WHEREAS, Arthuretta Leona Holmes-Martin, an esteemed public servant, community advocate, and artist and a beloved member of the Woodbridge community, died on July 3, 2021; and

WHEREAS, born in Charleston, South Carolina, Arthuretta Holmes-Martin lived briefly in Panama after graduating high school before attending James Madison University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in public administration in 1985; and

WHEREAS, a lifelong learner, Arthuretta Holmes-Martin earned a master's degree in acquisition management from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1995 and began pursuing a doctoral degree in communication and media studies later in her life; and

WHEREAS, Arthuretta Holmes-Martin began her career in public service in 1986, dedicating more than two decades to serving various agencies of the United States Government, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization; and

WHEREAS, following her retirement in 2009, Arthuretta Holmes-Martin founded the organization Resolutions Addressing Systematic Racism in an effort to change systems that establish and cultivate structural racism; and

WHEREAS, an accomplished singer who performed under the stage name, "Mama Retta," Arthuretta Holmes-Martin founded Words and Melodies, LLC, as an outlet for her creativity and to promote other singers, storytellers, and artists in her community; and

WHEREAS, Arthuretta Holmes-Martin's dedication to the arts included service as president of the National Capital Area Black Storytellers Association and through support of various other local arts organizations and programs; and

WHEREAS, Arthuretta Holmes-Martin will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by her loving children, William, Justin, and Makeda; her former husband, Clyde; 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 Arthuretta Leona Holmes-Martin, a respected public servant, community advocate, and artist whose kindness and generosity touched countless lives; 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 Arthuretta Leona Holmes-Martin as an expression of the House of Delegates' respect for her memory.