Order In The Court Elite Catering, owned and operated by Blackstone native Spring Henderson-Neal (center, with plaque), was selected by Brunswick County to cater a reception for State Supreme Court Justice Cleo E. Powell. A Brunswick native, Justice Powell on Jan. 1st will become the high court’s first Black Chief Justice. FROM LEFT: Brenda Hicks (Spring’s mother), Demetria Johnson, Justice Powell, Mrs. Henderson-Neal, Lakeshia Barnes, Teasia Barnes, and Twalla Moore.
‘ELITE’ EVENT FOR COURT’S FIRST BLACK CHIEF JUSTICE
A Blackstone native and her staff recently were chosen to cater a ceremony honoring the first Black Chief Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court.
Spring Henderson- Neal, owner of Elite Catering in Blackstone, says she was “honored to be part of history.”
The event was held Sept. 30th in Lawrenceville, where Brunswick County native Justice Cleo E. Powell was given a warm reception on her history-making election. Justice Powell will begin her new role January 1st.
Justice Powell already had made history in 2011 as the first-ever Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court of Virginia. Now she’ll serve as Chief Justice.
Spring Henderson- Neal launched Elite Catering more than 18 years ago and will celebrate her 19th anniversary in Februrary. She’s a 1997 graduate of Nottoway High School and is currently employed at the Virginia Center for Behavioral Rehabilitation a
(VCBR), where she’s served as Records Technician Senior for the past 15 years.
She recalls getting the phone call from Brunswick County, being told of “a big, big deal, and that I was the one to call. In that moment, I thought about how I God will place you in rooms you never imagined you’d be in, surrounded by people you never thought you’d meet. That’s His favor at work.”
Spring was even more meticulous withthana WoodMasternormal in her preparation. “Before I touched single dish, I always stopped and prayed: ‘Lord, give me the vision to deliver excellence, presentation that’s unwavering, and food that will bless the people who eat it.’ I was excited but also nervous, because I knew what this moment represented. paid attention to every detail, and God gave me the strength and peace I needed to rise to the occasion. To know my clients trusted me with something this historic was overwhelming in the best way.” Outdoor SpringWood Furnacerecalls her passion for cooking being inspired by her late father, Keith Hicks, Sr. “He taught me the true meaning of cooking with love — that it’s not just about the food itself, but the joy and connection that come when people gather around a table to share a good meal and meaningful conversation.”
Balancing a full-time career and running her catering business, says Spring, “is certainly hard work, but through God’s grace and favor, I’ve been able to make it all come together. Cooking is truly my ministry — a way for me to serve others with love, excellence, and gratitude.”
Spring is married to Vincente ´ Neal, who is also a native of Blakstone.
“I’m so overwhelmed,” she told the Courier-Record. “To be recognized for my hard work is mind-blowing…It’s amazing how fast time has gone by! Nineteen years of doing what I love, and I’m still just as passionate as when I started.”
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