PRINCE EDWARD — Calvin L. Gray came within 24 votes last November of Prospect County Supervisor Howard “Pete” Campbell.

With the unexpected passing of Mr. Campbell last Tuesday, the board was tasked with appointing an interim supervisor until a special election could be held. Gray was awarded a second chance as the board’s choice Tuesday night.

Gray, one of two candidates offered in the continued meeting, was supported by four of the seven supervisors.

Gray told The Herald that his main thing is to get his feet going, get a clear sense of how the board works and how decisions are worked out “and then I can be able to respond better…once I understand how things are—[what] the protocol is.”

Gray, born in Williamsburg where he attended Lafayette High School, obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree from Virginia Union University in social work. He holds a Masters from Longwood University in school administration leadership and a doctorate in theology from Triune University. He has been pastoring for more than 23 years and is currently the pastor for New Jerusalem Baptist Church in Evergreen.

He has also worked in Prince Edward County Public Schools with at-risk students, was an assistant and then head football coach, assistant then principal at the high school, administrative assistant to the superintendent and principal at the middle school.

The seemingly ever-divided board, was split on its choice to replace Mr. Campbell. Lockett District Supervisor Robert “Bobby” Jones offered a motion to appoint Gray; Vice-Chairwoman Pattie Cooper-Jones offered a substitute motion for Cornell Walker. That, however, was defeated on a 3-4 count with Cooper-Jones, C.R. “Bob” Timmons Jr., and Jim Wilck favoring the motion for Walker; Jones, Chairman Howard Simpson, Jerry Townsend, and Charles McKay opposed.

On a similar vote, supervisors appointed Gray.

Campbell’s seat remained empty for the brief proceedings, as his nameplate was in its familiar place accompanied with a black ribbon.

Gray said that Campbell will be “tremendously missed,” and that “his personality is one that I’ve always respected and honored and his family is in my heart and in my family’s heart as we talked about him. And Pete’s gonna be missed.”

Gray described him as a “wonderful person,” adding that in his “own personal way” he’s going to miss him.

Gray said he looks forward to working with the Prospect community as well as for the whole county within the timeframe he has.

Asked if he intended to run for the seat, Gray said he is “leaning towards that.” It depends on petitions and the people allowing him to have enough to put him on the ballot.

“So there’s some things that we have to put in place and if they’re put in place, I think that we’ll move forward from there,” Gray said

He thanked the County, “even under these circumstances” to at least consider him to sit in the seat. “It’s a great honor,” he cited, “and it comes with much responsibility and I don’t take that lightly.”

He also noted, “…I thank God for allowing me to be able to, even in this temporary state, to be [a] representative, because…from my perspective…God is in charge of my life and all things are ordered by Him.”

Other Discussion

Supervisors were in agreement to ask for a November 4 election prior to filling the seat. The election winner will serve out the remaining three years of Mr. Campbell’s unexpired term. Gray would serve in the interim.

Supervisor Wilck had proposed through a Letter to the Editor of The Herald to trim the number of supervisors from eight to seven, and redistrict the county.

“I talked to other members of the board, some are interested, some are not, but there was not enough support to pass it. So I withdraw that…,” Wilck commented.