HJ990: Celebrating the life of Holly Marie Kerr Edwards.


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 990
Celebrating the life of Holly Marie Kerr Edwards.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 20, 2017
Agreed to by the Senate, February 22, 2017

 

WHEREAS, Holly Marie Kerr Edwards, a community activist who served the Charlottesville community as a nurse and a former vice mayor, died on January 7, 2017; and

WHEREAS, a native of Washington, D.C., Holly Edwards earned bachelor’s degrees in psychology and nursing from Hampton Institute, a master’s degree in education from Howard University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia School of Nursing; and

WHEREAS, Holly Edwards was a parish nurse at Westhaven Nursing Clinic and the Crescent Halls Clinic in Charlottesville, and she worked as a program coordinator for the Charlottesville Public Housing Association of Residents; and

WHEREAS, desirous to be of further service to her fellow residents, Holly Edwards ran for and was elected to Charlottesville City Council in 2007; she was a tireless advocate for low-income and minority members of the community, giving a clear voice to the people who needed it the most; and

WHEREAS, Holly Edwards declined a nomination to serve as mayor in 2010 and was then elected by her fellow City Council members as vice mayor for 2010 - 2011; during those two years, she orchestrated the city’s Dialogue on Race, a community-wide effort that led to the creation of Charlottesville’s Human Rights Commission and Office of Human Rights; and

WHEREAS, Holly Edwards also worked to reduce recidivism and addressed the high infant mortality rate in Charlottesville during her term on City Council; although she decided not to seek reelection, she was an inspirational mentor to countless other leaders in the city and worked with former mayors and city officials to build a stronger future for the community; and

WHEREAS, Holly Edwards chartered the Charlottesville chapter of the National Black Nurses Association; was a life member of the NAACP, serving as health coordinator and second vice president of the Albemarle-Charlottesville chapter; and served on the Board of Directors of the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center; and

WHEREAS, Holly Edwards received many accolades for her leadership and service, including the University of Virginia (UVA) Health System’s Community Service Award in 2005, the John E. Baker Community Education Award in 2015, the UVA Graduate Student Diversity Award for Excellence in 2016, and the Drewary J. Brown Community Bridge Builder Award in October 2016, when her name was added to Charlottesville’s West Main Street bridge; and

WHEREAS, Holly Edwards will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by her husband, Kendrick; her four daughters; and numerous other family members and 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 Holly Marie Kerr Edwards, a respected community leader and former vice mayor of Charlottesville who greatly enhanced the quality of life of all city residents; 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 Holly Marie Kerr Edwards as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for her memory.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 990

Offered February 16, 2017
Celebrating the life of Holly Marie Kerr Edwards.
Patron-- Toscano

WHEREAS, Holly Marie Kerr Edwards, a community activist who served the Charlottesville community as a nurse and a former vice-mayor, died on January 7, 2017; and

WHEREAS, a native of Washington, D.C., Holly Edwards earned bachelor’s degrees in psychology and nursing from Hampton Institute, a master’s degree in education from Howard University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia School of Nursing; and

WHEREAS, Holly Edwards served as a parish nurse at Westhaven Nursing Clinic and the Crescent Halls Clinic in Charlottesville, and she worked as a program coordinator for the Charlottesville Public Housing Association of Residents; and

WHEREAS, desirous to be of further service to her fellow residents, Holly Edwards ran for and was elected to Charlottesville City Council in 2007; she was a tireless advocate for low-income and minority members of the community, giving a clear voice to the people who needed it the most; and

WHEREAS, Holly Edwards declined a nomination to serve as mayor in 2010 and was then elected by her fellow City Council members as vice-mayor for 2010 - 2011; during those two years, she orchestrated the city’s Dialogue on Race, a community-wide effort that led to the creation of Charlottesville’s Human Rights Commission and Office of Human Rights; and

WHEREAS, Holly Edwards also worked to reduce recidivism and addressed the high infant mortality rate in Charlottesville during her term on City Council; although she decided not to seek reelection, she was an inspirational mentor to countless other leaders in the city and worked with former mayors and city officials to build a stronger future for the community; and

WHEREAS, Holly Edwards chartered the Charlottesville chapter of the National Black Nurses Association; was a life member of the NAACP, serving as health coordinator and second vice-president of the Albemarle-Charlottesville chapter; and served on the Board of Directors of the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center; and

WHEREAS, Holly Edwards received many accolades for her leadership and service, including the University of Virginia (UVA) Health System’s Community Service Award in 2005, the John E. Baker Community Education Award in 2015, the UVA Graduate Student Diversity Award for Excellence in 2016, and the Drewary J. Brown Community Bridge Builder Award in October 2016, when her name was added to Charlottesville’s West Main Street bridge; and

WHEREAS, Holly Edwards will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by her husband, Kendrick; her four daughters; and numerous other family members and 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 Holly Marie Kerr Edwards, a respected community leader and former vice-mayor of Charlottesville who greatly enhanced the quality of life of all city residents; 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 Holly Marie Kerr Edwards as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for her memory.