Friday, February 17, 2006

Man Killed In Turbeville Wreck

Investigation Into 11 a.m. Accident Continues


Police are unsure of the cause of an accident late yesterday morning that claimed the life of a 70-year-old Turbeville man, Sgt. David Cooper said yesterday afternoon.
Cooper said state police are investigating the accident that claimed the life of James Edward Oliver III, of Turbeville Road.
According to police, the 11 a.m. accident occurred on Route 658 (Melon Road) about one-half mile north of Rt. 751.
Oliver’s 2002 Dodge Durango ran off the right side of the road into a ditch, continued down the ditch line and went over an embankment, according to Cooper. The sergeant said the vehicle struck several trees and was declared a total loss.
Police said that Oliver, who was wearing a seatbelt, was the sole occupant of the vehicle.
State Trooper Stanley Noblin is the investigating officer.
The Halifax County medical examiner was called to the scene, according to police reports.
Funeral arrangements were incomplete at press time, a family spokesman said yesterday.
In other police business;
Aubrey Scott Rice, 19, of Halifax, was charged with felony eluding police and felony hit and run after striking a deputy’s cruiser, according to Virginia State Trooper D.D. Johnson.
The accident occurred at approximately 3 a.m. on Route 623, a half-mile north of Route 603, according to Johnson.
Deputy Stanley Britton was assisting the state police when a 1993 Ford Mustang driven by Rice struck the side of Britton’s 2005 Ford Crown Victoria, according to the police report.
Rice then lost control of the vehicle, ran off the right side of the road and struck an embankment, police said.
Damage was estimated at $3,000 to the Mustang and $750 to the police vehicle.
On Wednesday, a 2004 Ford driven by Crystal Satterfield King, 25, of Virgilina, ran off the right side of the road and struck a tree, according to Johnson.
The accident occurred at approximately 12:30 a.m. on Route 654, 250 feet east of Route 678, according to the police report.
King was charged with DUI, police said.
Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $8,000.

 

Riverstone Comes In Under Budget

The construction project at Riverstone Technology Park was completed $319,479 under budget, the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority learned yesterday.
The announcement was made as the IDA Board met for its regular monthly meeting at Riverstone.
During the meeting, Riverstone Site Manager Mike Blankenship told the Board that after all change orders were included, the project total was $11,415,479.
“The savings on the construction contract has allowed the IDA to purchase furnishings, provide a state-of-the-art audio/video system for the board and conference rooms, install a WiFi system in the building and other miscellaneous items that were not included in the original approved total project budget of $10,627,002,” Blankenship told the Board.
During construction, the IDA approved four additions to the original project totaling $633,277, Blankenship pointed out.
“I think that’s very good,” he said. “We added a lot of value to the project with the changes.”
The additions brought the total construction contract to $10,283,729, or $195,596 above the original construction contract.
According to the site manager, the construction phase of the project was concluded on February 3, when a final inspection was performed.
“Financially, the project remains in very good shape,” Blankenship told the Board. “But there’s still a significant amount of paperwork that needs to be done before the project is officially completed.”
In other business, following an executive session the Board approved moving forward with a cultural and architectural survey for the proposed motorsports that will be located on 42 acres the IDA holds an option on at the former Motorplex Park on U.S. 58.
During its January meeting, Board members unanimously authorized staff to begin expenditures for an environmental, geotechnical and wetlands study.
The property is located between Bojangles and the Coke plant.
IDA staff is recommending moving forward with the purchase of the property for $780,000.
On a motion by Board Member Bill Kelehar and with a second by Board Member Jack Slagle, the Board approved a bid by Community National Bank to fund the purchase at a 5.8 percent fixed interest rate for 10 years.
The IDA currently holds an option on the property. The purchase price is $25,000 per acre, according to IDA Executive Director Mike Eades.
Eades said the tract, located behind Bojangles, will be used to market to prospective industries seeking to locate in the county.
“As it stands right now, we don’t have any industrial sites in the county to market and we’re missing out on some opportunities,” he said during an earlier meeting with the Board of Supervisors. “Everything cannot come to Riverstone.”
According to the executive director, the county has received a commitment from the Tobacco Commission for $545,000 toward the purchase.
“We estimate we’ll need another $780,000 to buy the land and do the infrastructure,” he said.
Also during yesterday’s meeting, the Board agreed to write a letter supporting the transfer of approximately 30 acres located on the former Leo Hinson property to the South Boston IDA to be used for a wetlands project for Ducks Unlimited.
Club member Tom Raab told the Board that the group was at an “impasse” without the deed to the property.
“We need this project to move forward,” he said.
Ducks Unlimited is asking for approximately 30 acres that will be converted into live wetlands by the club and the state.
“We also want to put up a memorial plaque to (former club member) Biggy Hunt,” Raab said. “We want to have a good place for our students to be able to come out and study wildlife.”
“I think this will be a good educational facility,” Club Member Mac MacDannald said. “I think it will really be used and could be an asset for both the community and school children.”
Eades said the issue of liability needs to be addressed.
“Ducks Unlimited doesn’t want to own any land,” Raab said, recommending instead the property be deeded to South Boston. “I think the town would be willing to do that.”
In other business, the Board unanimously accepted next year’s proposed budget and authorized the staff to forward the request to the Halifax County Board of Supervisors.
Next year’s request is just over $60,000 more than this year’s $457,927 allocation from the county.
The additional funds will be used to implement a marketing plan, Eades said.

