On Saturday, October 12, the rich history of Charles City County and the Commonwealth of Virginia was celebrated with a Highway Marker Dedication honoring Stephen Bates, the earliest known Black sheriff in the North. Charles City County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff Jayson Crawley joined Bertha Greene, daughter of Sheriff James Bradby, the first African American Sheriff elected in Virginia in Charles City County, Retired Sheriff B.A. Washington, Sr., and family members of Sheriff Bates for the dedication event. The Virginia Sheriffs’ Association is proud to honor the legacy of these trailblazing leaders in law enforcement.




