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Southampton County supervisors split over courthouse recognition; board approves portrait and plaque inside after heated public debate

Southampton County Board of Supervisors · April 28, 2026
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

After public testimony for and against honoring former Virginia Chief Justice Bernard S. Goodwin, the Southampton County Board of Supervisors voted 3–2 to place a portrait and plaque inside the courthouse rather than add outside lettering or rename the building.

The Southampton County Board of Supervisors voted 3–2 to install a portrait and recognition plaque for former Virginia Chief Justice Bernard S. Goodwin inside the county courthouse after more than an hour of public comment and board debate.

Rick Francis, president of the Virginia Clerks Association, urged the board to recognize Goodwin’s career and said the local bar association backed a visible dedication. “I strongly think that outside lettering is important,” Francis said, while also offering a lower-cost option: a portrait and plaque placed inside the courthouse funded…

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