Bill Text: VA HR840 | 2021 | 2nd Special Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of Valerie Best.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 25-0)
Status: (Passed) 2021-08-10 - Bill text as passed House (HR840ER) [HR840 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2021-HR840-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, Valerie Best, author, publisher, and business owner and beloved member of the Hampton Roads community, died on February 25, 2021; and
WHEREAS, Valerie Best grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, where she was one of the first Black students to attend a previously all-White school in a city that was described as "ground zero for anti-bussing rage" following a 1974 court order requiring bussing of students to desegregate schools in the city; and
WHEREAS, after graduating from high school in 1973, Valerie Best relocated to Virginia to attend the Hampton Institute, now Hampton University, where she was a member of the cheerleading team and where she met the love of her life and future husband, Tyrome; and
WHEREAS, in 1977, Valerie Best graduated from Hampton Institute with a degree in early childhood education and, following a short stint teaching in local schools, became a flight attendant, a position that allowed her and Tyrome to travel the world; and
WHEREAS, upon becoming a mother in 1987, Valerie Best left the corporate world to work with her husband to grow their networking business; and
WHEREAS, over the next 33 years, as the co-founder of Wealth Builders Worldwide and the author and publisher of five books, Valerie Best was recognized as a speaker, leader, and trainer; and
WHEREAS, a lover of people and believer in the goodness of others despite the bigotry, prejudice, and racism she faced in life, Valerie Best believed in the importance of engaging with her community and actively participating in politics, government, and social causes, and she worked hard to build communities of likeminded people dedicated to improving the lives of others; and
WHEREAS, Valerie Best will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by her husband of 42 years, Tyrome; her sons, Alexander and Gabriel; and countless other family members, friends, and others throughout Newport News; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of Valerie Best; 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 Valerie Best as an expression of the House of Delegates' respect for her memory.