2025 SESSION
ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 254
Celebrating the life of Peggy Lynn Davis.
Agreed to by the Senate, February 13, 2025
WHEREAS, Peggy Lynn Davis, an accomplished women's basketball coach, longtime athletic director at Virginia State University, beloved daughter, wife, mother, and treasured member of the Chester community, died on October 16, 2024; and
WHEREAS, Peggy Davis graduated from Bastrop County High School in Bastrop, Texas, before earning a bachelor's degree from Howard Payne University in 1985 and a master's degree in education from Tarleton State University in 1987; and
WHEREAS, an all-conference athlete in basketball and volleyball while at Howard Payne University, Peggy Davis returned to her alma mater in 1988 to serve as the women's basketball coach, winning a league championship two years later; and
WHEREAS, following her success at Howard Payne University, Peggy Davis coached the women's basketball team at Angelo State University from 1990 to 1997, securing a conference championship and coach of the year honors in 1994; and
WHEREAS, Peggy Davis's star continued to rise as she took the helm of the Virginia State University women's basketball team from 1997 to 2003, where she led the Virginia State Trojans to a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) title and was named CIAA coach of the year in 2002; and
WHEREAS, after tenures as a coach, associate athletic director, and senior women's administrator, Peggy Davis became only the second female athletic director in the history of Virginia State University; and
WHEREAS, Peggy Davis's accomplishments as the longstanding athletic director at Virginia State University include numerous National Collegiate Athletics Association tournament appearances and 26 CIAA championships; and
WHEREAS, in 2011, Peggy Davis made history as the first woman to serve as interim commissioner of the CIAA; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of her achievements, Peggy Davis was named CIAA athletic director of the year seven times and inducted into the halls of fame of Virginia State University and Howard Payne University; and
WHEREAS, Peggy Davis was guided throughout her life by her faith and was most recently a member of Mount Olivet Baptist Church in Petersburg; and
WHEREAS, Peggy Davis will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by her loving husband of 38 years, Thomas; her children, Courtney and Taylor; her mother, Delois; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of Virginia hereby note with great sadness the loss of Peggy Lynn Davis, a pillar of the Virginia State University community whose integrity and legacy of service inspired all who knew her; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Peggy Lynn Davis as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's respect for her memory.