Standing Tall in Support of Mental Health

In 2000, teenager Henry Hoover planted sunflower seeds in his family’s backyard in Norfolk, but nothing sprouted.

Three years later, Henry died tragically by suicide in that same backyard. Just a few months after his death, a single sunflower emerged near the spot where 19-year-old Henry spent his last moments.

“I t was like a spiritual message from Henry, this single sunflower looking directly at the spot where he left us,” says his mother, Patty Hoover. “It was as if to say, ‘I’m OK, I am at peace. Be happy.’”

Ever since then, Patty has found solace and inspiration in sunflowers, seeing them as a spiritual connection to Henry and a reminder of the beauty and resilience of life.

That connection now includes the artistic sunflower display at Children’s Pavilion, CHKD’s new mental health hospital for children. Inspired by the Hoover family’s story, Virginia Beach sculptor Richard Stravitz created five bronze sunflowers rising to face the sun in a garden on the café terrace, where children and their families can find fresh air, sunlight, and solace.

Henr y, the youngest in the family, was a pre-med student at the University of Alabama, and beloved by scores of friends and family. Henry’s life was full of creativity, love, and humor. He also suffered from depression. His family tried to find psychiatric help for Henry, but nothing like Children’s Pavilion existed at the time.

Henr y’s brothers Randolph, Benjamin, and William joined other visionary philanthropists supporting CHKD’s Lighting the Way Campaign for Mental Health with a generous donation. The brothers, who founded Xylem Tree Experts, a national utility vegetation management company, wanted to honor Henry’s memory with this special gift.

Through the generosity of his family and the vision of CHKD, Henry’s legacy continues to inspire and support those who are facing mental health challenges, offering a ray of hope and a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is still light and life.

“Children’s Pavilion is a gift for our area, and especially for children,” Patty says. “I feel grateful there is a place like this, a place that might have helped Henry had it been here.”

For Patty, the sunflowers in the garden represent a symbol of healing and connection, a gift to the community, and a tribute to her beloved son. She hopes that the children and families who come to Children’s Pavilion will feel the same sense of calm and inspiration she has found in sunflowers, and know they are not alone in their struggles.

(Photo above) Benjamin, Patty, Randolph, and William Hoover support art and healing at Children’s Pavilion with a sunflower sculpture that honors their late son and brother Henry, who tragically died by suicide.