2026 SESSION

ENROLLED

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 44

Celebrating the life of Marqueta Neal Tyson.

Agreed to by the Senate, January 22, 2026

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 26, 2026

WHEREAS, Marqueta Neal Tyson, a respected attorney and active and beloved member of the Hampton community, died on September 24, 2025; and

WHEREAS, after graduating from Hampton High School in 1972, Marqueta Tyson earned a bachelor's degree in mass media in 1976 from what is today Hampton University, where she was notably the first female announcer for the Marching Pirates; thereafter, she earned a master's degree from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University; and

WHEREAS, Marqueta Tyson returned to her alma mater and taught broadcast journalism and television production in the Scripps Howard School of Journalism at Hampton University; and

WHEREAS, Marqueta Tyson then worked in the marketing communications department of the GE Aircraft Engine Business Group for some time before founding her own marketing communication and public relations firm, Pulse Communications, which assisted various Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; and

WHEREAS, Marqueta Tyson struck out on a new career path in 1995 when she enrolled at the Case Western Reserve School of Law, where she was elected president of the student body; and

WHEREAS, after completing her legal education, Marqueta Tyson founded the Tyson Legal Team, PLC, and Pulse Sports and Entertainment Management, LLC, and later opened the Tyson Legal Team in Hampton; she also worked for some time at the firms of Benesch Friedlander and Brouse McDowell in Cleveland; and

WHEREAS, Marqueta Tyson shared her legal expertise for the benefit of various organizations, including by serving as a contract advisor with the NFL Players Association and as general counsel to the National Hampton Alumni Association, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, Marqueta Tyson gave generously of her time through her involvement with the Peninsula Bar Association, Hampton Bar Association, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., The Moles, the business improvement district board for Downtown Hampton, the Boys & Girls Clubs, the Hampton History Museum, and the Rotary Club of Hampton, which she served as president; and

WHEREAS, guided throughout her life by her faith, Marqueta Tyson's spiritual journey began at Second Baptist Church East End in Newport News, and she enjoyed worship and fellowship with her community at Ivy Memorial Baptist Church in Hampton for many years; and

WHEREAS, Marqueta Tyson will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by numerous family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Marqueta Neal Tyson, an esteemed attorney whose legacy of service and dedication is an inspiration to all who knew her; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Marqueta Neal Tyson as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for her memory.