Erica Kerry Joy Drue, 58, died Aug. 31, according to an announcement released by Turnbull Funeral Home. Hard work and dedication marked the life of former V.I. Attorney General Drue.
Drue was one of three attorneys general to lead the Justice Department under former Gov. Charles Turnbull following the death of then-Attorney General Alva Swan in 2005.
Born March 15, 1966, on St. Thomas, the former Justice chief was recognized as an achiever from her early days. She graduated as valedictorian of the Antilles School Class of 1984, later earning degrees from Princeton University and Harvard Law School, and often visited her alma mater, speaking at alumni events and career days.
According to her obituary, “very dear friends from her college and university days include Barack Obama, former president of the United States; Cortez Smith, Esquire; Candis Clark, Esquire; and Bernice Glasses.”
In her professional life, Drue pursued civil litigation in both the public and private sectors. At the time of her nomination for the top spot at Justice, she was chief of the civil division.
“ … I am efficient, prompt, can bring balance to my department, and I believe in a team approach,” she told members of the Legislature during confirmation hearings. But her leadership at Justice ended with her resignation in 2007.
Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach expressed admiration for Drue shortly after receiving word of her death. Roach was serving in the Legislature at the time of Drue’s appointment by Turnbull on July 27, 2005.
“We always got along well and I admired her because not only did she work for the government, but she had her own private practice,” he said.
In the private sector, Drue returned to her role as a civil litigant but also listed her experience as a criminal defense attorney.
She also presented herself as a world traveler.
Her social media page included — in alphabetical order — the places she had been: Australia, Belarus, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Hong Kong, Liberia — where she trained public defenders as part of a program with the United Nations — Mexico, Morocco, Panama, Senegal, South Korea, Switzerland, Tasmania and Trinidad.
The cause of her death was undisclosed.
