Brunswick Native Inspires Local Students
Judge Cleo Powell, the first African American woman to serve on the Court of Appeals of Virginia, and a native of Brunswick County, was the featured speaker at Southside Virginia Community College’s Celebration of Women, Reaching for the Stars event held March 16, 2011 in Alberta.
 Students from four local high schools as well as SVCC were in attendance to witness the inspiring words of Judge Powell.
The event was sponsored in part by the Empowered Women’s Organization which has a goal to increase female retention and completion rates; grow the leadership capacity of female students; increase partnerships with campus community; and connect with the community.
“Do you have a dream? Do you know how you are going to get there to realize your dream,” Powell asked the audience. She quoted poet Langston Hughes saying, “Hold fast to dreams. For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.”
Raised in the postage stamp-sized town of Ante, Virginia with six siblings and two parents who did not finish high school, she told the group that no matter how humble your beginnings, you can reach your goals. “Yes I am from Brunswick County or from Greensville, or Nottoway, you can do whatever you want to do,” she said.
The four lessons she learned growing up in Brunswick County included her parents teaching her not to think more highly of herself than she is in the lesson of self-worth. Also, every person has value, do unto others and help others along the way and most importantly, remember that you will never be what you want to be until you are what you ought to be.
“There is no such thing as a rough draft. Do your best the first time, in your first draft. Make a good first impression,” she said.
She also reminded the students that there are costs to bad decisions so they should understand the risks and be prepared to pay the price for their actions. She also noted that each person should have humility and realize that there is a lot of good from other people poured into what one becomes.
“You can have it all, but define what all is to you,” she said.
A graduate of Brunswick Senior High School, Powell earned her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Virginia. Before becoming a judge, Powell worked at the Richmond law firm of Hunton & Williams, and later served as senior assistant attorney general of Virginia from 1986-1989. Powell briefly returned to the business arena, working several years for Virginia Power (now Dominion) as corporate counsel and director of Employee Services. In 1993, when a seat became vacant on the General District Court for Chesterfield County, Va., she became the first woman and African American to serve on the county’s General District Court bench.
In 2000, Powell joined Chesterfield County’s Circuit Court, and once again, she was the first woman and first African American on that bench. As an appellate judge, she hears criminal, domestic and administrative cases. The Court of Appeals consists of eleven judges who are elected for eight year terms by a majority of the members of each house of the General Assembly.
In closing, Judge Powell reminded the students to find a mentor, someone to help them through tough times and show them the way to reaching their potential.
(c) 2011. Southside Virginia Community College. All rights reserved.
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