 

Virgilina Man Convicted Malicious Wounding

A 35-year-old Virgilina man was convicted last week in Halifax County Circuit Court of one count of malicious wounding, two counts of misdemeanor assault and battery and two counts of the destruction of personal property, all occuring on September 1, 2005.
Larry Wayne Fallen pleaded guilty to the malicious wounding of William Frank Arendall, the misdemeanor assault and battery of Betty Arendall, and the misdemeanor domestic assault and battery of Christine Dawn Winn.
Fallen also pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor destruction of personal property belonging to Betty Arendall and the misdemeanor destruction of property belonging to the Halifax County Sheriff’s Department.
Fallen’s conviction came after he entered into a plea agreement with the Commonwealth.
Judge William L. Wellons revoked Fallen’s bond and remanded him to custody to await sentencing in the March court term.
Other Court Cases
• Antonio Dwight Woods, 23, of Halifax, was convicted last week of breaking and entering the dwelling of Mary Howard with the intent to commit burglary, and the grand larceny of the property of Howard.
The court sentenced Woods to five years each in prison for both convictions, suspending all but time served on the breaking and entering charge, conditioned on Woods’ good behavior for 10 years.
The court additionally ordered Woods to be placed on probation for one year and pay restitution to his victim through the probation department.
• Jeff Senter, aka Jefffrey James Senter, entered an Alford plea last week to the felony construction fraud of Helen Carr Atkins.
Under terms of an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but realizes prosecution evidence would make a guilty finding at trial almost a certainty.
Under terms of the agreement, the Commonwealth nol prossed an additional indictment against Senter, one charging him with operating as a contractor without a license, in addition to a show cause and capias.
Judge Wellons revoked Senter’s prior bond and remanded him to custody to await sentencing in the March court term.
• Helen Elizabeth Doswell, 21, of Keysville, was convicted last week of misdemeanor shoplifting from Wal-Mart.
The court sentenced Doswell to one year in jail, suspending all but 30 days, conditioned on her good behavior for one year.
The court additionally authorized weekend jail service for Doswell and ordered her not to return to Wal-Mart property.
• Maria Joanne Lucado, 22, of South Boston, was convicted last week of DUI, a second offense of DUI, and a third felony DUI offense.
The court continued sentencing for Lucado to the March term, authorizing Lucado to drive to and from work, to childcare, to prenatal care until sentencing, and to remain under supervision of Halifax-Pittsylvania Court Services.
• Bobbie L. Elliott, 47, of Nelson, had an indictment charging him with issuing a bad check in an amount greater than $200, along with a charge for contempt of court nol prossed last week by the Commonwealth.
• David Arthur Canada, aka “Tall,” 38, of Halifax, pleaded guilty last week to felony obstruction of justice after entering into a plea agreement with the Commonwealth.
Under terms of the agreement, the court sentenced Canada to one year in jail, with all time suspended, conditioned on Canada’s good behavior for one year, and ordered him to be placed on probation for one year.
• Crystal Dawn Cole, 20, of South Boston, had an indictment charging her with cocaine possession dismissed last week during a bench trial in Halifax County Circuit Court.
• Brenda Gail Clay, 32, of Nathalie, was sentenced last week to five years in prison, with all time suspended, for conspiring to distribute a Schedule I/II controlled substance.
The court ordered Clay’s suspended sentence be conditioned on her good behavior for five years and suspended her operator’s license for six months.

 

Boys Track Team Is District Runner-Up

The HCHS Boys Indoor Track Team Placed Second With The Girls Team Placing Fifth In The Western Valley District Championship Meet

