HJ434: Celebrating the life of Bishop Barnett Karl Thoroughgood.


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 434
Celebrating the life of Bishop Barnett Karl Thoroughgood.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 2, 2012
Agreed to by the Senate, March 7, 2012

 

WHEREAS, Bishop Barnett Karl Thoroughgood was called home to glory on February 5, 2012, shortly after delivering an impassioned sermon to his beloved congregation at New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ in Virginia Beach and after a lifetime of faithful service to his God; and

WHEREAS, the son of John Thomas Thoroughgood, a preacher, and his wife, Mildred B. Cooper Thoroughgood, Barnett Thoroughgood began to preach and teach others at a young age, and while a teenager, became licensed as a minister and ordained an elder in the Church of God in Christ by the late Bishop David C. Love; and

WHEREAS, in 1970 Barnett Thoroughgood founded the New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ in the Seatack community with two members; he was officially appointed the pastor of the church two years later; and

WHEREAS, under Bishop Thoroughgood?s inspired leadership, New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ grew in faith and numbers; at the time of his passing, it had become one of the largest churches in Virginia Beach with a wide variety of missions to serve the greater community; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Thoroughgood served the Church of God in Christ denomination in various capacities and most recently as Second Administrative Assistant to Bishop Samuel L. Green, Jr., and District Superintendent of the Virginia Beach District; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Thoroughgood took an active role in community affairs, serving on the Virginia Beach Planning Commission and working alongside community leaders and city officials to help those in need; and

WHEREAS, throughout his life, Bishop Thoroughgood pursued knowledge and education, graduating from the former Union Kempsville High School, earning bachelor and master of divinity degrees from Norfolk Theological Seminary and College, and receiving certificates from Boston University School of Theology and other institutions; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Thoroughgood earned numerous awards and accolades for his distinguished service to the church and community, including two honorary doctorates, the American Legion Distinguished Achievement Award, and resolutions, certificates, and proclamations from various entities; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Thoroughgood touched the lives of countless individuals over the course of his remarkable life and ended his days as he lived them, sharing his love while teaching and preaching to others; and

WHEREAS, Barnett Thoroughgood will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife of 39 years, Ernestine; children, Bertram, Emmanuel, Jonnathan, and Mekia, and their families; numerous other family members and friends; children he and Ernestine adopted and helped through the Social Services Foster Care Program; the congregation of New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ in Virginia Beach, and the larger Church of God in Christ family; 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 a beloved spiritual and community leader, Bishop Barnett Karl Thoroughgood; 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 Bishop Barnett Karl Thoroughgood as an expression of the General Assembly?s respect for his memory.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 434
Offered February 23, 2012
Celebrating the life of Bishop Barnett Karl Thoroughgood.

Patrons-- Knight, Cosgrove, Iaquinto, Purkey, Stolle, Tata and Villanueva; Senators: Blevins, McWaters and Wagner

WHEREAS, Bishop Barnett Karl Thoroughgood was called home to glory on February 5, 2012, shortly after delivering an impassioned sermon to his beloved congregation at New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ in Virginia Beach and after a lifetime of faithful service to his God; and

WHEREAS, the son of John Thomas Thoroughgood, a preacher, and his wife, Mildred B. Cooper Thoroughgood, Barnett Thoroughgood began to preach and teach others at a young age, becoming licensed as a minister and ordained an elder in the Church of God in Christ by the late Bishop David C. Love while a teenager; and

WHEREAS, in 1970, Barnett Thoroughgood founded the New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ in the Seatack community with two members; he was officially appointed the pastor of the church two years later; and

WHEREAS, under Bishop Thoroughgood?s inspired leadership, New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ grew in faith and numbers, becoming one of the largest churches in Virginia Beach at the time of his passing with a wide variety of missions to serve the greater community; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Thoroughgood served the Church of God in Christ denomination in various capacities and most recently as Second Administrative Assistant to Bishop Samuel L. Green, Jr., and District Superintendent of the Virginia Beach District; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Thoroughgood took an active role in community affairs, serving on the Virginia Beach Planning Commission and working alongside community leaders and city officials to help those in need; and

WHEREAS, throughout his life, Bishop Thoroughgood pursued knowledge and education, graduating from the former Union Kempsville High School, earning a bachelor?s and master?s of divinity degree from Norfolk Theological Seminary and College, and receiving certificates from Boston University School of Theology and other institutions; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Thoroughgood earned numerous awards and accolades for his distinguished service to the church and community, including two honorary doctorates, the American Legion Distinguished Achievement Award, and resolutions, certificates, and proclamations from various entities; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Thoroughgood touched the lives of countless individuals over the course of his remarkable life and ended his days as he lived them, sharing his love while teaching and preaching to others; and

WHEREAS, Barnett Thoroughgood will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife of 39 years, Ernestine; children, Bertram, Emmanuel, Jonnathan, and Mekia, and their families; numerous other family members and friends; children he and Ernestine adopted and helped through the Social Services Foster Care Program; the congregation of New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ in Virginia Beach, and the larger Church of God in Christ family; 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 a beloved spiritual and community leader, Bishop Barnett Karl Thoroughgood; 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 Bishop Barnett Karl Thoroughgood as an expression of the General Assembly?s respect for his memory.