Women from this area are often the subject of history and preservation. Mary Ball Washington, Mrs. V.M. Fleming, and "Miss Annie" Smith have been covered extensively.
What about the women who have made recent history or who are making history right now? A few of these women are profiled below.
Mary Katherine Greenlaw was elected the first woman mayor of Fredericksburg in 2012. Mrs. Greenlaw has deep roots in Fredericksburg. Her family lived in the City before the Civil War. Before being elected mayor, she had been a teacher, a farmer, and worked in commercial real estate. Mrs. Greenlaw also served on the City Planning Commission, the City Council, as Vice Mayor and has represented the City on several regional boards.
Judge Georgia K. Sutton is a district court judge for the 15th Judicial District's Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court in Virginia. She has served as a judge for the court since July 2013 after being appointed in April 2013. Judge Sutton was reappointed by the General Assembly to a six-year term in February 2014. Prior to being selected by the Circuit Court judges, she was a partner in a private law practice and Clerk of the Circuit Court in Fredericksburg (1987 - 1990).
Judge Victoria A.B. Willis was elected to the 15th Judicial Circuit of Virginia in 2014 by the Virginia General Assembly. She served as Law Clerk (1986 - 1988) to the late Harry L. Carrico, Chief Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court. Judge Willis worked in both private and corporate law practices since graduating from the University of Richmond School of Law.
La Bravia J. Jenkins was appointed the City of Fredericksburg's Commonwealth Attorney in 2008. Ms. Jenkins had practiced law in the Fredericksburg area since 1992, first as a public defender, then as a prosecutor and as Assistant Commonwealth Attorney in Spotsylvania. Ms. Jenkins was elected the City of Fredericksburg's Commonwealth Attorney in a special election in December 2008. She has served in the position ever since.
Currently three of the five Clerks of the Circuit Courts who are Constitutional officials, chosen by election, are women. They are Susan W. Minarchi (Caroline County), Christalyn M. Jett (Spotsylvania County) and Kathy M. Sterne (Stafford County).
In the November 2015 election, Stafford County voters elected ten women. These positions included school board members (5), board of supervisors (3), Treasurer and Clerk of the Circuit court. Stafford's first woman to be elected to the Board of Supervisors was the late Winifred Parrish (Hartwood, 1971 - 1975), defeating longtime supervisor, W. Hansford Abel. A few years later, the Falmouth District elected Rebecca Reed to the Board. Ms. Reed, a longtime attorney and activist was elected the chair by members of the Board who disregarded the caution of one supervisor who said that a "big ol' bully man would probably be better."
King George County voters recently elected Ruby Brabo Supervisor-at-Large. Previously she had represented the Dahlgren District. Mrs. Brabo had been passed over for board chairman a few years earlier. Following the November 2015, she was elected chairman, the first woman to serve in that position in King George.
Nancy Long, who represents Port Royal, is the sole woman on the Caroline County Board of Supervisors.
In Fredericksburg, Kerry Devine is an At-Large member of City Council. She has served on the Council for several terms and has served as Vice Mayor.
As more women are being elected and appointed to important positions, it is possible our next president might be a woman.
