Doug Parsons made an indelible impact in his years practicing law in Sampson County, widely known to be a compassionate man of keen intellect, a true legal scholar and mentor to many. Fittingly, Parsons’ name was etched in the fabric of the grounds he held sacred as the Courthouse Extension in downtown Clinton was named in his honor during a recent ceremony.

A portrait of the late judge will be placed in his namesake building, an apt tribute to a man whose intention was always to be just, fair and courteous to everyone — one who held law in the highest esteem.

When the Sampson Bar Association requested in early 2018 to have the Sampson County Courthouse Extension Building named after him, we wholeheartedly supported the move. During the renaming and portrait unveiling, a who’s who of Parsons’ colleagues spoke glowingly of the man who gave to his community, while demanding respect in the court.

The Sampson County Courthouse Extension Building will now be known as the “W. Douglas Parsons Judicial Building,” a distinction that is richly deserved.

A Clinton native, Parsons served as Senior Resident Superior Court judge for Judicial District 4A, encompassing Jones, Duplin and Sampson counties, for five years. He was appointed by Gov. Beverly Perdue in March 2012 to replace retiring Superior Court Judge Russell Lanier Jr. He was selected to the seat later that year.

Parsons’ was the first judgeship held by a Sampson attorney in 41 years, and he wore the robe well.

His sudden passing in September 2017, just two weeks shy of his 67th birthday and five years into his eight-year term, was a shock to this community. If left not merely a void, but an abyss.

Parsons considered it an honor and a privilege to be a judge in his hometown, something to which he always aspired.

“I can promise I will do everything in my power to make the county proud,” Parsons told The Independent upon his appointment in 2012. “It is my intention to be courteous to everyone, incredibly prepared, incredibly fair and to always do the right thing. It’s exciting, without question, to undertake the final part of your career being able to live out your dream.”

Parsons did exactly that.

And he did it without ever forgetting his roots, treating everybody the same and greeting them with a warm smile and endearing demeanor that belied his towering frame. He left behind a legacy of service to a justice system he dearly loved, touching so many lives in so many ways, both professionally and personally.

Professionally, his list of accolades was lengthy. Personally, the list of friends and those whose lives he touched was even longer.

A dear friend of Parsons, Ross Holland described his colleague as a faithful servant of his community and of the law he strived to uphold.

“He was a man who devoted his professional career to investing in his community by using his many gifts and talents to better the lives of countless individuals whose paths brought them into his office or courtroom,” Holland said. “I ask that our fond memories of Judge Parsons will bring many smiles, that our commitment to honor Judge Parsons’ great legacy will bring comfort and joy to his many friends and family — and that it will be a reminder to all who pass through this place to carry forth his commitment to justice for the people of our community.”

As Clinton Mayor Lew Starling said, honoring Parsons was bittersweet. He is gone, but now he will most assuredly never be forgotten.

Those who knew him will obviously never forget the kind judge and the man who simply wanted to be called “Doug” outside the courtroom. However, those who never had the chance to meet him or get to know him, will be able to see his name and his portrait — and be able to glean the impact that man had on this community.

As Starling said, Parsons was “a great leader, a great role model and a lawyer’s lawyer,” and honoring him was the right thing to do.