By Stephen H. Cowles

Special to the News-Herald

Suffolk City Manager Selena Cuffee-Glenn received the Soaring Eagle Award for Outstanding Public Service from the Nansemond-Suffolk NAACP during its Freedom Fund celebration at Tabernacle Christian Church on Saturday.

In her introduction of Cuffee-Glenn, Seneca Bock called the honoree, “A steward of the nth degree, or should I say, the highest quarter.”

Previous to her appointment in 2008, Cuffee-Glenn had worked four years as the director of Planning and Community Development for the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority. The Chesapeake native also has worked as deputy director for Richmond’s Division of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation and served 15 years as principal planner and senior planner in that same area.

“Public service is something I believe in,” Cuffee-Glenn said on receiving the award. She acknowledged the support of her husband, Keith, and daughter, Alexis, as well as Suffolk employees.

Cuffee-Glenn quoted Booker T. Washington in saying, “There are two ways of exerting one’s strength: One is pushing down, the other is pulling up. I accept this award on behalf of the 1,300 employees who give great service every single day to this great city and their relentless commitment to serve.”