Bainbridge native Sadie Sheafe has been elected chairman of the Mental Health Advisory Board for the City of Portsmouth, Va.

Sheafe also serves as chairman of the Virginia Legislative Committee for the National Association Social Work, regional representative for the southeastern region of Virginia, and was elected to the Virginia State board of directors.

She is currently the chairman of the Department of Veterans Affairs Social Work Professional Standards Board, and an adjunct professor in the doctoral and master’s degree programs for social work at Norfolk State University.

Sheafe, Ph.D., LCSW, ABS Dip, is the daughter of Edith Middleton of Bainbridge and the late Emory Middleton. She graduated from Bainbridge High School in 1978, from Albany State University in 1982, Norfolk State University, 1992 and the American Academy of Clinical Sexologists in 2007.

She is licensed psychotherapist, board certified clinical sexologist, American Board of Sexology Diplomate and a licensed clinical social worker, certified in both cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavioral therapy.