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Celebrating the life of Anthony L. Bennett, Sr.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 29, 2026
Agreed to by the Senate, February 5, 2026
WHEREAS, Anthony L. Bennett, Sr., a respected educator, community leader, and entrepreneur who founded A.L. Bennett and Son Funeral Home, Inc., in Fredericksburg, died on January 7, 2026; and
WHEREAS, as a child, Anthony Bennett was inspired by the care and ceremony demonstrated by local morticians as they supported families during times of loss and set a personal goal to one day own a funeral home of his own; and
WHEREAS, Anthony Bennett was a proud graduate of what is now Virginia State University, from which he earned a bachelor's degree in industrial arts; he continued his education at John Tyler Community College, obtaining an associate degree in mortuary science, and subsequently earned a master's degree in administration and supervision from George Mason University; and
WHEREAS, Anthony Bennett's longtime dream became a reality in 1977, when he opened Bennett's Funeral Home, which later became A.L. Bennett and Son Funeral Home, Inc.; he was highly respected in his profession and provided his leadership and insights to the Virginia Morticians' Association, Inc., and the Richmond Funeral Directors Association, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, Anthony Bennett was a pivotal and inspirational figure in local Black history in Fredericksburg; A.L. Bennett and Son Funeral Home was originally located at 515 Princess Anne Street, where it operated from 1977 until 2007, and was the last Black-owned business on that block; and
WHEREAS, A.L. Bennett and Son Funeral Home continues to uphold Anthony Bennett's legacy of excellence and dedication to serving the community from its current location at 200 Butternut Drive in Fredericksburg; and
WHEREAS, in addition to his work as a funeral director, Anthony Bennett served as a teacher at Stafford Middle School and A.G. Wright Middle School in Stafford; he further supported students and his fellow educators as chair of the Fredericksburg City School Board; and
WHEREAS, Anthony Bennett took great pride in serving members of the community during their times of need; he was a member of the Tau Rho Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Epsilon Rho Boule' Foundation, and Prince Hall Freemasonry; and
WHEREAS, Anthony Bennett will be 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 Anthony L. Bennett, Sr., a business owner who served the residents of Fredericksburg with dignity and compassion; 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 Anthony L. Bennett, Sr., as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.