By Paige Nash
After serving nearly 20 years as a Webster Parish Police Juror, Mrs. Vera Davison sat in the District 10 seat for her last meeting Tuesday, December 5.
Davison decided after two decades of faithfully representing not only her district, but Webster Parish as a whole, that it was time for her to retire and pass the torch to a fresh face. This opened a seat in which LaTanya Grigsby won by 67 percent of the vote in the October 2023 election cycle.
Davison kept her farewell short and sweet by saying, “I love all of you and appreciate everything you’ve done for me.” She followed by formally introducing Grigsby, who was in attendance, to the jury and audience.
Grigsby said, “I am looking forward to the year 2024, working with the jury. I am anxious to get on board and start working.”
The jury and a few from the audience attended the monthly meeting to wish Davison well with her upcoming retirement and future endeavors.
Juror for District 7 Steve Lemmons said, “I appreciate everything you have done. You served your community well. I really look up to you.”
Davison was awarded a plaque on behalf of the jury.
“Vera is working on finishing her 20th year. You all talk about her in the meetings, when she is cutting up, but she has been a real supporter of mine,” said Webster Parish Police Jury (WPPJ) President Jim Bonsall. “I hope I have been as much support to her as she has to me. There’s really not enough time to talk about all she has done. She represented her district well and she represented Webster Parish better.”
Minden Mayor Nick Cox credited everything he learned when it comes to a properly functioning board to the WPPJ and more specifically to Davison. He said, “When I got sworn into the police jury, I was 32 years old, and two school teachers took me under their wings, Mrs. Vera and Mrs. (Jeri) Lee. I really appreciate you both.”
Cox also took the time to formally thank his wife who decided to step in and fill his unexpired term on the jury for District 8 following his run for mayor. His wife, Cayla Cox, who was diagnosed with breast cancer soon after his decision to run, still took on this responsibility and served almost a year in her seat.
Mayor Cox said, “When I thought about who could fill my unexpired term and not be lost, I knew I needed someone who would care and show up and do the best they can. I looked beside me, and I said, ‘Well that is Cayla.’ The year did not go quite how we thought it would, but you made it. I am so proud of you. You are my hero and I want to formally thank you for service to Webster Parish and to our district.”
Cayla also did not seek election in October. Her seat will be filled by Nancy Hines after the new year.
She was also awarded a plaque for her service by Bonsall on behalf of the jury. He said, “Cayla, we had a good year. It was hard on you, but I just want to let you know when I really needed you, you were here. You have a good lady to take your place, but we will miss you.”
“It definitely was not what we thought it was going to look like when he (Mayor Cox) decided to run for mayor and asked me to step in for him,” said Cayla. “I wish I could have done more.” She expressed her appreciation for the jury accepting and praying for her this year.
Wrapping up some unfinished business, Bonsall also awarded a plaque to Mayor Cox. “We never got around to doing this with you,” said Bonsall. “When you left, you left and didn’t come back. We appreciate what you did when you were here. We hope your new endeavor works as well as it did here.”
