The December meeting of the Mathews Board of Supervisors had a ceremonial feel, as the county recognized both incoming and outgoing officials.

During Tuesday night’s meeting, outgoing Commonwealth’s Attorney Jack Gill was recognized by the Mathews Department of Social Services for his support of the agency and his advocacy for children over the past 20 years.

In a resolution, Social Services director JoAnn Wilson-Harfst praised Gill for authoring the interagency protocol for investigating child abuse and neglect cases, for securing grant funds for training child welfare personnel in forensic interviewing for child-related cases, and for helping to establish a Children’s Advocacy Center in Mathews.

Wilson-Harfst said that Gill had a passion for protecting children and had worked successfully to prosecute offenders.

"He listened, he supported, and he cared," she said.

Reading from the resolution, Wilson-Harfst said, "Mr. Gill has greatly improved efforts to establish a mutual response and investigation of those cases of domestic violence that may have placed children in threat of harm, and (he) will always be remembered as a steadfast advocate for the safety and well-being of the children of Mathews County."

Wilson-Harfst asked audience members who were there in support of Gill to stand, and almost all of the many residents present stood.

The board asked retiring Virginia General Assembly Delegate Harvey Morgan to read a resolution honoring County Administrator Steve Whiteway, who is also retiring. Morgan said he considered it a privilege to present the resolution to Whiteway, "a close personal friend and a man I admire tremendously."

The resolution honors Whiteway for his 34 years in local and regional government, with nearly 12 years of his 28 years as a county administrator spent in Mathews. It recognizes his service on numerous boards and commissions; his active participation in such significant Mathews County projects as construction of the new courts complex, remodeling the high school, refurbishing the historic courthouse, enhancing Main Street, and protecting historic properties, and his "exceptional leadership practices in all aspects of county management."

Board members expressed regret over Whiteway’s decision to retire and led the audience in a standing ovation for him.

Later in the meeting, Mathews Volunteer Rescue Squad chairman Ron Lambert also honored Whiteway by making him an honorary member of the squad. Lambert said the honor was reserved for "individuals that have contributed to MVRS through efforts beyond our mission of providing emergency care services to Mathews County." He said the squad appreciated Whiteway’s "incredible support and help with the many issues we have worked on jointly over the years."

Whiteway said, "You don’t expect me to give blood, do you?" and Lambert jokingly responded that he expected Whiteway to serve duty time from midnight Fridays to 8 a.m. Saturdays.

Finally, Josie Thorpe, chair of the Mathews Electoral Board, presented certification certificates to newly-elected Constitutional officers Tom Bowen, Mark Barrick, Les Hall and Wendy Stewart; supervisors Janine Burns, Edwina Casey and Charles Ingram; school board members Lanell Jarvis and Jen Little and John Persinger; and Tidewater Soil and Water board members Ronnie Lewis and Robert Respess (the last three were not present).