Three Accident Victims Improving

Condition Upgraded To Fair At Duke Medical Center

A spokesman for the Duke University Medical Center said yesterday that the three victims of Wednesday’s wreck on Cowford Road have been upgraded to fair condition.
Melissa Smith, 20, Brandy Ann Robertson, 17 and the 16-year-old driver of one of the vehicles involved in the crash are still in the hospital, according to the spokesman.
Shortly after the accident, Virginia State Trooper P.W. Leath said that at approximately 8:25 p.m., Wednesday, a 1997 Kia Sportage operated by the 16-year-old Halifax juvenile was traveling northbound on Cowford Road during a rain shower when the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle on the wet roadway and struck a 1995 Saturn four-door operated by Smith, of Daniel’s Trail in Halifax.
According to state police, the Kia then spun in the roadway, crossed into the southbound lane and struck the Saturn “head-on with the side of the car.”
The Kia then ran off the roadway, overturned and ejected both the driver and Robertson, who was a passenger in the vehicle. The car subsequently burst into flames and was fully involved when emergency services personnel were alerted to the crash, according to reports.
Charges in the accident are pending, according to police.

 

‘Inoperable’ Vehicle Hearing Before Board

Supes Organizational Meeting Set Tonight

A public hearing on a proposed ordinance that would make it a class three misdemeanor to keep more than three inoperable vehicles in public view highlights the agenda when the Halifax County Board of Supervisors holds its regular monthly meeting tomorrow.
The meeting is scheduled to get under way at 6:30 p.m. in the public meeting room of the Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax.
The proposed ordinance stipulates that “any person may keep outside of a fully enclosed building one and no more than one inoperable vehicle, provided such inoperable vehicle is shielded or screened from view. In addition, any person may keep outside of a fully enclosed building no more than three inoperable vehicles that are shielded or screened from view by covers.”
The ordinance does not apply to vehicles in the process of being repaired or restored. It also doesn’t apply to “a licensed business lawfully and regularly engaged in business as an automobile dealer, salvage dealer or scrap processor, or to farm vehicles used in an ongoing farming operation.”
For those in violation of the ordinance, the ordinance will authorize the county to remove the vehicles from the property “at the owner’s expense.”
“In the event three (violations) have been imposed on the same person for the same or similar violation, not arising from the same set of operative facts, within a 24-month period, such violations shall be a Class 3 misdemeanor.”
During tomorrow’s meeting, the Board will elect officers for the 2006 session, including chairman and vice-chairman. The Board will also set the date and time of its regular monthly meetings.
In other business, the Board will address a conditional use permit application soutght by Cingular Wireless for telecommunications towers at the intersection of Route 360 and Route 92 and on Route 360 near Rodgers Chapel Road.
Supervisors will also continue to address a rezoning application by Full Circle Solutions to locate a fly ash disposal facility on Route 501 between South Boston and the North Carolina state line.
Several residents adjacent to the proposal expressed concerns during a public hearing in December.

 

