GREEN COVE SPRINGS - Staff at the Clay County Clerk of Court and Comptroller's Office gathered last Thursday to dedicate a newly refurbished vault to a cherished team member.

Renamed the Jewel Baskin Vault, the space honors the memory of the recording department manager who passed away suddenly last year while on a church mission trip in Africa. Baskin had served the courthouse for 38 years before her passing. 

Her colleagues said Baskin talked about renovating the room frequently, and they're proud to have made her vision a reality.

The Recording Department vault is where the county's most important records and historical displays are stored, among other resources. But, with the vault not in the best state, Baskin wanted a change. She wanted something for the community to be proud of. 

So, the renovation project officially began three months ago. Baskin even spearheaded it by reorganizing what the office said was about 50 years' worth of documents, files and maps stored inside. 

Thanks to a team of employees and vendors, her work was finished, and her ideas were brought to life. Fresh paint fills the walls, up-cycled display cabinets with compiled history line the room and cleaned furniture awaits use.

"This is a brand new space where our employees and the public get to enjoy," said Clerk Tara Green. "And that's why this makes it super special that we've done this in honor of Jewel."

Members of Baskin's family were also invited to the unveiling and teared up at the site, thanking the office for honoring her legacy in such a way.

The office invited the family and public to enjoy the space anytime they would like and said they knew she was smiling down with pride.