By Patrick Hurston
As she settles into her newly appointed role, County Clerk Loretta Humbertson is clear
about one thing:
“I want to maintain a very open-door policy. I want people to feel comfortable when they
come into the office. That’s very important to me. Maintaining that small town feel.”
Humbertson was sworn in as the new county clerk on January 2, 2025, following the
December 30, 2024, resignation of Gregg Ely after 20 years in the elected role.
Though it’s a cornerstone of the community, Humbertson says most people don’t know
what the Clerk’s office does.
One exception is probate, an area she spent nearly all her previous 15 years in the
office overseeing. “Only if you’ve lost a loved one are you familiar with what we do,” she
said.
Probate is a legal process that involves settling a deceased person’s estate. The clerk's
role is crucial in validating wills and ensuring the smooth settlement of estates.
“I think if you come from another state, it would surprise people that the county clerk
does probate,” she added. “In other states they have specific clerks for specific things
like probate or elections. In West Virginia the county clerk does those things.”
Listening to Humbertson rattle off what the clerk’s office does, one wonders what they
don’t do.
“I think people don’t realize just how many hats we wear. They are surprised at how
much we do,” she said.
In West Virginia, the county clerk's office plays a significant role in local government,
overseeing various administrative and record-keeping functions, including birth,
marriage, and death certificates; all real estate documents from survey plats and maps,
to deeds, liens, and encumbrances, as well as all criminal judgements.
The office also handles elections administration.
“Yes, people come here to register to vote, and we handle the elections, but it’s not just
during an election year. Its year round, every year,” she said, referring to maintaining the
custody and integrity of voting machines, ballot boxes, preparation of ballots, trainings,
and filings for elected offices, among other things.
She added that many don’t realize that the clerk also creates and balances the budget
for the county commission.
“I call it the Chief Financial Officer,” she said.
“We try to make sure the budget is balanced, and we try to make sure that we have
funds to cover everything we need in the building but also the things that the county
funds, which is a lot of things,” she added.
“Many think the county just takes your taxes. A large portion goes to fund the schools,
but we do give a lot of contributions to small organizations like the libraries and parks,
and the community center for our seniors,” she said.
Humbertson says it took a lot of thought before agreeing to assume the role following
Ely’s departure, alluding to recent events within the county that helped her make the
decision.
“I want to know that people are being treated respectfully and with consideration. I want
to keep that small town feel to our office. I want people to feel comfortable coming in,
not threatened or intimidated or treated in a hostile manner,” she stressed.
Humbertson said she will likely run for the office when the term is up. “Unless somebody
comes forward with that same small-town attitude and commitment to our citizens.”
One other thing Humbertson is clear about: “I’ve never been the person to say, ‘hey,
look at me’. I’ve always been the person in the background.” Not anymore.
When asked if this writer could take a photograph for this story, she emphatically
replied, “Absolutely not,” with a good-natured laugh.
Don’t tell her there’s one already on the county clerk’s website.
