A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of melanie wade goodwin, former member of the general assembly.
Whereas, Melanie Wade Goodwin was born on July 22, 1970, in Richmond, Virginia, to Albert Wade and Nancy Breinig Wade; and
Whereas, Melanie Wade Goodwin spent much of her life in North Carolina, graduating from Sanderson High School in Raleigh in 1988 and earning a B.A. in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1992 and a Juris Doctorate from Campbell University in 2000; and
Whereas, Melanie Wade Goodwin began her professional career with the State of North Carolina, serving as the Special Projects Director for the North Carolina Council for Women from 1992 through 1997, where she had many responsibilities, including creating, editing, and overseeing the production of all publications, including brochures and booklets relating to women's advocacy; serving as the legislative liaison for the agency; monitoring State and federal legislation affecting families; and serving as a member of the North Carolina delegation to the U.N. Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, in 1995; and
Whereas, in 2000, Melanie Wade Goodwin opened a solo law practice in Hamlet, North Carolina, and later an additional office in Rockingham, where she focused mainly on family law until closing her practice in July 2007 to focus more fully on her legislative work and constituent service; and
Whereas, Melanie Wade Goodwin was elected to the House of Representatives in 2004, succeeding her husband, former Representative Wayne Goodwin, to represent the citizens of Richmond and Montgomery Counties. She was the first woman to represent Richmond County in the General Assembly and the first sitting member to give birth while serving in office; and
Whereas, Melanie Wade Goodwin served for three terms in the General Assembly from 2005 to 2010 and, during that time, held several leadership positions, including chair of the House Election Laws and Campaign Finance Reform Committee, House chair of the Joint Legislative Administrative Procedures Oversight Committee and Joint Legislative Elections Oversight Committee, and vice‑chair of the Judiciary I Committee, and was a member of several other committees, including Appropriations, Appropriations Subcommittee on Justice and Public Safety, Education, Education Subcommittee on Community Colleges, Natural and Environmental Resources, Juvenile Justice, and Transportation; and
Whereas, Melanie Wade Goodwin sponsored legislation that strengthened investments in public education and rural economic development, helped improve public health and the courts system, and supported women's rights and women's health; and
Whereas, in 2011, after leaving elected office, Melanie Wade Goodwin was appointed Deputy Commissioner of the North Carolina Industrial Commission and, in 2019, named Chief Deputy Commissioner; and
Whereas, in 2020, Melanie Wade Goodwin was nominated and accepted into the Women's Forum of North Carolina, which is "an invitational, nonpartisan organization of diverse women leaders dedicated to work to achieve and maintain equality and social, economic, and political power for all North Carolina women"; and
Whereas, Melanie Wade Goodwin was active in various civic and community activities, serving as President of the Rockingham Junior Women's Club (now Richmond Service League); President of the Richmond County Democratic Women; as a member of the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, Richmond County Arts Council, Friends of the Library, Womenfolk Unlimited (now New Horizons), Woman's Club of Raleigh, and Pines of the Carolina Girl Scouts Council; as a founding board member of the Christian Closet; and as an appointee to the Sandhills Mental Health Area Board; and
Whereas, Melanie Wade Goodwin also served on the North Carolina Courts Commission and the North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board; and
Whereas, Melanie Wade Goodwin was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Rockingham and the Edenton Street United Methodist Church in Raleigh; and
Whereas, Melanie Wade Goodwin received numerous awards and honors, including the "Woman of Tomorrow" Award from Pines of Carolina Girl Scouts Council (1997), Juanita M. Bryant Citizenship Award from General Federation of Women's Clubs of North Carolina (2003), Star Award from Democratic Women of North Carolina (2003), Woman of Achievement Award from General Federation of Women's Clubs of North Carolina (2006), and Richmond County Citizen of the Year (2009); and
Whereas, Melanie Wade Goodwin genuinely cared for everyone she met and was admired and respected by all who knew her or had the privilege to work with her; and
Whereas, Melanie Wade Goodwin passed away on September 1, 2020, after a valiant decade‑long battle with cancer, leaving to cherish her memory, her husband of 22 years, Wayne Goodwin; daughter, Madison Wade Goodwin; son, Jackson Wade Goodwin; and her parents; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the life and memory of Melanie Wade Goodwin and expresses its deep gratitude and appreciation for her life and distinguished public service.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly extends its sympathy to the family and friends of Melanie Wade Goodwin.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a copy of this resolution to the family of Melanie Wade Goodwin.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.