260 Local Youth Served By Mentors

Baby Boomer Generation Is Called To Action Nationally

This month marks the fourth annual National Mentoring Month, Mentor/Role Model Executive Director Kevin Chandler announced this week.
National Mentoring Month (NMM) highlights mentoring and the positive impact it can have on young lives.
Spearheaded by the Harvard Mentoring Project and Mentor, the first NMM was celebrated in January of 2002.
The outreach campaign focuses attention on the need for adult mentors to reach out to young people. Chandler said that the community as a whole, including individuals, businesses, government agencies, schools, the faith community and non-profit organizations, can work together to increase the number of mentors and assure brighter futures for Halifax County’s youth.
To mark the fourth anniversary of National Mentoring Month, the Harvard Mentoring Project is calling on the Baby Boomer generation to get involved in this worthwhile cause. More than 77 million Americans belong to this generation and this month marks the 60th birthday of the generation. Chandler said the Baby Boomer generation has a “lifetime of experience to share.”
This year, the Halifax County Mentor/Role Model program is celebrating its 15th anniversary of changing lives in the county.
In 1991, Harvey Dillard, Gatha Richardson and Carter Hicks, all retired educators, perceived a sense of hopelessness among young African-American boys in the county.
The three organized a small mentoring program under the auspices of the American Legion Post 99 that served 30 at-risk boys.
The community soon embraced the program, now known as the Mentor/Role Model Program, Inc. It now serves over 260 youth throughout the Halifax County school system.
Dillard and Richardson continue to serve with the program and are tirelessly committed to enhancing the lives of at-risk youth.
Chandler is now calling on the community to close Halifax County’s “mentoring gap.”
“As you know, national and local research demonstrates that disadvantaged youth benefit from well-managed mentoring programs, particularly in terms of improvement in grades, school attendance, family relationships and the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse,” he said. “In addition, volunteer mentors benefit from the sense of accomplishment, report greater satisfaction in their lives and enjoy improved health. Mentoring can transform lives!”
Research estimates that 10 percent of school-aged children do not have access to responsible and caring adult mentors through family and friend networks,” Chandler said. “In Virginia, that translates to 160,000 young people.
“Here in Halifax County, we serve over 260 youth, providing caring adult volunteers to mentor a child. Our mission is to guide, encourage and nurture the youth of Halifax County.”
Chandler said that studies show that:
• 46 percent of mentees are less likely to begin using illegal drugs.
• 27 percent are less likely to begin using alcohol.
• 52 percent are less likely to skip school, and
• 37 percent are less likely to skip class.
“Mentees are more comfortable in their schoolwork performance and are able to get along better with their families,” he said.
The executive director said that closing the gap in children needing mentors and the mentors available requires a “concentrated, coordinated effort to influence public policy for the purpose of bringing about the resources and public support necessary to expand the world of mentoring.”
According to Chandler, organizations can also have a tremendous impact on young lives by sponsoring mentoring programs.
“For instance, your employer can join together with the Mentor/Role Model Program and recruit employees to mentor students,” he said. “A workplace-based mentoring program not only benefits kids, but your co-workers as well.”
As James S. Turley, chairman of Ernst & Young, LLP, says, “If other companies are considering starting mentoring programs, I would simply say, ‘Just do it.’ The benefit to the community is great and, very importantly, the benefit to your own people is just as great.”
Anyone interested in mentoring can call the Mentor/Role Model Program at 575-3011 or visit 606 Broad Street, 2nd floor of the Bank of America building.

 

Comets Facing Long Road Stint

The HCHS Varsity Boys Cagers Kick Off A Five-Game Road Stint Tuesday Against Person High School

With the BB&T Bank Holiday Classic Basketball Tournament behind it, the Halifax County High School varsity boys basketball is preparing for a lengthy five game series on the road that will include the team’s first two Western Valley District contests of the season.
The series of road games will begin tomorrow night when the Comets travel to Roxboro, N.C. to face neighboring border rival Person High School in what will be the third and final meeting of the season between the two teams.
After that, the Comets and head coach Ron Parson will have two days to prepare for their Western Valley District opener, a Friday night game against Franklin County in Rocky Mount.
A Tuesday, January 10 district game against E.C. Glass, a Thursday, January 12 contest against New Horizon Academy and a Tuesday, January 17 contest against Carlisle School will round out the lengthy road stint.
Parson said one of the good things entering this stretch of road games is that his team is showing true signs of getting better.
While the Comets are 3-6 on the season entering Tuesday’s game against Person High, they have won two of their last four outings. The Comets also have now had a true point guard for the past two games with the arrival of Morgan Brown.
Prior to that, the team had no true point guard and Parsons had tried at least three different players at the point guard position. With Brown’s arrival, Parson was able to shift guard Derwin Leigh and Jeremy Jeffress and Derek Brooks, who are used to playing at forward positions, back into their natural positions where they are more comfortable and can bring more to the table.
The results of the move were immediate as the Comets blew out Gretna in the Holiday Classic opener and almost won the title game of the BB&T Bank Holiday Classic, a game in which the Comets led much of the night before falling to Person High 53-50.
Earlier this season, Person High had beaten the Comets 63-47.
“Some of the players made the comment after the game (the tournament championship game against Person High) that we’re a lot better than we were,” Parson said.
“As long as they can see we’re getting better, that’s what counts. As far as I’m concerned, we’re 1-1 with a point guard. I know we’re going to have to get better and we will.”
The Comets coach says that while the stretch of road games that will take the team through January 17 will be tough, he feels his team is eager to get on with it.
“It’s going to be tough as far as playing away the next two weeks but, at the same time, I think they’re eager to keep playing because they can see the improvement themselves,” Parson pointed out.
“ Of course, you’d rather play at home, but, at the same time, I think these guys are just eager to play now.”
Parson explained that what he is looking for as his team prepares to face Franklin County in Friday night’s Western Valley District opener is a continuation of the improvement the team has shown in its last four games.
“We’re getting better each time out,” Parson noted.
“ I know Franklin County has a very good team and a very good program. We have played some good teams to help prepare us. At this point, you focus on the mistakes we made against Person High, correct them, put it to use Tuesday night and then correct what we do Tuesday night and hopefully be ready for the district game on Friday night.”
One of the good things in the Comets’ favor is that they will have had an opportunity to get in some time on the practice floor before this week’s games.
“One of good things is that we’ll get to practice before these games,” Parson pointed out.
“The game at Roxboro will be another good test for us. It will give us a chance to see if we can improve over what we did against them the last time.”
Mental preparation, Parson says, will also be a key.
“You’ve got to get yourself mentally prepared to go out and play the best you can,” Parson pointed out.
“We’ve already played a couple of good games on the road. If you mentally prepare yourself through your practices, usually you can take it right with you into the game, no matter where you play.”