The Halifax County High School boys indoor track team, with a pair of wins and a trio of second-place finishes, finished as the runner-up behind district champion E.C. Glass in Wednesday night’s Western Valley District Championship Meet in Lynchburg.
Halifax County High School’s girls track team struggled, however and emerged with a fifth-place finish in the five-team field.
“I’m very pleased,” said Comets boys coach Ralph Robinson.
“I thought the guys gave a great effort.”
The Comets were saddled by the fact that they did have an entry in the pole vault or the one-mile race and did not pick up any points in the 300-meter race and the two-mile race.
In addition, one of the team’s top runners, Patrick Terry, was ill, yet still managed to win the 55-meter race, and another key team member, David Anderson, was battling a pulled muscled and was removed from a pair of events in which he usually scores well.
Anderson placed sixth in both the 55-meter race and the long jump.
“I’m very proud of both Patrick and David,” Robinson said.
“Both of them really gutted it out. David did a great job. He was a little upset that I pulled him out of a couple of events. I didn’t want him to take a chance on injuring himself any further.”
Yet, Robinson said Glass deserved the win.
“E.C. Glass is very good and you’ve got to give them credit,” he pointed out.
“ They have a very good team.”
E.C. Glass won the meet by a wide margin, out-scoring the Comets 171-103. Patrick Henry finished third with 89 points and was followed by GW (70 points) and Franklin County (27 points).
It was a clean sweep for E.C. Glass as the Hilltoppers girls team won the girls meet. E.C. Glass had a close battle with Franklin County, edging the Eagles 124-108. Patrick Henry finished third with 91 points, GW placed fourth with 75 points and Halifax County finished with 62 points.
Halifax County High School’s boys team staged a solid performance, a performance that has now resulted in three members of the team now having qualified for the Group AAA State Meet.
Terry has qualified for the state meet in the 55-meter race, Anderson has qualified in both the long jump and triple jump and Travis Word, thanks to his good mark in Wednesday’s district meet, is qualified for the state meet in the 55-meter hurdles.
The trio are among a large handful of Comets that have now qualified for the Northwest Region Meet. The top six finishers in the individual events and the top three teams in the relay events qualify for the regional meet.
The Comets picked up two wins in the district meet with Terry winning the 55-meter race with a time of 6.53 seconds and Word winning the 55-meter hurdles in a time of 7.90 seconds. Word also placed second in the high jump with a leap of six feet.
Halifax County recorded six second-place finishes. Among the runner-up finishes, Ronnie Link turned in a time of 2:48.89 in the 1,000-meter race, Word leaped six feet in the high jump, Jamond Edmonds jumped 42-5.75 in the triple jump and Cory Jackson threw the shot put 46-10.
The Comets’ 4x400-meter relay team consisting of Link, Eric Mosley, Shawn Barksdale and Reynolds, turned in a time of 3:48.86 and the 4x800-meter relay team consisting of Chris Pridgen, Justus Eisenbess, Barksdale and Link recorded a mark of 9:11.74.
Jeremy Clauden had a big day, placing third in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 8.57 seconds and finishing third in the triple jump with a jump of 41-9.
Reynolds placed third in the 500-meter race with a time of 1:15.34 and placed fourth in the high jump with a mark of 5-8.
Edmonds, in addition to his second-place finish in the triple jump, placed fifth in the long jump with a leap of 20-4.25. Amanuel Coleman placed fifth in the 500-meter race with a time of 1:18.50.
Mosley placed sixth in the 500-meter race with a time of 1:22.87 and Eisenbess placed sixth in the 1,000-meter race with a time of 2:57.84.
The 4x200-meter relay team consisting of Tony Barbour, Clauden, Edmonds and Word, placed third with a time of 1:42.71.
Kincy Leads Comets Girls Team
The Comets girls team was led by senior Juanita Kincy who won the district title in the high jump with a leap of 5-2. That mark also qualified her for the upcoming state meet.
Kincy, who also placed eighth in the triple jump with a jump of 31-10, is one of eight members of the Comets girls team who have now qualified for the Northwest Region meet in individual events.
Among the team members that have now qualified for the Northwest Region meet are Carolyn Reynolds, who took second place in the 55-meter race with a time of 7.69 seconds and Shaday Coleman, who placed third in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 9.60 seconds. Coleman also placed seventh in the long jump with a leap of 14-11.50.
Sophomore Marteia Ferrell placed third in the triple jump with a mark of 33-3.50 and placed fourth in the long jump with a jump of 15-8. Felicia Bowman also logged a third-place finish for the Comets, that coming in the 300-meter race where she turned in a time of 45.02 seconds.
LaDonna Canada placed fourth in the shot put with a throw of 31-4.50 and Amy Totherow placed fifth in the 1,600-meter race with a time of 6:12.75 and finished sixth in the 3,200-meter race with a time of 13:57.75.
Erin Squires placed sixth in the high jump with a mark of 4-6 and placed 11th in the long jump with a leap of 13-9.
In the relay events, the Comets’ 4x400-meter relay team consisting of Cherena Canada, Reynolds, Bowman and Kincy, placed second with a time of 4:38.78 and the 4x200-meter relay team consisting of Jasmine Pointer, Reynolds, Bowman and Kincy, placed third with a time of 1:56.04.
Both relay teams qualified for the Northwest Region meet.

