Date: November 6, 2026
A portrait is a great honor. It is a marker of significance. Portraits have a habit of outliving us, hanging on walls and looking down upon subsequent generations of people who come to inhabit and shape an institution. It is therefore a particular joy to share the news that the Seminary has honored our very own Rev. Dr. Judy Fentress-Williams with a portrait, now hanging in the reference section of the library. It is a wonderful tribute to an extraordinary person whose contribution to the life of Virginia Theological Seminary has been immense.
Judy is not simply a delightful teacher and colleague. She is a pioneering biblical scholar who has developed a distinctive and compelling approach to the careful reading of the Old Testament. She is also the first tenured African American woman professor at VTS. Being the first is never easy, especially in an institution that has historically been overwhelmingly white. Judy has navigated challenges that many of us can scarcely imagine, and she has done so with grace, courage, and remarkable generosity of spirit. She has enriched our ecumenical life through her deep involvement with Alfred Street Baptist Church, a treasured partner of VTS. And, perhaps most importantly, she has been a friend, mentor, and source of wisdom and encouragement to countless people over the years.
Portraits at VTS are funded through the generosity of external donors, and we are profoundly grateful to those whose gifts have made this tribute possible. The portrait is a recognition of what Judy has already given to this institution, but it is also a statement about the future. We look forward to Judy continuing to shape this Seminary in person for many years to come. And long into the future, when generations of students walk through the campus, her portrait will remind them of a remarkable scholar, a courageous pioneer, and a beloved member of this community. Do take a moment to visit the library and see it for yourself.
Finally, in the Spring we will take the opportunity to have a moment of dedication; it will be the formal unveiling. A special opportunity to celebrate both the art and the person.
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and the President of The General Theological Seminary.