Elder appointed as new District Clerk on Friday morning, following Coapland’s retirement
By Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan
Stephanie Elder was appointed as the new Stephens County District Clerk this morning, Friday, May 31, and then sworn in to the office by 90th Judicial District Court Judge Phillip Gregory.
Phillip Gregory, 90th Judicial District Court Judge, swears in Stephanie Elder as the Stephens County District Clerk on Friday morning, May 31. (Photo courtesy of Cecelia Gonzales)
The appointment follows the official retirement of longtime District Clerk Christie Coapland, whose last day in the job was today.
In addition to swearing in Elder, Gregory also swore in Brenda Mahan and Valerie Carr as deputy district clerks under Elder.
Elder has been working in the District Clerk’s office full-time for a couple of years as a deputy district clerk. Before that, she was the secretary in the County Judge’s office, and for a couple of years split her time between the two offices.
Coapland has been the District Clerk for the past 17 years, taking office in 2007 from Shirley Parker. Coapland first went to work for Stephens County in 1995 and has worked at the courthouse for 29 and half years, she said.
As a testament to her plans for the future, Coapland wore a t-shirt with the names of her grandchildren on it and stating that she would now be providing “Grandma Daycare, Grandma Uber and Grandma Grubhub.”
In her letter of retirement, Coapland said, “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the citizens of Stephens County for the 17 years they have entrusted me to hold the position of District Clerk. It has truly been an honor to serve at this position and will miss the day to day interaction with my wonderful Courthouse family and the great people of this County. I would also like to thank the County Commissioners, County Judge Michael Roach and County Attorney Gary Trammel for their support throughout the years. I have had the good fortune to work with the best staff, many Honorable Judges and their staff, in my tenure with the County and will always be thankful for my career at this position.”
Stephanie Elder, Stephens County’s new District Clerk, center, was joined Friday morning by her family, husband Caleb Elder and children, from left, Cohen, Clay and Caegan. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Also on Friday morning, 90th Judicial District Court Judge Phillip Gregory swore in deputy district clerks Valerie Carr, left, and Brenda Mahan, to served under newly appointed District Clerk Stephanie Elder. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Cutline, top photo: Phillip Gregory, 90th Judicial District Court Judge, appointed Stephanie Elder as the Stephens County District Clerk on Friday, May 31. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
