Bill Text: VA HJR348 | 2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of the Reverend Rosalind Moats Hairston.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-03-07 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ348ER) [HJR348 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-HJR348-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, born Rosalind Marie Vines to Barbara Ann Ruffin Vines and Norris Marion Vines on September 15, 1961, the Reverend Rosalind Moats Hairston was a member of Mount Lebanon Baptist Church as a young child and gave her life to the Lord Jesus Christ at the Garden of Prayer Temple under the late Bishop Levi Willis, Sr., at the age of nine; and
WHEREAS, at the age of 16, Rosalind Hairston was hired as the first student-aid clerk typist for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissioner (EEOC) at the Norfolk Naval Base under the late Deputy EEOC Officer Thomas L. Spicer while also attending Maury High School, where she lettered in band; and
WHEREAS, Rosalind Hairston was instrumental in founding the Granby Street Drillers, a girls' drill team, and was responsible for the team marching in the Norfolk State Homecoming Parade and the Azalea Parade in 1979; and
WHEREAS, Rosalind Hairston was introduced into society as a Bachelor of Benedict Debutante and was the first to ever return as a "married widow" the following year wearing red instead of black; and
WHEREAS, Rosalind Hairston married her first husband, the late Arthur Moats, Jr., in the summer of 1979 and moved to Beaufort, South Carolina, where she was hired as the first Black woman to work in the office of South Carolina Electric & Gas Company as a teller; and
WHEREAS, Rosalind Hairston received her calling into the ministry as an evangelist at the age of 18 at Grays Hill Holiness Church Unto the Lord while stationed in Beaufort, South Carolina, as a military dependent; and
WHEREAS, Rosalind Hairston became the first Black female radio announcer to spin records at WRNB in New Bern, North Carolina, and was also the first female minister to be licensed to preach the gospel at Ambassadors Christ Christian Fellowship Center, Inc., in Havelock, North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, Rosalind Hairston passed her North Carolina Insurance Licensing Exam in 1989 and six months later passed another exam to gain her Life Underwriter Training Council certification in disability insurance; and
WHEREAS, after returning to Virginia in 1990, Rosalind became the first Black woman to work as a licensed insurance agent for Durham Life Insurance Company in the Hampton Roads office, where she remained Agent of the Quarter for an entire year and was the first woman to qualify for an all-expense-paid ski trip to Denver, Colorado, for being number four in the company for sales; and
WHEREAS, after the birth of her last child, Rosalind Hairston worked as a broker specialist for Sentara ADS in their Small Group Marketing Department, where she was the first Black woman to work in that role; and
WHEREAS, in 1992, Rosalind Hairston gained her licenses in life and health and property and casualty insurance and further pursued her personal growth and development by working with Cigna Group Insurance as an account executive in the Commercial Property and Casualty Department with a one-million-dollar liability authority; and
WHEREAS, in 1994, Rosalind Hairston was asked to lead the Small Group Disability Unit, where she was the first Black female account executive hired to take the lead in broker relations and sales and instituted the Selah Christian Fellowship Email Group Ministry during her tenure there; and
WHEREAS, Rosalind Hairston was guided by her faith to pursue more work in the ministry; she was ordained in 1995 and co-pastored Selah Christian Fellowship Center, Inc., located in the former Tucker Elementary School, in the Berkley section of South Norfolk; and
WHEREAS, Rosalind Hairston became the violence intervention director for the center and for the Campostella Boys & Girls Club, which was housed there; she also became an entrepreneur and started Selah Kids Heaven Academy, where she was licensed as a child care provider and director by the Virginia Department of Social Services for more than 11 years; and
WHEREAS, Rosalind Hairston grew her business from a licensed home daycare to a certified center until 2008; and
WHEREAS, after nine years of assistant pastoral duties, Rosalind Hairston joined First Baptist Church West Munden in 2007, where she served in various ministries, including the nursery, Senior's Ministry, and Wednesday Night Youth Bible Study; and
WHEREAS, in 2009, Rosalind stood in the gap at First Baptist Church West Munden, where her gifts were utilized by representing the church by offering a prayer for the National Day of Prayer Ceremonies for the City of Chesapeake; and
WHEREAS, in 2012, Rosalind entered the archives of church history by becoming the first female pastor of First Baptist Church West Munden, in which capacity she served for over three years; and
WHEREAS, Rosalind Hairston's remarkable achievements, dedication to her community, and unwavering faith have left an indelible mark on the cities of Norfolk and Chesapeake and the rest of Hampton Roads, as well as on the lives of countless individuals; and
WHEREAS, Rosalind Hairston is fondly remembered and greatly missed by numerous family members and friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of the Reverend Rosalind Moats Hairston, who had an immeasurable impact on the lives of others; 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 the Reverend Rosalind Moats Hairston as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for her memory and for her outstanding contributions to the community, her pioneering spirit, and her unwavering faith.
