HJ853: Celebrating the life of Stephen Gregory Barker.


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 853
Celebrating the life of Stephen Gregory Barker.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 18, 2011
Agreed to by the Senate, February 24, 2011

 

WHEREAS, Stephen Gregory Barker was born on May 26, 1979, in Alexandria, and entered into eternal rest on January 16, 2011; and

WHEREAS, in 1987 Stephen Gregory Barker?s family moved to Spotsylvania County; after his graduation from Chancellor High School in June 1996, he moved to Richmond to attend Virginia Commonwealth University, where he majored in crafts and sculpture, nurtured his keen interest in philosophy, became a member of Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity serving a term as its president, and graduated with a baccalaureate degree in 2005; and

WHEREAS, Stephen Gregory Barker was independent and self-supporting since high school; he was employed in various positions, including as a production specialist at WCVE Community Idea Station, where he was responsible for many tasks and directed the proceedings from the Virginia House of Delegates and the Senate of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Stephen Gregory Barker was also a gifted photographer and videographer, and because the City of Richmond was prominently featured in his work, he showed many of the city's familiar sites and places to the world in novel and unique ways that inspired a renewed interest in Richmond's rich history and character; and

WHEREAS, actively interested in other cultures, Stephen Gregory Barker traveled to Costa Rica, Peru, and Thailand, where he attended school and was certified as a teacher of English as a Second Language; and

WHEREAS, Stephen Gregory Barker aspired to relocate to Japan or Korea to teach English to young children to help them succeed in the global community, and in May 2010, he moved to San Diego to earn money to help him achieve his dream of moving to Japan or Korea; and

WHEREAS, due to a grave illness, Stephen Gregory Barker returned to Richmond, where he was surrounded by loving family and caring friends; still looking to the future, he continued his pursuit of a position in Japan, began work on a photographic genealogical history of his family, arranged to return to his job at WCVE, and devoted considerable time to younger members of his family, encouraging them and imparting wisdom from his life experiences; and

WHEREAS, Stephen Gregory Barker was consistent and unwavering in pursuit of his goals and pursued his dreams, interests, and aspirations with fierce determination and an adventurous spirit; and

WHEREAS, the sweet memories of Stephen Gregory Barker are sealed within the hearts of his parents, siblings, other relatives, and many friends and colleagues who loved and adored him, and his positive attitude, zest, and valiant fight for life are a lasting inspiration to everyone whom he touched; 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 Stephen Gregory Barker; 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 Stephen Gregory Barker as an expression of the General Assembly's deep respect for his memory.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 853
Offered February 10, 2011
Celebrating the life of Stephen Gregory Barker.
Patron-- McClellan

WHEREAS, Stephen Gregory Barker was born on May 26, 1979, in Alexandria, and entered into eternal rest on January 16, 2011; and

WHEREAS, in 1987, his family moved to Spotsylvania County, and after his graduation from Chancellor High School in June 1996, Stephen Gregory Barker moved to Richmond to attend Virginia Commonwealth University, where he majored in crafts and sculpture, nurtured his keen interest in philosophy, became a member of Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity and served a term as its president, and was graduated with a baccalaureate degree in 2005; and

WHEREAS, Stephen Gregory Barker was independent and self-supporting since high school, and was employed in various positions, including as a production specialist at WCVE Community Idea Station, where he was responsible for many tasks and directed the proceedings from the Virginia House of Delegates and the Senate of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Stephen Gregory Barker also was a gifted photographer and videographer, and because the City of Richmond was prominently featured in his work, he showed many of the city's familiar sites and places to the world in novel and unique ways that inspired a renewed interest in Richmond's rich history and character; and

WHEREAS, actively interested in other cultures, Stephen Gregory Barker traveled to Costa Rica, Peru, and Thailand, where he attended school and was certified as a teacher of English as a Second Language; and

WHEREAS, he aspired to relocate to Japan or Korea to teach English to young children to help them succeed in the global community, and in May 2010, he moved to San Diego to earn money to help him achieve his dream of moving to Japan or Korea; and

WHEREAS, due to a grave illness, Stephen Gregory Barker returned to Richmond, where he was surrounded by loving family and caring friends and, still looking to the future, he continued his pursuit of a position in Japan, began work on a photographic genealogical history of his family, arranged to return to his job at WCVE, and devoted considerable time to younger members of his family, encouraging them and imparting wisdom from his life experiences; and

WHEREAS, Stephen Gregory Barker was consistent and unwavering in pursuit of his goals and pursued his dreams, interests, and aspirations with fierce determination and an adventurous spirit; and

WHEREAS, the sweet memories of Stephen Gregory Barker are sealed within the hearts of his parents, siblings, other relatives, and many friends and colleagues who loved and adored him, and his positive attitude, zest, and valiant fight for life are a lasting inspiration to everyone whom he touched; 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 Stephen Gregory Barker; 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 Stephen Gregory Barker as an expression of the General Assembly's deep respect for his memory.