Sheriff Morgan helps honor agency’s first Black woman deputy

Sheriff Gabe Morgan and Newport News Sheriff’s Office leaders were honored to be part of the city’s tribute to Lillie B. Knight, the agency’s first Black deputy sheriff.   The Newport News Public Library held its We Stand for Justice: A Salute to African American Heroes of Newport News on Saturday, February 24.  

In the video tribute to Mrs. Knight, the audience learned “she was hired as a guard for the Newport News jail in 1969, a few months before Virginia ended racial segregation in jails.   She worked her way up to become chief corrections officer and was officially deputized by the sheriff’s department in 1976.   She lived in the community she served – a pioneer in what today is called community policing.  People knew Deputy Knight and recognized her face.  Knight gained a reputation for decency and compassion and treated those she served warrants to with respect. She changed the face of the sheriff’s office. ” 

Mrs. Knight retired in 1996 after nearly 3 decades of service in the department. She passed away in November 2019 at age 84.

Knight’s daughter Theresa and other family members attended the ceremony and spoke afterwards with Sheriff Morgan and Chief Deputy Col. Shonda Whitfield.

Knight’s devotion to the job and the City of Newport News exemplifies Sheriff Morgan’s motto for his agency:  Committed to Making a Difference. 

The library system’s annual event during Black History Month honors those whose activism has produced an enduring historical legacy and who have contributed to the cause of social justice in Newport News.