Council recognizes Puryear’s service 

Before Charlottesville City Council adopted a new zoning code at their meeting on December 18, 2023, there were three recognitions.

One was for the 10th anniversary of the city’s Human Rights Commission.

Another was to accept an award from Preservation Piedmont for the city’s efforts to identify people interred in unmarked graves at Pen Park.

“The next item on our agenda, another recognition, is a resolution of appreciation for Leah Puryear,” said Charlottesville Mayor Lloyd Snook. 

Puryear was selected in February to complete the term of former City Councilor Sena Magill. She was among the first people elected to the School Board in 2006 and served four terms.

“And whereas Leah may have thought when her 16 years of service on the Charlottesville School Board ended a year ago that she was going to retire from public service,” Snook read from the proclamation. “And whereas her community called and she answered, now therefore we wish to state our deep appreciation to Leah Puryear for being willing to join us on this dais and we particularly remember and give thanks for her deep knowledge of Charlottesville and our people, her compassion and concern for people who are left out or marginalized, the depth in which she jumped into the revision of our zoning code, her good counsel during the city manager search, an her faithful diligence that the brought to all of her duties as a City Councilor.” 

Puryear was one of 20 applications and did not think she would be selected. 

“When we got the narrowing down and I was in that group I said, okay, but I knew, I just felt that it wasn’t me so first of all I wanted to say thank you to the four of you for asking me to join the team,” Puryear said. 

Puryear thanked everyone in city government from the custodians to the city manager. She encouraged people to seek out the positive aspects of the community. 

“Charlottesville has not done everything right but no one does,” Puryear said. “But one of the things that I hope that each and everyone of you in this room or watching or listening will understand that there are some good things in this city.” 

This was likely the last meeting for Puryear but this is Charlottesville.

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