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Celebrating the life of Yolanda Wyche Stokes.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 2, 2026
WHEREAS, Yolanda Wyche Stokes, a devoted wife and mother, esteemed public servant, and beloved member of the Hopewell community, died on December 23, 2025; and
WHEREAS, Yolanda Stokes was born in Richmond and graduated from Prince George High School in 1980 before studying business administration at Virginia State University (VSU), where she was a member of the VSU Gospel Chorale and the renowned Trojan Explosion marching band; and
WHEREAS, Yolanda Stokes dedicated herself to a number of endeavors over her professional career, including serving as a paralegal, a school bus driver with Prince George County and Hopewell, and a resident manager of local apartment complexes; and
WHEREAS, Yolanda Stokes worked tirelessly to help people in need in roles with the Hopewell Redevelopment and Housing Authority and the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority, for which she served as deputy director, as well as through her efforts with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Petersburg Social Services; and
WHEREAS, Yolanda Stokes was a longtime voting advocate who embraced her civic duty by serving as the director of the Hopewell Electoral Board and as the general registrar of the City of Hopewell; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of her leadership and service to the community, Yolanda Stokes was elected in 2024 to serve as the Ward 6 representative on the Hopewell City Council; and
WHEREAS, guided throughout her life by her faith, Yolanda Stokes was baptized at Morning Star Baptist Church in Richmond and enjoyed worship and fellowship with a number of local congregations over the years; and
WHEREAS, Yolanda Stokes was an accomplished singer, pianist, and choir director who performed with several local ensembles and churches, including the Petersburg and Vicinity Chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of America; and
WHEREAS, preceded in death by her husband, Paul, Yolanda Stokes will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by her loving son, Xavier; her siblings, Jesse, Marilyn, Gloria, Tammy, Justine, Terry, DeSharri, and Tametra; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of Yolanda Wyche Stokes, a treasured member of the Hopewell community whose legacy of dedication, integrity, and service will forever inspire all who knew her; 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 Yolanda Wyche Stokes as an expression of the House of Delegates' respect for her memory.