HJ743: Celebrating the life of Joan Gifford.


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 743
Celebrating the life of Joan Gifford.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 23, 2009
Agreed to by the Senate, January 29, 2009

 

WHEREAS, Joan Gifford of Norfolk, a respected businesswoman, community leader, and tireless advocate for Old Dominion University, died on October 6, 2008; and

WHEREAS, born in Exeter, Devonshire, England, Joan Gifford moved to the United States in 1948 with her husband, Charles Gifford, whom she met while he was stationed in the United Kingdom; and

WHEREAS, an innovative and hard working realtor and businesswoman, Joan Gifford founded three companies in Tidewater—Gifford Realty, Inc., Gifford Management Group, and Gifford Insurance Associates; and

WHEREAS, Joan Gifford served as the founding member and president of the Metro Multiple Listing Service, as well as the director of the National Association of Realtors, receiving the organization's coveted Virginia Realtor of the Year award; and

WHEREAS, Joan Gifford was instrumental in the merging of the Norfolk Board of Realtors and the Virginia Beach Board of Realtors into the Tidewater Association of Realtors, which is now the Hampton Roads Association of Realtors; and

WHEREAS, a knowledgeable leader in her profession, Joan Gifford was the first female real estate agent to be appointed by the Governor as a commissioner to the Virginia Housing Authority; and

WHEREAS, Joan Gifford also served as the regional governor of the Women's Council of Realtors for the National Association of Realtors and was named Professional Woman of the Year for Hampton Roads; and

WHEREAS, Joan Gifford was most proud of her association with Old Dominion University (ODU), where she was appointed to the board of visitors and served as vice rector and chair of the ODU Education Foundation; she was honored by the university with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree for her many contributions to her community; and

WHEREAS, Joan Gifford was devoted to serving the Commonwealth and her fellow citizens, and she enthusiastically gave her time and immense talents as a board member of the American Cancer Society, Norfolk Crime Line, Norfolk Convention and Visitors Bureau, Norfolk Community Commission, Boy Scouts of America, Central Fidelity Bank, and Heritage Bank; and

WHEREAS, Joan Gifford will be fondly remembered for her fierce determination, generosity, and exceptional drive and will be greatly missed by her husband, Charles S. Gifford; her son Tim Gifford and his wife Diana; her daughter Francine Deir and her husband Edward; her nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; and many other family members and good friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of an outstanding community leader and fine Virginian, Joan Gifford; 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 Joan Gifford as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for her memory.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 743
Offered January 15, 2009
Celebrating the life of Joan Gifford.
Patrons-- Miller, P.J., Alexander, Howell, A.T., Joannou, Lewis and Melvin

WHEREAS, Joan Gifford of Norfolk, a respected businesswoman, community leader, and tireless advocate for Old Dominion University, died on October 6, 2008; and

WHEREAS, born in Exeter, Devonshire, England, Joan Gifford moved to the United States in 1948 with her husband, Charles Gifford, whom she met while he was stationed in the United Kingdom; and

WHEREAS, an innovative and hard working realtor and businesswoman, Joan Gifford founded three companies in TidewaterGifford Realty, Inc., Gifford Management Group, and Gifford Insurance Associates; and

WHEREAS, Joan Gifford served as the founding member and president of the Metro Multiple Listing Service, as well as the director of the National Association of Realtors, receiving the organization's coveted Virginia Realtor of the Year award; and

WHEREAS, Joan Gifford was instrumental in the merging of the Norfolk Board of Realtors and the Virginia Beach Board of Realtors into the Tidewater Association of Realtors, which is now the Hampton Roads Association of Realtors; and

WHEREAS, a knowledgeable leader in her profession, Joan Gifford was the first female real estate agent to be appointed by the Governor as a commissioner to the Virginia Housing Authority; and

WHEREAS, Joan Gifford also served as the regional governor of the Women's Council of Realtors for the National Association of Realtors and was named Professional Woman of the Year for Hampton Roads; and

WHEREAS, Joan Gifford was most proud of her association with Old Dominion University (ODU), where she was appointed to the board of visitors and served as vice rector and chair of the ODU Education Foundation; she was honored by the university with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree for her many contributions to her community; and

WHEREAS, Joan Gifford was devoted to serving the Commonwealth and her fellow citizens, and she enthusiastically gave her time and immense talents as a board member of the American Cancer Society, Norfolk Crime Line, Norfolk Convention and Visitors Bureau, Norfolk Community Commission, Boy Scouts of America, Central Fidelity Bank, and Heritage Bank; and

WHEREAS, Joan Gifford will be fondly remembered for her fierce determination, generosity, and exceptional drive and greatly missed by her husband, Charles S. Gifford; her son Tim Gifford and his wife Diana; her daughter Francine Deir and her husband Edward; her nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; and her many other family members and good friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of an outstanding community leader and fine Virginian, Joan Gifford; 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 Joan Gifford as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for her memory.