Introduced Version
House Resolution 32 History
| 
Email
Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
House Resolution No. 32
By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegate Trump
and
All Members of the House of Delegate
[Adopted by the House on March 28, 2005]
"Extolling the life and lamenting the death of Mrs. Hovah Underwood, former First Lady
of West Virginia and beloved wife, best friend and life partner of Governor Cecil Underwood."
WHEREAS, West Virginia was saddened to learn of the death of West Virginia's former
First Lady, Hovah Underwood, on September 24, 2004.
Hovah Hall of Grantsville was born April 12, 1919, the daughter of the late Roche C. and
Docia Betts Hall. She received her education in the public schools of Calhoun County. Her
compassion and concern for others led her to earn an AB Degree from Salem College and a
degree in Social Work from West Virginia University. Mrs. Underwood taught at Grantsville
Grade School, worked in a defense plant during World War II and she served 10 years as a child
welfare worker in northern West Virginia counties. Her early career in social work, in which
she actively helped foster children, fueled her interest in programs for early intervention, for
children removed from their homes and for after-school activities.
Hovah Hall married Cecil H. Underwood on July 25, 1948. She was a social worker in St.
Marys, where he was a schoolteacher. Her husband would be West Virginia's youngest and
eldest Governor. She was his devoted wife for 56 years.
Mrs. Underwood was the proud mother of two daughters, Cecilia and Sharon, and a son,
Craig, all of whom survive her. She is also survived by six grandchildren and three sisters.
Her first name was bestowed by her father, and is derived from the word Jehovah. Soft-
spoken and diminutive, the former First Lady was known for her work on issues involving
children, young families and women's health. She often visited schools and day-care centers as a
classroom reader. Serene and always upbeat, she loved her role as First Lady but often found it
frustrating and overwhelming because she could not fill all the requests for her time. During her
years in the Governor's Mansion, she not only filled the role of mansion matriarch, but she
became friends with many of the Governor's staff and the State Troopers assigned to watch over
her.
Hovah Underwood actively supported and worked with Starting Points, a network of
neighborhood resource centers for parents of young children, she was on the board of Big
Brothers/Big Sisters, Cammack Children's Center, Huntington Museum of Art, Marshall University Artist Series, the United Methodist Foundation, and America's Promise. She was a
member of United Methodist Women, Charleston Garden Club, Governor's Mansion Preservation
Foundation, Daughters of the American Revolution, Delta Kappa Gamma Society, Kanawha
County Republican Women, West Virginia Republican Women, Charleston Women's Club, West
Virginia Symphony League, Hadassah of Charleston, Breast Cancer Awareness, Kids Count,
American Association of Social Workers and was an avid supporter of Women's Day at the
Legislature.
The qualities which most endure are the memories people leave behind, and Hovah
Underwood will long be remembered by her myriad of friends as a person who, while being tiny in
stature was mighty in spirit, gracious and intelligent, supportive and caring of her family and
husband, yet not afraid to state her own opinion, a person of wonderful humor and possessing a
great love of life and all it had to offer her, as was continually evidenced by her all-encompassing
smile for everyone she met, a gentlelady of the first magnitude and a great First Lady of West
Virginia; therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Delegates:
That the members of the House of Delegates hereby publicly extol the life of Mrs. Hovah
Underwood, and collectively mourn her death, while remembering that she leaves behind a legacy
of success, love and accomplishment; that this House of Delegates proclaims that although Mrs.
Hovah Underwood has passed from this earthly life, she will continue to live in the hearts and
minds of those who knew her; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a certified copy of
this resolution for the Honorable Cecil H. Underwood, beloved surviving husband, for her
children Cecilia Baker and Sharon Underwood of South Charleston, and for her son, Craig
Underwood of Boston; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates also cause a certified copy of
this resolution to be placed in the Division of Archives and History.
Webmaster | © 2024 West Virginia Legislature **
