Buckingham County Circuit Court Clerk Malcolm Booker Jr. is planning on retiring at the end of June. Booker has worked at the court for 45 years, 40 as clerk and five prior to that as deputy clerk. The court’s chief deputy, Diane Blackburn, will take over as clerk July 1. Booker said she plans on seeking the position of clerk.

“I’ve had a good run and I’m very blessed and very thankful for it,” Booker said.

He said he’s going to miss the public that he’s served.

“I’ve been blessed to have such a good constituency here and I’ve been blessed with … the Board of Supervisors and other constitutional officers,” Booker continued. “It’s been a lifetime dream for most people to have a job like this, to be blessed so abundantly with the people around me.”

He noted deputy clerks at the court, that are well-trained and experienced, has made his job easier.

“We certainly will miss his knowledge and his demeanor in handling his job and the public,” said Buckingham County Administrator Rebecca S. Carter. “I guess sometimes it is just time to pass the opportunity to someone else.”

Booker said he’s planning on spending his retirement working on his cattle farm.

“I have plenty to do. I put off things for the last 20 to 30 years because of this job, and one of the reasons I need to retire (is to) go home and fix up things I’ve put off for so many years,” Booker said.

He said one aspect of the job he’s cherished is the probate part.

“You have a lot of families that I have to console as far as helping with the estate process,” Booker said. “When you lose a loved one it’s something you have to be very congenial and understand their situation with losing a loved one and working with them and helping them get through the process of setting up an estate or probating a will, I enjoy that.”