Honoring Members of the Homeless Community Who Have Passed Away

About 70 guests gathered in the Housing Resource Center (HRC) courtyard on Dec. 18 for the Virginia Beach Homeless Persons’ Memorial Service to honor members of our homeless community who have died.  

During the service, eight new memorial rocks were added to the courtyard for the individuals who recently passed away while experiencing homelessness in Virginia Beach: seven in 2024 and one from late 2023 who was unable to be included in last year’s service.  

In Memoriam

Among them was Dan Wilson, a veteran who had been homeless for six years. According to Suzette Ebersole, Homeless Outreach team member, Wilson was often seen riding a bike in the Lynnhaven and Salem area of the city and likely familiar to people in the community. Homeless Services had connected Wilson to housing opportunities in the past, but his generous outlook on life would become a barrier for him to sustain shelter or housing. 

“If you didn’t know his name, you knew him,” said Ebersole. “He was very sweet and felt in his heart that he wanted to help others who were less fortunate. He’d say that he was blessed with what he had, and that other people needed or deserved more than him.”  

Wilson, like half of the individuals who recently passed away, was older than age 55. 

“We are seeing an increase in the number of older adults and seniors who are accessing shelter, which speaks to the challenges this population faces,” said Pam Shine, Homeless Services administrator. “Many are on a fixed income and may have health-related issues or other disabling conditions that can make it challenging for them to afford housing costs and other necessities, putting them at risk of experiencing homelessness.” 

During the service, Angela Whitehead, founder and chief executive officer of Seniors Unlimited Lifestyles Inc., reflected on meeting a senior who appeared to be living on the streets and how it inspired her to be part of the solution. Whitehead is a local nonprofit developer whose organization has partnered with Housing & Neighborhood Preservation to expand affordable housing for seniors in Virginia Beach. 

"That encounter with her had a profound effect on me that inspired me to take our board to another level...and that was to pursue providing affordable housing for our elderly and homeless population,” Whitehead said in her remarks. “At the end of the day, everyone needs a place to call home. Let us be the one to make that happen for them, because the need is so great!” 

Kimberly May also passed away in 2024. She had been homeless for more than a year and left behind a significant other. Ebersole recalled that she was known to provide support to everybody, particularly her peers. 

“She was always quick to help and provide a listening ear or shoulder to cry on for others experiencing homelessness,” said Ebersole.

National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day

National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day is held annually on the winter solstice, which is typically Dec. 21. Communities gather on or near the first day of winter, the longest night of the year, for a moment of reflection and remembrance. 

“It’s a difficult day for those of us who work closely with the homeless community,” said Shine, Homeless Services administrator. “Each memorial rock represents a person with a story. We share each other’s grief and look to this day as a solemn reminder that while our community has made significant progress in addressing homelessness, we recognize we must continue to forge ahead for the individuals who have passed and for those who continue to face the coldest months of the year on the streets.”