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Celebrating the life of McArthur Myers.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 16, 2026
WHEREAS, McArthur Myers, a respected mental health professional, dedicated historical preservationist, distinguished member of the Prince Hall Freemasons, and beloved member of the Alexandria community, died on December 4, 2025; and
WHEREAS, a trailblazer from a young age, McArthur Myers was among the first Black students to attend the former Prince Street Elementary School in Alexandria and also helped to integrate the Alexandria Boys Club and a local Boy Scouts of America troop in his youth; and
WHEREAS, after graduating from what is today Alexandria City High School and studying the administration of justice at American University, McArthur Myers devoted more than 40 years to the District of Columbia's Department of Mental Health; and
WHEREAS, with a deep commitment to capturing and preserving the whole story of Alexandria, McArthur Myers played a pivotal role in the establishment of nine historical markers recognizing important Black sites and institutions in the city and in the development of the City of Alexandria's African American Heritage Trails; and
WHEREAS, McArthur Myers gave generously of his time both as a mentor to young people and through his involvement with various community organizations, including the Alexandria Society for the Preservation of Black History, the Alexandria Black History Museum, the Freedom House Museum, the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission, and the Equal Justice Initiative's Community Remembrance Project; and
WHEREAS, McArthur Myers joined the Universal Lodge #1 of the Prince Hall Freemasons in 2012 and later served as the 174th Worshipful Master and as the Grand Historian of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Virginia; and
WHEREAS, in 2016, McArthur Myers made history as the first Black member of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association; two years later, he organized the first meeting of the Prince Hall Freemasons to be held in the George Washington Masonic National Memorial; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of his efforts, McArthur Myers was named a Living Legend of Alexandria in 2020 and was presented the Ben Brenman Award for Archaeology by the Alexandria Archaeological Commission in 2019; and
WHEREAS, McArthur Myers was a gifted musician who could often be found playing his harmonica to the delight of family and friends; and
WHEREAS, McArthur Myers will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his brothers, Larry Ward, Robert Myers, William Myers, David Lawson, and Peter Lawson, and by numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of McArthur Myers, a treasured member of the Alexandria community whose service, mentorship, and pursuit of social justice made an impact on countless lives; 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 McArthur Myers as an expression of the House of Delegates' respect for his memory.