WHEREAS, for 35 years, the Reverend Dr. Melvin Marriner has provided inspirational leadership to the congregation of Grove Baptist Church as senior pastor; and

WHEREAS, Melvin Marriner is currently the longest-serving senior pastor of Grove Baptist Church and has helped the church grow in faith and number during his distinguished tenure; and

WHEREAS, Melvin Marriner is leading the members of Grove Baptist Church in addressing the housing shortage by contributing to the construction of 200 new apartments and approximately 78 new single-family homes in Portsmouth; and

WHEREAS, outside of his work with the church, Melvin Marriner has served as president of the Dr. Martin Luther King Leadership Steering Committee and on the boards of Portsmouth Partnership and the Portsmouth Community Foundation; and

WHEREAS, over the course of his career, Melvin Marriner was a mentor with Chesapeake Public Schools, served as the first vice president of the Norfolk Union Association/Baptist General Convention, and was a board member of the American Red Cross Association; and

WHEREAS, Melvin Marriner currently serves as the chaplain of the Portsmouth Sheriff's Office, and he is the chief executive officer of Visions of Truth Community Development Corporation and a member of the Rotary Club of Portsmouth and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate of Virginia, That the Reverend Dr. Melvin Marriner hereby be commended on the occasion of his 35th anniversary as senior pastor of Grove Baptist Church; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Reverend Dr. Melvin Marriner as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's admiration for his spiritual leadership and contributions to the Portsmouth community.