2026 SPECIAL SESSION I
ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 2010
Commending Caroline Patricia Ayres.
Agreed to by the Senate, April 23, 2026
WHEREAS, Caroline Patricia Ayres of Charlottesville, a distinguished attorney, trailblazer, and lifelong advocate for justice, has made countless contributions to her community and the Commonwealth over the course of her life; and
WHEREAS, Caroline Ayres was born in 1957 in the basement of the University of Virginia Hospital, a humble beginning that would mark the start of a life defined by perseverance, excellence, and historic achievements in service to others; and
WHEREAS, Caroline Ayres grew up in Dillwyn and was among the first students to transition from a segregated school to an integrated environment at Dillwyn Elementary School in Buckingham County; due to the circumstances of the time, the school bus would not stop at her residence, requiring her and her siblings to walk up the road to board the bus; and
WHEREAS, Caroline Ayres pursued her legal education at the University of Virginia School of Law and graduated in 1981; her accomplishment was not only a personal milestone but also a significant achievement for her community, reflecting her resilience and commitment to advancing equality within the legal system; and
WHEREAS, Caroline Ayres began her career at a time when opportunities for Black women, particularly in the legal profession, were limited; through determination and academic excellence, she broke barriers and became the first Black attorney from Buckingham County, setting a powerful precedent for future generations; and
WHEREAS, over the course of her career, Caroline Ayres worked in Washington, D.C., for a member of the United States House of Representatives and a member of the United States Senate, served as an assistant attorney general and as a judge in Delaware, and then established her own law practice, The Law Offices of Caroline Ayres, in Charlottesville; and