Bill Text: VA SJR42 | 2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of Patricia Paige.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-01-29 - Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ42ER) [SJR42 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-SJR42-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, Patricia Paige, a dedicated community leader who made history as the first Black woman to serve on the New Kent County Board of Supervisors, died on November 28, 2023; and
WHEREAS, after graduating from New Kent High School, Patricia Paige served the nation as a member of the United States Army Reserve for more than two decades; and
WHEREAS, in 2015, Patricia Paige joined the New Kent Clean County Committee, then ran for and was elected to the New Kent County Board of Supervisors; she subsequently won reelection in 2019 and 2023; and
WHEREAS, Patricia Paige represented the residents of District 3 with integrity and dedication, earning the admiration of her colleagues and constituents alike for her commitment to fairness and unwavering positivity; and
WHEREAS, during her tenure on the New Kent County Board of Supervisors, Patricia Paige was a mentor to young people in the community and led efforts to include high school students on county committees; and
WHEREAS, Patricia Paige also oversaw initiatives to keep elderly residents better informed about scams and other dangers inherent in the use of technology, as well as to provide safety measures for them; and
WHEREAS, among her proudest achievements, Patricia Paige led a nine-year campaign to enhance highway infrastructure on Interstate 64, which had been the site of several traffic jams and crashes; and
WHEREAS, in December 2022, a $25 million federal aid grant was awarded to widen Interstate 64 between mile markers 205 and 215, and in November 2023, the Commonwealth announced a $756 million project to widen a 29-mile stretch of the highway, most of which is located in New Kent County; Patricia Paige proudly attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the first phase of the project on November 13, 2023; and
WHEREAS, Patricia Paige was vocal about her previous struggles with cancer and went above and beyond to help others as a volunteer with support groups and advocacy organizations; and
WHEREAS, Patricia Paige served as an ambassador for the American Cancer Society and always took an active role in the Relay for Life New Kent/West Point to provide encouragement to fellow cancer survivors and remember those who had passed with dignity and respect; and
WHEREAS, Patricia Paige will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by numerous family members, friends, and colleagues; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Patricia Paige, a highly admired member of the New Kent County Board of Supervisors; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Patricia Paige as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for her memory.
