Editor, The Smithfield Times:

I would like to respond to Thomas S. Mayes’ responses to a recent Times questionnaire as a candidate for Surry County clerk of circuit court.  

I have been a title examiner for over 38 years, beginning my career with real estate title insurance in the state of New Jersey, then relocating back to my home state, Virginia. Working in this field for so long, people know that I love what I do. Traveling from counties to cities across the State of Virginia, I feel comfortable in saying that I do not agree with Mr. Mayes’ assessment of Surry County.  

The separate indexing of deeds, deeds of trust (mortgages), judgments, wills, financing statements, etc., need not to be a “Grand Index.” Records should be kept in a separate indexing system; not everyone comes to the record room to search land and not all records kept by the clerk of circuit court is public record. The documents that are entrusted to the clerk of circuit court are historic records just as an individual marriage or birth certificate is kept in your home.

My clients required a certain number of years, where at times we can go back from 40 years to 100 years or more.  Surry County Online Computerized System is more than adequate; I used it to search from home and I hope that the next clerk of circuit court will continue to update the system as required.  

The computerized system shows information on ownership of land (chain of title) and is the same used by many courthouses throughout the commonwealth of Virginia; I work with over 11 counties/cities. You can rest assured that the Surry County Clerk’s Office is capable of handling the records.

I met Earl Newby, actually in the record room working on some research. I feel that he is more than qualified for this job.

 

Nancy Blizzard-Edwards

Spring Grove