NATCHEZ — Surrounded by their families, facing a judge and resting their left palms on a Bible, three Adams County supervisors swore to faithfully discharge the duties of District 2, 3 and 5 for the first time Wednesday.

And with the official swearing in at the Adams County Courthouse behind him, District 5 Supervisor Calvin Butler said he was ready to get to work.

“It felt good to be sworn in, knowing I’ll be part of helping the board of supervisors solve some of their issues,” Butler said after the ceremony.

The new board will gather for their first official board meeting as a group at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

David Carter and Angela Hutchins also took their oaths as the new supervisors for Districts 2 and 3, respectively.

Circuit Court Judge Lillie Blackmon Sanders, who swore in Hutchins, told Hutchins she was proud to swear in the first African-American female elected supervisor.

Chancery Court Judge George Ward, who swore in Carter, told Carter before he recited the oath for Carter’s echo that he was glad to be the one standing across from Carter.

“I feel distinguished to be the very first to wish you well,” Ward said.

In Ward’s opening speech at the ceremony, he said law requires county officials to take an oath of office before they take their post.

“I hope you consider your oath much more than that,” Ward said.

Ward said the oath is a promise to serve with integrity and dignity.

“A violation of your oath invokes divine displeasure,” Ward said.

Incumbents whom voters reelected this year were also sworn in at the ceremony.

The following elected officials repeated their oath of office Wednesday:

• District 4 Supervisor Darryl Grennell, who was sworn in for his fifth term.

• District 1 Supervisor Mike Lazarus, who was sworn in for the second term.

• Sheriff Chuck Mayfield

• Chancery Clerk Tommy O’Beirne

• Circuit Clerk Eddie Walker

• District Attorney Ronnie Harper

• Tax Collector Peter Burns

• Tax Assessor Reynolds Atkins

• Coroner James Lee

• Northern District Justice Court Judge Patricia Dunmore

• Southern District Justice Court Judge Charlie Vess

Adams County Attorney Barret Martin was previously sworn in to his office.

In his closing, Adams County Chancery Court Judge Vincent Davis said the ushering in of a new term brought him hope and good feelings about new opportunities in the future for Adams County.

And while the officials may not always know what decisions to make, Davis said, if they lean on God for an answer they will be sure to choose wisely.