 

Sellers’ National Title, Comets’ Football Success Among Top Sports Stories

Year Full Of Notable Individual, Team Accomplishments

It was a year of notable individual and team sports accomplishments in Halifax County, one individual accomplishment by South Boston Speedway Late Model champ Peyton Sellers.
Sellers, a Danville resident, ended the season by winning the Dodge Weekly Racing Series National Championship.
He recorded 12 wins and 16 top-five finishes in 19 starts during South Boston Speedway’s points season, making him the first driver that had designated South Boston Speedway as his home track to win a NASCAR national championship.
Sellers subsequently signed a contract with Richard Childress Racing.
Other division winners at South Boston Speedway were Justin Snow in the Limited Sportsman Division, Joey Throckmorton in the Pure Stock Division and Junior Hancock in the Grand Sportsman Division.
South Boston Speedway also hosted one of the more popular touring events in 2005, Benny Gordon winning the April Hooters ProCup Race and Woody Howard the August event.
Virginia International Raceway Events Continue To Grow
Virginia International Raceway (VIR) continues to add to it list of events after another successful season in 2005.
VIR welcomed the return of all of its signature races last year, including the Rolex Series race, Grand-Am Cup, Stock Car Spectacular and AMA Superbike races.
Drivers Scott Pruett and Luis Diaz, driving a CompUSA Lexus Riley, combined to win the Rolex race in October, while Tom Nastasi and Ian James, driving a Ford GT Mustang for Black Forest Motorsports, took the win in the Grand-Am Cup event the same weekend.
Mat Mladin took both ends of the AMA Superbike doubleheader, Miguel Duhamel the Formula Xtreme race, Roger Lee Hayden the Pro Honda Oils Supersport event, and Aaron Yates the Repsol Lubricants Superstock Race as part of the weekend of racing at VIR in August.
Changes At The Top
For Comets Football,
Basketball Teams
There were changes in three varsity head coaching positions at Halifax County High School in 2005.
John Lacy Harris, long-time head football coach at Person High School, became the new varsity football head coach, succeeding James Hodges, while Ron Parson, formerly head coach at Reidsville (N.C.) took over the reins as head varsity boys basketball coach, succeeding Garrett Dillard.
Ray Reaves, formerly jayvee girls head basketball coach, was named the new varsity girls basketball head coach in 2005, succeeding Stephanie Lewis.
Comets Football Team
Sets New Records
The Halifax County High School varsity football team set new standards during the 2005 season, defeating arch-rival GW-Danville for the first time since 1998 and for the first time in Danville since 1984.
Along the way, the varsity football team set seven Comets football records, including: season record for yards passing – 2,663; season record for pass attempts – 298; season record for passes completed – 160; single game record for first downs – 28; single game record for yards passing – 408; single game record for passing attempts – 47; single game record for passes completed – 25.
Halifax finished the regular season 8-2 and earned a berth in the Northwest Region Division 5 semifinals, where it lost to Massaponax.
Comets Varsity Softball Captures District Crown
The Halifax County High School varsity softball team won its first Western Valley District championship since 2001, in the process earning a semifinal berth in the Northwest Region Tournament.
The Comets finished with an overall record of 13-6, defeating GW and Patrick Henry in the district tournament before falling to Gar-Field in the Northwest Region semifinals.
Comets Baseball Makes Another Regional Appearance
The Comets baseball team had another outstanding season in 2005, tying GW for the regular season championship of the Western Valley District, but losing to the Eagles in a playoff game for the regular season title.
Halifax were runners-up in the district tourney and advanced to the Northwest Region Tournament, where it defeated former district opponent Albemarle in its opener. The Comets then lost to Osbourn High School in the regional semifinals.
McCargo, Fallen, Brandon Set Career Marks
Comets basketball standout Craig McCargo finished a stellar career high school hoops career with the all-time scoring record, breaking the mark held by his uncle, Mark McCargo.
Yet another Comets athlete broke an existing career scoring record, senior soccer player Josh Fallen now the all-time Halifax County High School career scoring leader in that sport.
Another outstanding Halifax County High School athlete, Shemelia Brandon, finished her high school career as the holder of three individual Comets track records, including the 300-meter, the triple jump and the high jump.
Brandon capped her high school career by receiving the Frances M. Mitchell Outstanding Female Athlete Award, while McCargo and fellow senior and multi-sport athlete Bo Palmore were the co-recipients of the T.C. Watkins III Outstanding Male Athlete Award.
