By By Steve Gillespie/The Meridian Star
May 8, 2001
Assistant District Attorney Veldore Young Heidelberg, 32, of Meridian, has been sworn in as a member of the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges.
Heidelberg will represent the Third Congressional District on the board, along with Henry Hudspeth of Louisville.
The board is made up of 10 members, two from each congressional district, who each serve six-year terms. The board's role is to establish standards and guidelines for Mississippi's community and junior colleges. Board members are appointed by the governor.
Heidelberg was born and raised in Meridian. She is the daughter of State Rep. Charles L. Young Sr., and the late Dorthea D. Young, a math professor at Mississippi Community College.
Heidelberg said both of her parents instilled a sense of volunteerism in her and her siblings. She is the youngest of four children.
Heidelberg and her husband, Dennis, a service technician with Bellsouth, are expecting their first child in October.
Being the youngest person ever appointed to the SBCJC, Heidelberg said she hopes to bring a youthful outlook to the position.
Heidelberg is a product of Meridian Public Schools. From the time she was in elementary school, she said, she knew she wanted to be an attorney.
She attended Mississippi Community College for two summers and received her undergraduate degree from Xavier University. Heidelberg earned her bachelor of law degree from Oxford University in Oxford, England and her jurisprudence degree from Mississippi College School of Law.
Heidelberg served as public defender in Lauderdale County for two years. She has been with the 10th Judicial District Attorney's office since January 1999. The district includes Lauderdale, Clarke, Kemper and Wayne counties.
Heidelberg is a member of Newell Chapel CME Church, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the Mississippi, Magnolia and National bar associations.
Steve Gillespie is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. Call him at 693-1551, ext. 3233, or e-mail him at sgillespie@themeridianstar.com.