Last week Prince Edward County moved forward by leaps and bounds. The county’s board of supervisors saw the first African-American and first woman take the role of chairperson, as seen with Chairwoman and Farmville 801 District Supervisor Pattie Cooper-Jones.

“I’d like to thank God,” Cooper-Jones said. “I know that He really made the provisions for me to be here, even for me to be here in Prince Edward County.”

She said she came to the county Aug. 23, 1983.

“I feel like this is the place that I was destined to be,” she said. “It has been a long, hard road, but it is truly a blessing to be here in Prince Edward County.”

The Prince Edward County School Board also saw the first elected members of the board take their seats, and the schools are certainly aimed in a great direction with new representatives having ample experience with education, thus understanding the choices and decisions made by Division Superintendent Dr. Barbara Johnson to a higher degree.

The county also announced in November the Prince Edward County Department of Social Services will move into the STEPS facility at 100 Industrial Park Road, renovate the former Craddock Terry Shoe Factory, repair the roof of the factory and provide additional space that is ready for businesses to move into — all while allowing the current STEPS operation to remain at the facility. That move has been heralded as a win-win for all parties involved.

I commend the county for prevalent steps that have been made to move forward. I trust in the process for the betterment of the county and schools for residents.

MORGAN WHITE is a staff reporter for The Farmville Herald and Farmville Newsmedia LLC. His email address is Morgan.White@FarmvilleHerald.com.