Kelly Cherry (born December 21, 1940) is an award winning novelist, poet, essayist, and the former Poet Laureate of Virginia (2010–2012).[1] A resident of Halifax, Virginia, she was named the state's Poet Laureate by Governor Bob McDonnell in July 2010.[2] She succeeded Claudia Emerson in this post (Poet Laureate of Virginia, 2008–2010).[3]