HENRY COUNTY, Va. (rbs news now) — Henry County honored longtime Circuit Court Clerk Jennifer Ashworth on Tuesday afternoon during an emotional retirement ceremony.

Ashworth, who began her career in the clerk’s office in 1989 and was elected clerk in 2016, retires at the end of the year.

Colleagues, local leaders, friends and family gathered to celebrate her 37 years of service.

Chief Deputy Clerk Katherine Salgado highlighted Ashworth’s longstanding role as the office’s backbone during the ceremony.

“Recently, I heard the clerk described as the ‘secret servants to the public,’ and for 37 years Jennifer has embodied everything a clerk of court should be,” Salgado said in her remarks. “Jennifer was our manual. If we needed an answer, we didn’t go to a book, we went to her.”

Ashworth said the ceremony marked a milestone she never expected to arrive so quickly.

“Today is a very exciting day for me… after 37 years I didn’t know it would come this quickly, but they say when you know, you know,” Ashworth told rbs news now. “It is time for me to go and I’m excited about it.”

Throughout her tenure, Ashworth oversaw modernization efforts, including digitizing land records dating back to 1777 and converting criminal and civil files to electronic formats.

She also secured grant funding for digitization projects and guided improvements to jury management.

Ashworth said the accomplishments were possible because of her staff.

“I just want to make sure that I give credit to the staff of my office,” she said. “I can’t do this without them, and they deserve recognition and I appreciate the friendships we’ve made over the years.”

Salgado, who has worked in the office for 10 years and served as Ashworth’s chief deputy for the last two, said the day was meaningful both professionally and personally.

“We call her ‘mama’ in the office,” Salgado said in an interview with rbs news now. “She teaches us, guides us, and has been an amazing leader. She grew me, and she’s taught me everything she knows — and I plan to carry on her honor and her tradition.”

Henry County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jim Adams said Ashworth’s dedication is rare.

“I don’t think that you can measure when someone gives 37 years of their life to a community,” Adams said. “What kind of dedication is that? It’s almost unheard of.”

Adams added that Ashworth’s forward-thinking approach has strengthened county recordkeeping and helped preserve critical documents for future generations.

Ashworth said she looks forward to retirement, where she plans to spend time with her grandchildren.

The event concluded with Salgado presenting Ashworth a plaque recognizing her 37 years of service.

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