Oil on canvas, 29 x 24 in., by Hugo Stevens, 1959. Location: courtroom, right.

Born 1882 in Surry, Virginia.
Died October 25, 1976 in Hampton, Virginia.

Appointed by Governor George C. Perry on August 17, 1936 to fill the vacancy created by the death of Joseph William Chinn. Began his service on November 4, 1936. Elected by the General Assembly on December 16, 1936 to complete the unexpired term of Chinn. Elected on February 28, 1946 to a regular 12-year term beginning February 1, 1947. Service terminated by retirement.

Education:

William and Mary, A.B., 1901.
University of Virginia, LL.B., 1906.

Other judicial service:

Judge, Eleventh Judicial Circuit, 1923-1936.

Professional career:

Teacher, Newport News and Hampton, Virginia, 1901-1904.
Private practice of law in Hampton, Virginia, 1906-1911.
City attorney, Hampton and Phoebus, 1911-1923.

Research collections

Sources:

Appointed, 166 Va., iii; first elected, Journal of the House of Delegates of Virginia, 1936-1937 Extra Session, 32; elected to a 12-year term, Journal of the House of Delegates of Virginia, 1946 Session, 426; birth, education, and career, transcript of memorial and portrait presentation on June 9, 1977, published in 218 Va., viii-xxiiii; teacher, “C. Vernon Spratley Dies, Ex-Justice of Va. Supreme Court,” The Washington Post (1974-Current file) [Washington, D.C.], October 27, 1976: B6; portrait, Ray O. Hummel, Jr., and Katherine M. Smith, Portraits and Statuary of Virginians Owned by the Virginia State Library, the Medical College of Virginia, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and Other State Agencies (Richmond, Va.: The Virginia State Library, 1977), 115.