The people in Guilford County and North Carolina who knew, loved and respected former Guilford County Chief District Court Judge Wendy Enochs were greatly saddened late last month when they heard of her passing, and the Guilford County Board of Commissioners plans to honor Enochs in front of her family and friends at the board’s meeting, on Thursday, August 4.
The resolution, which will be read by Commissioner Frankie Jones, notes the highlights of what the board calls Enochs’ “remarkable” contributions to the county and its citizens.
Enochs passed away on Saturday, June 25 and the news spread quickly through the county’s justice system and the county as a whole.
The resolution to be passed this week reads, “Judge Enochs was a remarkable contributor to the Guilford County community and carried exceptional influence in the practice of law serving as Guilford County District Court Judge for 22 years after being elected in 1994, at the time, the youngest District Court judge to be elected in North Carolina at the age of 28, and serving from 2012 to 2016 as the Chief District Court Judge for Guilford County.”
Enochs graduated from Southeast Guilford High School and did her undergraduate work at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro before graduating from Campbell University School of Law in 1991. She began her legal career that same year as an assistant Guilford County district attorney – a job she held for about three years before being elected as a judge in the Guilford County Court system.
In the summer of 2016, Enochs was appointed by former NC Governor Pat McCrory to serve as a judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals. She retired from public service at the end of her term and became a family law attorney at the firm of Coltrane, Overfield and Associates.
Enochs contributed to Guilford County in other ways as well. She served on multiple community boards and committees such as the NC Crime Commission and Language Access Committee.
The resolution notes that she was “an active member of First Presbyterian Church, where she served as an usher,” and that, “In her spare time, she enjoyed playing tennis, paddle tennis, and golf. She loved her weekly dinner and game nights with friends. Judge Enochs was an avid reader, and could often be found reading a book on her sun porch.”
It goes on to praise her leadership and faithful service to the community as well as her commitment to her family.
“NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Guilford County Board of Commissioners,” the resolution concludes, “that it hereby expresses its appreciation and admiration for the life and service of the Honorable (Retired) Wendy Melton Enochs; and as such be it remembered, that her contributions to the citizens of Guilford County were significant and the Board desires to recognize and memorialize her legacy as an outstanding Judiciary, community leader, wife, mother, mentor, and friend.”
Bad photo! Why not use one of her in her black robe on the bench? All judges get that official photo made. She deserves better.
Jack, that was the photo from her obituary. She was so much more than a Judge. The photo shows her beautiful energy. Thank you for caring and acknowledging her though.
You are absolutely right- shows her beautiful energy. I love it !
This honor is well deserved for a fine lady. She contributed so much to the judicial system in Guilford County and the state of North Carolina. She will be sorely missed.