Mamye BaCote

“She was a wonderful lady. She cared about people. She worked hard, and tirelessly. She was thoughtful, and compassionate and caring”

“And yet this fierce advocate was best known among her colleagues as one of the warmest, kindest people ever to walk these halls. While we often disagreed, she was never disagreeable.”

“Mamye understood that what people need in their darkest moments is a hand up.”

“She was a friend … someone who could give me insights into issues I hadn’t had much experience with.”

“Her commitment to serving our community and her leadership on education was legendary and was supported by her faith, her belief in what children can become, and her love of family.”

“When she got her teeth into something, it was like she couldn’t let go. She would come every year with a bill to keep guns out of libraries … it wouldn’t even get out of committee, but she wouldn’t give up.”

“She really believed in public service, we wanted to make a difference.I know my mother loved Newport News and loved Virginia and gave her all to them.”

“Most importantly, she was a public servant in the truest sense of the word—a woman who lived her life with kindness, grace, and an unwavering dedication to justice. She will be tremendously missed.”

“I learned so much from Mamye and appreciated her encouragement, support, and wisdom. We are keeping her family lifted in prayer.”