Valentine staff reflects on the life of longtime director Bill Martin

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Nearly two weeks after the sudden death of Valentine director Bill Martin, museum staff are reflecting on the impact and legacy he left behind.

Martin's death sent shockwaves through the Richmond community last month after he was hit by a car while crossing East Broad Street. The tragedy happened just blocks away from The Valentine where Martin dedicated 32 years of his life.

"I think everyone knows that he was a huge walker around Richmond," said Meg Hughes, who's now the acting director of the Valentine. "You really can't know your community if you aren't familiar with all of its physicality."

Immersing himself into the community was the core of Martin's mission. It was how he created conversations, fostered relationships and found ways to preserve Richmond's history.

"He started to look more and more at how the museum could address issues that were important to the Richmond community," Hughes said. "That's really sort of the trajectory that the Valentine has been on for quite a while now."

Hughes who worked alongside Martin for 21 years, said he was passionate about bringing awareness to underrepresented communities.

"There was a lot that he did that was public, but I think that there was even more that he did behind the scenes, developing these really strong relationships with countless members of our region, and helping them in myriad ways," she said.

Hughes said the Valentine's leadership team has a clear roadmap of how they plan to carry out Martin's vision for the museum's future.

"We have a strategic plan that we will be following," she said. "We have a newly formed capital campaign for some major projects, that we will be continuing forward with. I think that the board and staff feel very good about what the museum's direction is going to be for the next couple of years."

While the Valentine remains open, the museum has rescheduled a majority of its events, with the exception of a lecture series that staff says was Martin's favorite. The museum says its Life, Liberty & Happiness lecture, will take place as planned on Religious Freedom Day, Jan. 16, at the Library of Virginia.

The museum also plans to honor Martin with a public open house on Feb. 7. Hughes says the celebration will be bittersweet and hopes the community will join the museum in mourning together.

"We're hoping that there can be some joy and some laughter at that event," Hughes said.