Middle School Honors Top Scholar-Athletes
Halifax County Middle School honored its top student-athletes with the presentation of the H.A. Dillard Scholar-Athlete Awards.
Lauren Daniel and Cottey Chappell Jr. were named the recipients of the Dillard Awards in 2005 at the middle school.
Priest Receives Post
Season Honors
Former Comets baseball standout Michael Priest capped a strong season at Campbell University by being named to the First Team Atlantic Sun All-Conference team in 2005.
Priest was also the co-recipient of his team’s MVP Award, and was a second team selection to ESPN The Magazines’ Academic All-America University Division Baseball Team.
Priest is also a third team selection for the 2006 Louisville Sluggers Pre-Season All-American baseball team, selected by the Collegiate Baseball newspaper.
Jeffress Appears In Aflac Baseball Classic
Jeremy Jeffress, a standout pitcher for the Comets varsity baseball team, participated in the Third Annual Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic last August. The Aflac Classic is the premier high school all-star baseball event, showcasing the nation’s top 38 rising seniors.
Swim Team Sets High Standards
The Comets swim team had one of its best seasons in several years, setting one school relay record and sending one swimmer to the Virginia State Swim Meet.
The boys 200 freestyle relay team, including Ryland Clark, Jimmy Bishop, Dane Ferguson and Eric Nelson broke the school record in that event, while Caroline Clements represented the Comets swim team at the State Championship Meet in the 100 butterfly event.
Sports Hall Of Fame Inducts Three
The Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall of Fame inducted three new members in 2005, including former Halifax County High School and professional basketball player Calvin Crews, baseball and football athlete John “Click” Smiley and Bobby Wilborn, one of the starters on the Comets 1960 state finalist basketball squad.
Plans were also unveiled for a Sports Hall of Fame and Museum at Paul C. Edmunds Jr. Memorial Park.
The estimated 500,000 project will be approximately 3,000 square feet in size and will be capable of displaying the memorabilia of more than 80 Hall of Fame inductees, as well as a small gift shop.
Middle School Sports Enjoy Another Banner Year
The trophy case at Halifax County Middle School got fuller again in 2005, with five teams winning Southside Middle School Conference Tournament titles.
All five teams finished with undefeated records, the Lions boys basketball team winning its third tourney title and six years, and the Lady Lions basketball squad winning its third consecutive conference tournament.
Spring saw both the Lions baseball and softball teams also win conference tournament titles, and the Lions girls volleyball team added to the trophy case with its first conference tournament title in October.
Golfer Clay Has Big Year With Two Titles
Halifax County golfer Jimmy Clay had a big year, winning both the Halifax Country Club and Green’s Folly Golf Club championships.
Kay Burton was the Ladies Halifax Country Club champion, while Pat Crew won the Ladies Club Championship at Green’s Folly.
Halifax Country Club won the 15th Annual County Cup in September, its second in three years, while Green’s Folly Golf Club countered by winning the Third Annual Ladies County Cup.
Lee and Laine Compete In Senior Olympics
Track athletes Frank Lee and Jamie Laine each medaled twice in the State Games of America, a track event in Colorado Springs that attracts athletes of all ages from across the country.
Lee, competing in the 60-64 year age group, won silver in the 100-meter high hurdles and the 400-meter dash, while Laine won silver in the 200-meter dash and the 400-meter dash in the 40-44 year age group.
Youth Coach Robertson Honored By Maryland Senate
Halifax County native Louis Robertson, a long-time City of Alexandria youth coach now living in Alexandria, was honored for his work with a special Sportsmanship Award by the Mid-Atlantic Recreation and Sports Alliance. A resolution honoring Robertson was adopted by the Maryland Senate.
Dixie Softball Sends Two To World Series
The number of Halifax County Dixie baseball and softball all-star teams winning state titles may have been lower than normal in 2005, but Halifax County Dixie Softball sent two teams to World Series play this year.
The Halifax National Ponytails and Halifax County Dixie Debs all-star teams each won state titles for the right to represent Virginia. The Ponytails were undefeated in state tourney play, while the Debs had to win two consecutive games to clinch another World Series berth.
Holland Wins Another Weightlifting Title
Halifax County weightlifter Tommy Holland took yet another title in 2005, this time the AAU National Heavyweight Bench Press Championship.
Holland has set five world records in weightlifting competition, and still holds one record.

