Class Reunion
HAMPTON ROADS ACADEMY, CLASS OF 1992
By:Brandy Centolanza
Jeff Leftwich Sessoms, Jr.
MAYOR OF VIRGINIA BEACH What was your favorite class or subject and why? History, specifically military history. History offers us an evidential baseline we can use to analyze how societies, morals and beliefs are formed. Growing up in Williamsburg, history had always been natural to me, and I’ve been captivated ever since. Which teacher had a great influence on you? No surprise, it was my history teacher, who also happened to be my Spanish teacher and baseball coach. His name was Colonel E.S. Tyler and he was my first mentor, though I didn’t know it at the time. Of course, he instructed us in Spanish, and how to hit a curve ball. But, his passion was history, specifically the Civil War. I loved to listen to him teach, hearing his passion of the subject and the gratitude to those who cultivated our nation. He instilled in us the desire to help those who can’t help themselves and to be passionate about becoming something greater than ourselves. How would you describe yourself as a student? Diligent; one problem at a time, quality over quantity. What one thing did you learn in school that served you well post-graduation? Make your voice heard, have confidence in your decision and stand by your word.
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What motivated you to start your own business, Williamsburg Pet Loss? My brother lost his best friend, Zipper, and his option to cremate brought less than confidence in the current facilities. To witness the internal strife he endured over the decision to trust a cremation company with Zipper’s remains was excruciating. No person should be forced to trust their pets with an out of town monopoly. All pet parents should have a choice in who handles the remains of their pets. My brother lacked trust in the current options presented to him. At that time I made a promise to him that I would give everyone in Williamsburg their own choice and freedom to trust.. How did you decide on this type of business? I gave 20 years of military service in support of our country and the United States Air Force. It was time
to come home and give back to my home community. My home town of Williamsburg deserves peaceful reassurance, and our only goal at Williamsburg Pet Loss is to provide closure and honor to pets and their parents, family members and their owners. What advice do you offer current students/the next generation? From a generational perspective, fine tune your communication skills to fit both traditional and electronic interaction. Be prideful of your generation, and use your familiarity of technology and information wisely. What advice do you offer for those looking to start their own business? Opening a business is essentially the materialization of your ideas. Believe in yourself. You may encounter naysayers, but allow those moments to fuel your passion. Never compromise your values, stay disciplined, and always maintain an optimistic attitude. Most importantly, start your business for the right reasons; if it’s to help others you can’t go wrong. VT BIOGRAPHY: Jeff Leftwich is a native of Williamsburg and graduated from Hampton Roads Academy. Jeff and his wife, Autumn, are owners and operators of Williamsburg Pet Loss, a local business that offers compassionate private pet cremation services to families. He is a father of four.