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Councilmember Zachary Parker 4
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A CEREMONAL RESOLUTION 12
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 15
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To recognize and honor the life and accomplishments of Terry Venita Thomas. 18
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WHEREAS, Terry V. Thomas was born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina on November 8, 1953 20
where she was raised by her parents Casper Garnett Thompson and Evelyn Louise Shannon Thompson; 21
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WHEREAS, Terry V. Thomas graduated, with honors, from Elizabeth City’s newly integrated 23
Northeastern High School in 1971; 24
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WHEREAS, Terry V. Thomas graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Music 26
Education where she led the effort to bring a chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. to the East 27
Carolina Campus and became both a charter member and the first president of the Kappa Sigma chapter; 28
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WHEREAS, Terry V. Thomas graduated from Howard University with a Master of Music degree; 30
she performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Carnegie Hall in New York, NY, and opera 31
houses in Italy and France during her time in graduate school; 32
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WHEREAS, Terry V. Thomas was married to Bradley Ashton Thomas, who survives her along 34
with their two children, Bryan A. Thomas and Krysten S. Thomas; 35
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WHEREAS, Terry V. Thomas taught music at Northern Virginia Community College, was a 37
featured soprano soloist with the Chancel Choir at Peoples Congregational United Church of Christ in 38
Washington DC, and a frequent performer at recitals and operatic showcases; 39
WHEREAS, Terry V. Thomas graduated from the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design at 40
George Washington University with a Master of Art Education degree; 41
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WHEREAS, Terry V. Thomas taught visual arts for DC Public School Seaton Elementary School 43
for 19 years where she served on the DC Public School Chancellor’s Advisory Cabinet and the DC Arts 44
and Humanities Collaborative Board; 45
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WHEREAS, Terry V. Thomas earned a plethora of awards such as DC Art Educator of the Year in 47
2003, the Rubenstein Award for Highly Effective Teaching on several occasions, and the Mayor’s Art 48
Award for Excellence in Arts Teaching in 2015; 49
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WHEREAS, Terry V. Thomas was a resident in Ward 5 since 1990; 51
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WHEREAS, Terry V. Thomas was active in the Ward 5 community for many years with the Bates 53
Area Civic Association in ANC 5E where she helped revive the association’s annual Flower Power event; 54
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WHEREAS, Terry V. Thomas was a faithful member of People’s Congregational United Church 56
of Christ for more than 35 years, where she served as Co-Chair of the Board of Christian Education; 57
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WHEREAS, Terry V. Thomas was a member of the Washington, D.C. Alumnae Chapter of Delta 59
Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where she served on the Scholarship Committee; she was determined to 60
review Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. scholarship applications in the hospital, even as she was passing; 61
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WHEREAS, Terry V. Thomas passed on Memorial Day, May 27, 2024 and leaves a legacy that 64
will live on in Ward 5 for generations to come. 65
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RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that this resolution 67
may be cited as the “Terry V. Thomas Posthumous Recognition Resolution of 2024”. 68
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Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia honors Terry V. Thomas for her years of 70
dedication to her community, family, and friends where she was a leader and pillar of the community. 71
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Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the 73
District of Columbia Register. 74