborhoods south of the James River, died on October 14, 2007; and

WHEREAS, a hardworking citizen with strong family values, Collins Howlett was a graduate of Armstrong High School, and he retired from the United States Postal Service as a letter carrier after 32 years of exemplary service; and

WHEREAS, Collins Howlett and his family were longtime residents of the Swansboro community, and he fought passionately for more neighborhood law-enforcement officers on city streets and rallied residents to take a strong stand against the violence and drugs that endangered their children and their property; and

WHEREAS, Collins Howlett was an articulate and knowledgeable spokesman for the middle class and citizens in need, and he was committed to improving local services in Southside communities and providing all of the basic needs to which residents were entitled; and

WHEREAS, in the 1950s, Collins Howlett openly opposed segregation and was a dedicated supporter of the NAACP’s cause to end discrimination, and he joined efforts by the Richmond Crusade for Voters to create opportunities for African Americans to participate in elections; and

WHEREAS, Collins Howlett spoke for the residents of Southside communities when no one else would, and he was well-known as a fearless and sometimes outspoken defender of the rights of middle- and low-income workers and their families; and

WHEREAS, one of the defining quality of life issues that Collins Howlett felt strongly must be tackled on the local government level was the crisis of inadequate and often unsafe housing in Southside communities; and

WHEREAS, Collins Howlett was active in the Democratic Party and political activities in Richmond for over 30 years, and he was an invaluable member and leader on many advisory committees and citizen groups, including the Hayes E. Willis Center, the Hull Street/Midlothian Civic Association, the Richmond City Personnel Board, the Young Men’s Loving Union, the Old South Community District Team, the Richmond Public Schools 5th District Council, and many other entities that served as sounding boards for area civic organizations; and

WHEREAS, Collins Howlett was a faithful member of First Baptist Church and active in the church’s many missions in the community; and

WHEREAS, throughout his longtime service to his neighbors, Collins Howlett provided the citizens of Southside Richmond with a voice and local leaders with a tangible conscience on the vital issues of housing, education, healthcare, recreation, and safety; and

WHEREAS, a sincere and jovial man of tremendous integrity, Collins Howlett will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his devoted wife Sallie; his five children, 18 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren; and his other loving family members and friends in the City of Richmond; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly note with great sadness the loss of an outstanding community advocate and fine Virginian, Collins H. Howlett III; and, be it

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

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 29 Offered January 9, 2008 Prefiled January 3, 2008 Celebrating the life of Collins H. Howlett III. ---------- Patron-- Marsh ----------

WHEREAS, Collins H. Howlett III of Richmond, a respected citizen and community advocate for many city neighborhoods south of the James River, died on October 14, 2007; and

WHEREAS, a hard-working citizen with strong family values, Collins Howlett was a graduate of Armstrong High School, and he retired from the United States Postal Service as a letter carrier after 32 years of exemplary service; and

WHEREAS, Collins Howlett and his family were longtime residents of the Swansboro community, and he fought passionately for more neighborhood law-enforcement officers on city streets and rallied residents to take a strong stand against the violence and drugs that endangered their children and their property; and

WHEREAS, Collins Howlett was an articulate and knowledgeable spokesman for the middle class and citizens in need, and he was committed to improving local services in Southside communities and providing all of the basic needs to which residents were entitled; and

WHEREAS, in the 1950s, Collins Howlett openly opposed segregation and was a dedicated supporter of the NAACP's cause to end discrimination, and he joined efforts by the Richmond Crusade for Voters to create opportunities for African Americans to participate in elections; and

WHEREAS, Collins Howlett spoke for the residents of Southside communities when no one else would, and he was well-known as a fearless and sometimes outspoken defender of the rights of middle- and low-income workers and their families; and

WHEREAS, one of the defining quality of life issues that Collins Howlett felt strongly must be tackled on the local government level was the crisis of inadequate and often unsafe housing in Southside communities; and

WHEREAS, Collins Howlett was active in the Democratic Party and political activities in Richmond for over 30 years, and he was an invaluable member and leader on many advisory committees and citizen groups, including the Hayes E. Willis Center, the Hull Street/Midlothian Civic Association, the Richmond City Personnel Board, the Young Men's Loving Union, the Old South Community District Team, the Richmond Public Schools 5th District Council, and many other entities that served as sounding boards for area civic organizations; and

WHEREAS, Collins Howlett was a faithful member of First Baptist Church and active in the church's many missions in the community; and

WHEREAS, throughout his longtime service to his neighbors, Collins Howlett provided the citizens of Southside Richmond with a voice and local leaders with a tangible conscience on the vital issues of housing, education, healthcare, recreation, and safety; and

WHEREAS, a sincere and jovial man of tremendous integrity, Collins Howlett will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his devoted wife Sallie; his five children, 18 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren; and his other loving family members and friends in the City of Richmond; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly note with great sadness the loss of an outstanding community advocate and fine Virginian, Collins H. Howlett III; and, be it

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