 

Obituaries

Mildred Link Rogers
Funeral services for Mrs. Mildred Link Rogers, 85, were held Sunday, January 1, at Cedar Grove United Methodist Church with the Rev. Liz Buxton officiating. Burial was in Cedar Grove U.M.C. Cemetery.
Mrs. Rogers, of Cedar Grove Road, Alton, died Thursday, December 29, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
A Halifax County native, she was born April 1, 1920, a daughter of the late Norman Link and Annie Wilborn Link, and was married to the late Guy Rogers.
Mrs. Rogers, a homemaker, was a member of Cedar Grove United Methodist Church.
She is survived by one son, Roy Rogers of Alton; three sisters, Virginia Dunn and Lucille Turner, both of Alton, and Alma Shutts of West Virginia; and one brother, Earl Link of Alton.

Albert Anthony Fletcher
Funeral services for Mr. Albert Anthony Fletcher will be held Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Denniston Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Spencer Woods officiating.
Burial will follow in the church cemetery with full military honors.
The family will receive friends at the Johnson residence, 3021 Paradise Road, Alton.
Mr. Fletcher, 52, of Newport News died Thursday, December 29, at his home.
He was born in Miami on May 25, 1953 the son of the late Charles and Albertha Fletcher and was married to Alice Johnson Fletcher.
Mr. Fletcher entered the U.S. Army on July 15,1974 and served until August 31, 1996.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Fletcher is survived by a son, Alex of Newport News; a sister, Gayle Malone of Miami; a brother, Phillip Fletcher and wife Wendy of Miami; his mother-in-law, Annie Johnson of Alton; a sister-in-law, Ernestine Fletcher of Miami; two brothers-in-law, Richard Johnson and wife Ethel of Hampton and Leon Johnson III of Alton; one grandson and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Ollie White Thomas
Funeral services for Mrs. Ollie White Thomas will be held Saturday, January 7, at 10 a.m. at the Cotton Funeral Home Chapel in Newark, N.J.
Burial will follow in Rose Dale Cemetery in Orange, N.J.
Mrs. Thomas, 70, of Chestnut Creek Road in Halifax, died Friday, December 30, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
She was born in Moultrie, Ga., on April 23, 1935 to the late Lionel White and Johnnie Mae White, and was married to Claude Thomas.
Mrs. Thomas was a member of Union Baptist Church in Moultrie.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Thomas is survived by two daughters, Verdell White and Shakia Thomas, both of Newark; two sons, Oscar Rachel and Gordon Rachel, both of Newark; two stepchildren, Claude Thomas Jr. of Atlanta and Candie Cane of Trenton, N.J.; one brother, Wendell White of Albany, Ga.; 21 grandchildren and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Mrs. Thomas was preceded in death by a son, Timothy Rachel.

