Bill Text: VA HR216 | 2019 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of Walter Norris Hardy, Sr.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-01-14 - Bill text as passed House (HR216ER) [HR216 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2019-HR216-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, Walter Norris Hardy, Sr., a dedicated family man and highly admired leader in the Surry community who was a trailblazer for civil rights, died on July 15, 2018; and
WHEREAS, Norris Hardy was born and raised in Surry and began his education in a two-room school house in the segregated school system of Surry County; he later attended and matriculated from Isle of Wight Training School in Smithfield and then served his country in the United States Army from 1954 to 1956; and
WHEREAS, Norris Hardy worked at Gwaltney of Smithfield for 36 years, retiring as a supervisor in ham-boning, and later co-owned and operated Rushmere Food Mart, Inc., for 10 years; and
WHEREAS, Norris Hardy was an engaged civic leader in Surry, helping to register area residents to vote, and, as someone who was very passionate about making Surry County a better place to live, running for public office and making history as one of the first African Americans to be elected to the Surry County Board of Supervisors, where he served for 27 years; and
WHEREAS, in Norris Hardy's capacity as a county supervisor, he assisted in the hiring of the superintendent of schools and a county attorney and was instrumental in the development of numerous schools, the county government center, and the county recreation center; his service included participating in numerous county and state boards; and
WHEREAS, Norris Hardy was a devoted member of his church, First Gravel Hill Baptist Church, contributing to the congregation over many years as an active congregant with his family and serving as treasurer, Sunday school teacher, and deacon; and
WHEREAS, preceded in death by his wife, Becky, and his daughter, Bernadeen, Norris Hardy will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his children, Zelma, Bernita, Grace, Frances, Lisa, Daphne, Kimberly, Walter, Jr., and Thomas, and their families, and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of Walter Norris Hardy, Sr., a dedicated family man and highly admired leader in the Surry community, who was a trailblazer for civil rights; 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 Walter Norris Hardy, Sr., as an expression of the House of Delegates' respect for his memory.
