By Bob Belcher
Jeanne Barham, chief clerk in Justice of the Peace Connie Mayfield’s Precinct 4 court in Navarro County, was honored at the Texas Justices of the Peace and Constables Association annual convention in Odessa as “Clerk of the Year.”
The announcement was made by Houston constable Ron Hickman, incoming president of the association.
“Jeanne Barham was selected by the awards committee out of the hundreds of clerks across the state for her dedication in support of other clerks and courts during the year and for her faithful assistance to Judge Mayfield during her tenure as president of the Justices of the Peace and Constables Association of Texas,” Hickman said in announcing the award.
“These efforts while maintaining her daily workload and her responsibilities for the smooth operation of that court make her a worthy candidate for recognition as JPCA Clerk of the Year.”
Mayfield, also honored at the event as outgoing president and recipient of the T.A. Vines Award, the association’s most prestigious honor, had high praise for her chief deputy.
“She fields a lot of calls from clerks around the state on a day to day basis, and has designed forms that people all over the state use,” Mayfield said. “She goes above and beyond the call of duty, comes in early, stays late with me.”
Barham has worked in Mayfield’s office for 13 years, the last three as chief clerk.
“With her being the chief clerk, that is a lot of responsibility as well,” Mayfield added.
Barham said she was “blindsided” with the announcement as she sat at a table with her co-workers and Justice of the Peace Vicki Gray and her office staff.
“I had no idea whatsoever. At first I said ‘oh, no I’m not worthy of that.’ I think about people that have done so many things outside the office ... maybe served on big committees. I didn’t think about someone just holding the fort down here,” she said.
“When they said something about (the winner) being a chief clerk and then talked about the president (Mayfield), I looked over at Greta (Jordan, a co-worker) across the table and she was wiping her eyes. I was just shocked when they said it was me.”
“I’m humbled and honored. I was just so surprised,” Barham said.
“I don’t know what I’d do without her,” Judge Mayfield added.
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Bob Belcher may be reached via e-mail at belcher@corsicanadailysun.com.