Hubert Brandford Saunders Sr.
Funeral services for Mr. Hubert Brandford Saunders Sr. will be held Monday at 1 p.m. at Whitten Timberlake Chapel.
A graveside service will follow at 4 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Republican Grove.
Mr. Saunders, 78, of Lynchburg, died Friday, December 30, at his residence.
He was born on November 16,1927 in Halifax County, the son of the late Wilson Brandford Saunders and the late Blanche Gilliland Saunders and was married to Charlene S. Saunders.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Saunders is survived by his children, Adaline S. Hodge and husband Ronnie of Williamsville, Hubert B. Saunders Jr. and wife Lynn of Evington and Wayne W. Saunders and wife Patricia of Rustburg; four granddaughters; two sisters, Arlene F. Saunders and Delma Saunders Toombs of Halifax County.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, Suite 115, Starkey Road, Roanoke, Va. 24014 or a favorite charity.

Jerry Lee Davis
Funeral services for Mr. Jerry Lee Davis will be held Monday at 2 p.m. at the Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Raymond Bucklew officiating.
Burial will follow at Halifax Memorial Gardens in South Boston.
Mr. Davis, 43, of Green Level Road in Scottsburg, died Friday, December 30, at Duke University Hospital in Durham.
He was born in Halifax County on March 16, 1962, the son of Raleigh H. Davis and Ruth Eleanor Overstreet Davis and was married to Kimberly Vaughan Davis.
In addition to his wife and parents, Mr. Davis is survived by two sons, Cody Lee Davis and Jamie Lee Davis, both of Scottsburg; a daughter, Kelli Davis Hines of Ft. Bragg, N.C.; three brothers, Bill Davis and wife Judy of Bainbridge, Ga., Steve Davis and wife Teresa of Halifax and Tommy Davis and wife Debbie of Cluster Springs.
He was preceded in death by a son, Adam Phillip Davis.

Mary Medley Thorpe
Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Medley Thorpe will be held Tuesday, January 3, at 11 a.m. at New Bethel Baptist Church in Alton with the Rev. Harvey Bigelow officiating.
Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will be receiving friends at the home, 2095 Traynham Grove Road in Alton.
Mrs. Thorpe, 64, of Traynham Grove Road, died Saturday, December 31, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
She was born in Halifax County on February 12, 1941 to Pattie Brandon Medley and the late Jessie James Medley and was married to John H. Thorpe.
Mrs. Thorpe was a member of New Bethel Baptist Church.
In addition to her husband and mother, Mrs. Thorpe is survived by a daughter, Yvonne Hicks of Alton; three sons, John H. Thorpe Jr. and Cecil Orlando Thorpe, both of Alton, and Dannie Louis Thorpe of Roxboro, N.C.; two sisters, Inez Dunn of Alton and Patricia Medley of Turbeville; five brothers, Hampton Medley of Halifax, Jessie Medley of Baltimore, Eddie Medley of Turbeville, Joe Medley and James Medley, both of Alton; eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, a son-in-law, three daughters-in-law and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Glenn Claiborne Clay Sr.
Halifax County native Glenn Clay, 58, of Ormond Beach, Florida, died December 25 at his home.
Mr. Clay was the son of the late Willie Thomas Clay and Beatrice Barksdale Clay of Halifax.
Survivors include his wife, Susan Pugh Clay; two sons, Glenn Clay Jr. and Cal Clay, both of Ormond Beach; three daughters, Glenda Smith of Milton, N.C., Paula Skrodenis of Port Orange, Florida, and Jennifer Clay of Ormond Beach; three grandchildren, L.J. and Josh Grove of Milton, N.C., and Christopher Skrodenis of Port Orange, Fla.; one brother, Marvin Clay of South Boston; eight sisters, Christine Jones of Keysville, Jean Bowyer of Phoenix, Prindle Dalton of Keeling, Norma Kendrick and Verna Conner, both of Danville, Ethel Moore of Altivista, Ramona Elliott of South Boston and Elaine McGuire of Pelham, N.C.
Mr. Clay was preceded in death by one brother, Douglas Clay of Halifax, and one sister, Lucille Pruitt of Tennessee.
A memorial service was held on December 30 in Ormond Beach.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the American Heart Association.