S​outhampton Historical Society

 copied from our 2021 Spring Newsletter written by John Paxton

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OUR HISTORIAN

    Recently the Bedford County Historical Society announced that Regina Williams is their Historian of the Year. It is a wonderful honor and very deserved by a person who has dedicated many years to learning, gathering, recording, and then sharing the history and genealogy of Southampton Township.
     Regina was born and raised in this Township and is the daughter of many generations of pioneers, woodsmen, and farmers who settled in the Chaneysville area. She attended the Chaneysville-Cove  Elementary School and graduated from Everett High School. When asked why she became interested in history, she speaks about her 9th grade world history teacher, Mr. Vespa; a history project she composed on the story of Anne Frank; and her senior trip to Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown. When as a young girl, Regina remembers seeing a published map that had omitted Chaneysville. Although she later learned that it was omitted because the Chaneysville Post Office had closed in 1938, Regina became upset that her hometown was not shown and from then forward she was determined that the historical significance of this area would be known. Regina cites the 1625 Powell Expedition from Jamestown Colony to the Sweet Root Area as the most important historical occurrence in this Township. The expedition is the earliest documented entry of European explorers into Bedford County.
     Following graduation, Regina joined her husband, Will, on his 2 ½ year military deployment to Germany. In Europe, she was again exposed to world history. After returning, they settled on their family land in Black Valley and raised daughter, Melissa, and son, Dustin. Younger generations will remember Regina as their swimming instructor or school bus driver.
     During the summer of 2010, Regina, along with many other Township residents, formed the Southampton Historical Society with the mission of preserving the history of the area. In addition to being president of the historical society, Regina is also Secretary of the Southampton Planning Commission. She actively helped develop the Comprehensive Plan for Southampton, Mann, and Monroe Townships by identifying and mapping cultural and historic resources that needed protected and preserved.
     Restoration work continues at the Point Pleasant Schoolhouse, but Regina is also looking forward to preserving the old Election House in Chaneysville and a couple log houses in the township. She wishes the Historical Society could assemble small teams to clean up the small farm cemeteries that dot the Township.
     As a final note, Regina is recognized for voluntarily and unselfishly composing the many historical displays at the Township building on election days; organizing the picnics and hikes to local historic sites; and editing and publishing this newsletter.