William Duffield
I can start by recommending two excellent professional wood carvers in your neck of the woods, one in Virginia Beach and one in Charleston. Both are members of the Society of American Furniture Makers (SAPFM). I have seen their work and had carving instruction from both of them.

Ray Journigan http://www.thecolonialcraftsman.com/meet-ray/

Mary May https://www.marymaycarving.com/carvingschool/contact/

You might also try posting an inquiry on the forum of SAPFM. There are many skilled carvers who are members, some of them close to you, in particular those in the local Tidewater SAPFM chapter.

https://www.sapfm.org/forum/index.php

And this Carving Tools board in particular:

https://www.sapfm.org/forum/index.php?board=29.0