To the editor:

As we all know, Bernard Goodwyn, a General District Court judge, has been appointed by Governor Kaine to fill a vacancy on the Virginia Supreme Court. Congratulations are extended to him and also to his peers who deemed him deserving of this great honor.

As we have read in your paper, Bernard humbly thanks the people of Southsmpton for their support and his excellent foundation. I recall that when he spoke to the Southampton High School honor students in 1995, he urged them to take full advantage of their potential, of their many opportunities and to always put forward their best effort. He quoted his mother, Dolly,as saying “you might not get everything you work for, but you must work for everything you get.”

He declared to them if you believe in yourself,you can be as successful as you want to be.

Now,surely, he has done just that. Congratulations are in order from us citizens of Southampton County to Bernard Goodwyn — and to Dolly also.

Kitty Lassiter

Boykins