PROCLAMATION CELEBRATING DEBORAH LEWIS-VIRGES
AND CLYDE LEWIS-VIRGES FOR PASTOR APPRECIATION DAY
WHEREAS, Rev. Deborah Lewis- Virges was born in Detroit, Michigan where she attended Michigan State University and earned her bachelors at Wayne State University, and WHEREAS, for over a decade, Reverend Lewis-Virges has called the City of East Palo Alto her home and parish ever since she delivered her Trial Sermon at St. Mark AME Zion Church on January 15, 2012, serving as a lay chaplain at Stanford Hospital and Clinics and at the same time pursuing a Masters of Divinity at Fuller Theological Seminary, and
WHEREAS, in June of 2015, Bishop Staccato Powell appointed her pastor of Saint Mark AME Zion Church and under her pastorate, the church has witnessed unprecedented growth, where she has become affectionately known as the "community pastor," and
WHEREAS her husband, Clyde E. Virges is a native to East Palo Alto and has spent his whole life working to improve the lives of our City's residents through his leadership in a number of organizations including Project WeHope, Free at Last, among others, and WHEREAS, together, they have three adult sons, Tyree, Jacob, and Christopher, two daughters, Lina and Jazzy, and four precious grandchildren, family that seeks to fulfill God's plan of Kingdom Building in the lives of our residents and throughout the community, and WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis-Virges have earned a reputation as devoted preachers filled with compassion for God's people, using their platform and pulpit to uplift our most vulnerable residents and serving as a voice for the voiceless, Rev. Virges is a core member of the Fellowship of Faith, Women in Ministry as well as a member of Pastors Network 101, advocacy on a number of issues like prison reform, homeless, racial reconciliation, social advocacy and for those seeking deliverance and liberation, and WHEREAS, in addition to her spiritual leadership, Pastor Lewis-Virges is a shining example of a civic leader, as evident by her work as a full member of our City's Public Works & Transportation Commission, and
WHEREAS, Rev. Lewis-Virges and brother Clyde routinely shepherd local events to encourage and inspire communities across the peninsula including the annual Drive-Thru Toy and Gift Drive, the Senior Appreciation Dinners, and
WHEREAS, their capacity to effect change far extends the borders of our city, such as in May 22, 2001, when they collaborated with dozens of other faith-based organizations for a vigil in memoriam of George Floyd and calling for an end to police brutality and all forms of racial injustice.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the City Council of the City of East Palo Alto, joins St.
Mark AME Zion Church in celebrating these two leaders for Pastor Appreciation Day, we are grateful for their tireless efforts to nourish-physically, emotionally, and of course, spiritually -our two and half square miles.
EAST PALO
O Dated: July 18, 2023
•CORPORALE Lisa Gauthier, Mayor