Filler

ELKINS — The Elkins City Clerk honored a member of the Elkins-Randolph County Board of Health who died in August before the Elkins City Council approved his successor during their most recent meeting.

Elkins City Clerk Sutton Stokes took time during the meeting to speak on the life and health care contributions of Elkins resident James “Jim” Filler, who the City of Elkins previously appointed as a member of the Elkins-Randolph County Board of Health. Filler died on Aug. 5 at the age of 72.

“I never met this man, but it was interesting to learn that he began his professional life as a Benedictine monk,” Stokes informed council. “Then achieved a very high level of education in nursing.”

Filler, according to his obituary, studied theology at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore and St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana before he received his nursing LPN, ADN and BSN education at Davis & Elkins College. He then graduated first in his class from the University of North Carolina with a Master of Nursing Science degree.

As the co-founder and clinical manager of The Havens, a free HIV/AIDS clinic based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Filler mentored students from UNC and Duke. He also became the first nurse in North Carolina to be nationally certified in HIV/AIDS nursing, and was honored with induction in North Carolina’s The Great 100 Nurses for his service to the Commonwealth.

Filler was also a member of Sigma Theta Tau and the International Honor Society of Nursing, alongside his appointed position in the Elkins-Randolph Board of Health.

“I just wanted to recognize James Filler for his service to this community, and just make a note of some of his accomplishments,” Stokes said after informing the Council of Filler’s work.

Afterward, the nine present City Council members approved John Taylor to fill the vacant position on the Elkins-Randolph Board of Health. Second Ward Council Member Lisa Severino was absent from the meeting.

According to Article II, Section I of the Board of Health’s bylaws, the City of Elkins gets to appoint two members to the Board. Taylor will serve the remainder of an unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2027.

During their meeting, the Council also approved appointing former Fifth Ward Council Member David Parker as an alternate on the Elkins Board of Zoning Appeals.

The City Council has the authority to appoint up to three alternate members to the Board of Zoning Appeals who meet the same eligibility requirements as regular members. Alternate members are called to serve on the board when a regular member is unable to participate.

Parker will serve as an alternate member of the Elkins Board of Zoning Appeals for a three-year term, beginning Sept. 1 and ending Aug. 31, 2028.