The Buckingham County Board of Supervisors should change the name of Slate River Mill Road to Mary Clarke Road.

What better way to honor the 99-year-old county native who has done so much for so many people, impacting the lives of generations of people across the county and region.

After continuous operation since the 1940s, Clarke closed her country store after her health continued to fail.

County supervisors acknowledged and honored Clarke in November when it unanimously passed a resolution recognizing her for all she’s done for the community.

“No one knew or knows of the numerous people she aided, nor what she did to help alleviate a situation for others,” the resolution read.

Renaming the Slate River Mill Road into the Mary Clarke Road will create a permanent visible legacy for Clarke, recognizing her profound influence. County residents and visitors who travel the county would be constantly reminded of her impact on others when they see the road sign, most notably at the road’s intersection with Route 20.

The inconvenience for residents of the road and the post office having to change mailing addresses and the county having to put up new road signs is worth honoring such a great woman.

Anyone who doubts our reasoning should refer back to our article published on Wednesday, Nov. 25, “Community honors 99-year-old Clarke.”

During the event at Slate River Baptist Church, her friends, family, church family, hunters and others called her a blessing to them and to the community.

“Ms. Clarke is the community,” said Gwendolyn Jones, a retired longtime educator in Buckingham.

Let’s support her by renaming the road in her honor.