It seems most fitting to commend recently retired Prince Edward Circuit Court Clerk Machelle J. Eppes for her dedicated public service by presenting Virginia House Joint Resolution No. 277:

“WHEREAS, Machelle J. Eppes, a trailblazing public official who became the first African-American court clerk in Prince Edward County, retired as clerk of the Prince Edward Circuit Court on April 1, 2018; and

WHEREAS, after graduating from Central High School in Lunenburg County, Machelle Eppes completed a clerical studies course at Southside Virginia Community College and worked at Citizens Bank & Trust Company from 1983 to 1988; and

WHEREAS, in 1988, Machelle Eppes was hired as deputy clerk of the Prince Edward Circuit Court, then served as chief deputy clerk of the Lunenburg Circuit Court; and

WHEREAS, desirous to be of further service to the commonwealth, Machelle Eppes ran for and was elected as clerk of the Prince Edward Circuit Court on April 18, 2005, and she was certified as a circuit court clerk by the University of Virginia Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service in 2006; and

WHEREAS, Machelle Eppes ably served the members of the community as clerk by providing public online access to case information and land records, and she increased efficiency in the office by overseeing the conversion of paper records to electronic files; and

WHEREAS, Machelle Eppes served Prince Edward County with the utmost integrity and dedication, earning the respect and admiration of her colleagues, to whom she leaves a legacy of excellence; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, that the General Assembly hereby commend Machelle J. Eppes on the occasion of her retirement as clerk of the Prince Edward Circuit Court; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Machelle J. Eppes as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for her service and best wishes for a happy retirement.”

Titus Mohler is the sports editor for The Farmville Herald and Farmville Newsmedia LLC. His email address is Titus.Mohler@FarmvilleHerald.com.