2026 SPECIAL SESSION I
ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 2044
Celebrating the life of Bernard L. Henderson, Jr.
Agreed to by the Senate, June 22, 2026
WHEREAS, Bernard L. Henderson, Jr., a beloved member of the Richmond community who dedicated his career to government service and held high-ranking positions with several gubernatorial administrations, died on June 8, 2026; and
WHEREAS, Bernard “Bernie” Henderson graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond and earned a bachelor's degree in political science at Old Dominion University; he also completed post-graduate programs at the University of Virginia and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University; and
WHEREAS, Bernie Henderson was interested in politics from a young age and supported and managed a number of Democratic campaigns over the years; he would go on to serve as chair of the Henrico County Democratic Committee, secretary of the Third Congressional District Democratic Committee, and vice chair of the Seventh Congressional District Democratic Committee; and
WHEREAS, Bernie Henderson began his career in government in high school as a legislative assistant at the General Assembly, and he was a member of the staff of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, W. Pat Jennings, in college; and
WHEREAS, upon graduating, Bernie Henderson briefly served as an administrator of the Virginia Bureau of Insurance, then was an assistant to the commissioners of the State Corporation Commission for eight years; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of his leadership and expertise, Bernie Henderson was appointed director of the Virginia Department of Commerce by Governor Chuck Robb, then director of the Virginia Department of Health Professions by Governor Gerald Baliles, a position he was then reappointed to by Governor L. Douglas Wilder; and