Henry Lee Valentine II

1927 - 2023

VALENTINE, Henry Lee II, 96, died peacefully at his home with family September 21, 2023. He is survived by his beloved wife Peggy, their four children Margy Brown (Tom), Henry III (Chamie), Ida Farinholt (Bart), and Ned (Laura), eleven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren (Ford and William) - with two more on the way.

Henry's life was marked by integrity, selflessness, and generosity; and his passion for his family, friends, and community will outlive him. The middle son of Ida Massie and Corbin Braxton Valentine, Henry was born in Richmond on September 15, 1927, and grew up with brothers C. Braxton and E. Massie Valentine. Henry loved his family deeply, often recounting vivid memories of Idee, Daddy, Brack, and Massie.

Devoted teachers helped Henry excel at Albert H. Hill, St. Christopher's School, Woodberry Forest School, and the University of Virginia. After graduating from Woodberry in 1945, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served as the war concluded. He revered his older friends who had faced combat and held those who did not return home close to his heart.

Henry married Margaret Kane West on November 5, 1955, and throughout the 68-year love affair that followed, Peggy and Henry quietly demonstrated what it means to love and be loved. Nothing made Big Henry happier than watching his children - and grandchildren Bart (Cara), Thomas (Claire), Blair (Audrey), Tucker (Anna), Ned, Annie, Ida (Timmy), Laura, Margaret (Doug), Luke, and Hank - love one another and build happy and productive lives of their own.

He was a fierce competitor, giving his all before celebrating the contest, win or lose, with his rivals. A talented three-sport athlete at Woodberry, he joined the UVA tennis team and won championships in both singles and doubles at the Richmond City Tennis Tournament. His golf prowess included many holes-in-one and, beginning at 70, a twenty-two-year streak of shooting his age. A familiar figure at school sports, he loved seeing his competitive spirit shared by his progeny and attended well over 1,000 games, rain or shine.

Henry's gift for leadership emerged at Woodberry, as a Prefect and two-sport team captain, and flourished at UVA, where he was elected Student Council president and was a member of the IMP, ODK, Raven, Skull & Keys, and Thirteen honor societies, St. Anthony Hall, and the Eli Banana Ribbon Society.

He joined Davenport & Co. in 1950 with close friend B.B. Munford when the firm had approximately fifteen employees. When he stepped down as chairman in 2012, the firm had grown to over 400. Henry remained at Davenport until his 2021 retirement, leaving a legacy of strong leadership, a trusted reputation, and a deep appreciation from the many people he mentored over the years.

In 1970, Henry was elected to Richmond City Council and served eight years, two as Vice Mayor, while also CEO and president of Davenport. He provided strong and steady leadership during this pivotal era in the city's political history, believing then, as he did to the day he died, that Richmond's future would hinge on inclusion, collaboration, and understanding across all the city's population. Later, in pursuit of this goal, Henry joined a group of Richmond's business and political leaders to establish Richmond Renaissance, which he served as a board member for 15 years, including as president.

Henry did not seek recognition, but among the many commendations he received two were particularly notable. In 1996, the National Conference of Christians and Jews awarded him its Humanitarian Award for promoting equality, respect, and understanding among people of all races, religions, and cultures, and in 2010, he was inducted into the Greater Richmond Business Hall of Fame.

Henry loved his lifelong church, St. James's Episcopal, serving as both a vestry member and as president of the endowment board. He also chaired the board or was president of the Children's Hospital of Richmond, Mutual Assurance Society of Virginia, Richmond Eye and Ear Hospital, Richmond Tennis Patrons' Association, St. Andrews Association, St. Catherine's School, the UVA Alumni Association, the United Givers Fund, the Valentine, and Woodberry Forest School. He also served on the boards of the Commonwealth Club, the Country Club of Virginia, Hollywood Cemetery, Media General, the UVA Board of Visitors, and the YMCA.

Henry never met a stranger, loving his friends as openly and deeply as his family. He was grateful for his longtime friend Gertrude Thomas, who predeceased him, and the loving care extended to him recently by Cherisse, Danielle, Jay, Jessica, and Johnna. The family thanks these saints who walk among us and extends its gratitude to Bertha, Constance, Elsie, Keisha, Mamie, Shamika, Torasha, and Zee, for Peggy's care and for loving our father. We also thank Sheltering Arms Institute for the wonderful care Henry received there.

A memorial service for Henry Lee Valentine, II will be held at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, October 10th, 2023, at St. James's Episcopal Church in Richmond. In lieu of flowers, consider sharing your time or talent with the City of Richmond or offer a donation to St. James's Episcopal Church, the Valentine, Woodberry Forest School, or the University of Virginia, which earned Henry's enthusiastic support during a lifetime distinguished by love, generosity, and service.