Surry County Supervisor Amy Drewry says her absence from two board meetings in February has been deliberate and in response to her being “marginalized” by county staff and fellow supervisors. She says she doesn’t plan to return until the board retains an outside consultant for diversity training.

Drewry, who was elected in 2023 to represent the county’s Dendron District, skipped the board’s Feb. 13 meeting, at which supervisors voted 3-1 to enact restrictions on the proliferation of solar farms and unanimously to reject Surry’s share of the Sycamore Cross solar farm proposed to span the Isle of Wight-Surry county line. Two weeks later, she skipped a Feb. 26 work session at which the supervisors began discussing the county’s 2025-26 budget.

“I am attempting to right numerous wrongs by illustrating publicly through my absence who in fact is running the county,” Drewry told the Times. “Presently, the county administrator and board majority are making all decisions, leaving myself and the Surry representative (Tim Calhoun) in the dark. In asking for nearly a year for professional guidance in dealing with our bias and division, I have been met with stonewalling, denials and silence.”

A day ahead of the Feb. 26 meeting, in an email to County Administrator Melissa Rollins and other supervisors, she said that her Feb. 13 absence had been the “result of the county board and administration not dealing with comments and accusations of racism originating from county staff, board members and citizens” that have created “an unhealthy and unsafe environment in which to express a difference of opinion.”

“When my objections to the budget and other policy proposals are viewed as racism, we have a serious challenge and problem,” Drewry wrote.

The five-member board has three Black members. Drewry and Calhoun, who are white, cast the two dissenting votes during the board’s 3-2 passage of the county’s $69.8 million 2024-25 budget last year. Rollins, in an email to board members following the vote, wrote: “I can respect everyone’s prerogative to vote the way desired but … when the information is not read or you don’t fully grasp it please do not blame staff and put out a false narrative. This has been done over and over and it is simply wrong. … I know that because we have African Americans in leadership positions we are discriminated on big time. Fact! But we will continue to do our job with our elected leaders who will continue to … make bold and courageous decisions rather than the same 10 people who can have an opinion but just don’t like the way we look and are making improvements to the county.”

Drewry had previously brought up the email at a December board meeting at which she and Calhoun cast dissenting votes on revisions to the board’s code of ethics to allow the board to punish members who disclose confidential information without the majority’s authorization. At that meeting she described the measure as “retaliatory.” Bacon’s Castle District Supervisor Walter Hardy, who joined Elliott and Pierce in voting to approve the change, at that meeting denied it was intended to “target” anybody.

Hardy and Vice Chairman Breyon Pierce, who represents Surry’s Carsley District, each dispute Drewry’s allegation of bias.

“Supervisor Drewry’s absence from recent meetings means her constituents are not being properly represented, and that is a disservice to those who elected her,” Pierce told the Times. “Claims of bias and division do not reflect the reality of this board’s work. Supervisor Drewry’s input has always been heard, but leadership requires more than just opposition; it requires collaboration and solutions. Despite her refusal to engage, the board continues to move forward, focused on progress, unity, and the future of Surry County. Surry County is a strong, diverse, and thriving community, and we will not allow false narratives to distract from the work that needs to be done. We remain committed to responsible leadership and ensuring a bright future for our residents.”

“My heart goes out to Supervisor Drewry,” Hardy told the Times. “I truly hope she gets the help she needs. As far as her missing meetings, she will have to answer to the citizens of the Dendron District for not representing them as she was elected to do. The Board of Supervisors only needs a quorum or three members present to proceed with business. Supervisor Drewry’s input is valued and respected, but she must also understand during the democratic process we don’t have to all agree, and that is what makes Surry County as well as America a great place. In the meantime, Supervisor Drewry is missing out on historic times during her absence.”

Board Chairman Robert Elliott, Calhoun and Rollins did not immediately respond to the Times’ request for comments.

Drewry’s Feb. 25 email to the board and Rollins urges them to retain the assistance of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. The nonprofit organization, which traces its roots to 1935, when it was founded as the Virginia Region of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, describes itself as working with “schools, businesses, and communities to achieve success by addressing prejudices, in all forms, in order to improve academic achievement, increase work place productivity, and enhance local trust” through workshops and customized programs.

“I have been very discouraged since my fellow board members declined to address the county administrator’s allegations of racism and division on the board and within our community, despite repeated pleas,” Drewry told the Times. “So I consulted regional experts and professionals who highly recommended the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. Last fall and late winter, I raised some minor funding and held two citizen sessions with the VCIC that were attended by a group of diverse citizens who had expressed concerns on bias and community trust in our county. … I would like to see the county board and administration bring VCIC to Surry for sessions with the board, administration and staff. It is needed. I also desire the sessions to be available for a wider group of county citizens.”