 

Season Over For Short-Handed Comets At Franklin County

Halifax County Fades In Second Half In 75-47 Loss To Eagles

The Comets varsity boys basketball team, hitting on all cylinders and executing coach Ron Parson’s game plan, defeated Franklin County 60-54 here January 31, and played GW, ranked third in the state in Group AAA to a four-point game (50-46 loss) here last week.
That same team didn’t make the trip to face Franklin County Tuesday in the semifinals of the Western Valley District Tournament.
Halifax, missing key starter Mark Ferrell (illness) and with several other players under the weather, was eventually worn down by 6-8 Lewis Witcher and the rest of the Eagles in a 75-47 loss that ended the Comets’ season.
Franklin County will meet GW-Danville for the Western Valley District Tournament tonight in Danville. GW defeated Patrick Henry 74-52 in the other semifinal Tuesday night.
Not having Ferrell on hand to battle Witcher inside made a big difference in the game, according to Parson.
“…Mark holds their big guy [Witcher] to eight points at home and eight points up there before fouling out in the fourth quarter…that was the ball game right there,” he noted.
“Defense kept us in there tonight and we played well under the circumstances, but you have to realize the heart of our basketball team was not here.
“He held Witcher to eight points and nobody else has done that.
“I’m not making excuses, they [Franklin County] played well, and even with Mark it would have been a tough ball game.
“But, at the same time, take the big guy away from their team and come to Halifax and see what happens.
“That’s what it was in a nutshell, we couldn’t do anything with him.”
Witcher broke loose for a game-high 24 points to lead Franklin County to the tourney championship game, three-point specialist Riley Brubaker scored 13 points, including two treys, and Wynn Sigmon added 10 points.
Comets senior Jeremy Jeffress scored 13 points, including three treys in his final high school basketball game, and fellow senior Derek Brooks was next with 11.
Patrick Terry scored seven points, senior guard Larry Burrell six points on two three-pointers, and senior forward Blaine Key finished with four points.
Morgan Brown, Rodale Pippen and Rusty White added two points each for the Comets, who finished the season 7-15 overall after compiling a 4-4 in the Western Valley District.
Defense was the name of the game early on as both teams were slow out of the box on the offensive end.
Halifax led for the only time after a Jeffress jumper made it 2-0, and a Brooks field goal later got his team to within 6-4, but the Comets didn’t hit another field goal the rest of the quarter, as Franklin County built a 12-5 lead.
Witcher, who had four baskets in the opening quarter, scored six points for the Eagles in a 10-0 run to open the second period before a Brooks follow made it 22-7, and Halifax went on a 9-4 run to close out the half.
White hit from close in, Key hit a follow shot, Burrell a trey and Terry a layup after an Eagles turnover, as Franklin County led 26-16 at intermission.
Jeffress hit again to start the second half to pull Halifax to within 26-18, but that was as close as the Comets would get, Franklin County going on a 16-0 run to lead by a 42-18 margin late in the third quarter.
Jeffress hit his first of three treys, Brown two foul shots after a drive to the basket and Brooks another field goal, but Halifax trailed 46-25 with a quarter remaining.
Jeffress opened the fourth quarter with a trey and Key hit the boards for another basket to pull Halifax to within 46-30, but the Eagles countered with 10 straight points to essentially put the game out of the Comets’ reach.
Jeffress hit another three-pointer and Terry and Burrell two additional treys for Halifax down the stretch, but the Comets were long since out of energy to cut into the deficit.
Although the Comets got the tempo they wanted early, a game with scores in the 50s or 60s, they couldn’t keep it that way as time went along, according to Parson.
“We’re not the kind of team that can go out and score 80 or 90 points,” said Parson, noting the recent games against Franklin County and GW.
“We came out for the third quarter in decent shape, but we just burned out,” said Parson.
“Several of our guys weren’t 100 percent, and it you’d watched them, they had problems just getting up and down the floor.
“Again, take nothing away from Franklin County, and if we’re 100 percent, if still would have been a tough ball game.
“But, we just couldn’t do anything offensively, and that was a combination of their big guy inside and us missing our best post player. We just didn’t score.”
Despite the loss, Parson said the foundation has been laid for the coming years, after a season of adjustments, both on the part of coaches and players.
“I think there was so much the guys had to overcome,” began Parson.
“I didn’t get the chance to work with them in the summer, which is unusual, and we really started in November except for a few open gyms.
“To beat Franklin County after not having started until November is an accomplishment, and to play GW to a four-point game is another accomplishment.
“Getting this first year behind me, with the guys getting to know me and me getting to know them, hopefully we can be competitive next year.”

 

Pole Win Boosts Burton’s Optimism

South Boston’s Jeff Burton Foresees Improvement With RCR Team This Season

There was a time in the not too distant past that many observers around the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup series garage saw South Boston’s Jeff Burton as a rising star on the world’s top stock car racing circuit.
Between the 1997-2001 seasons, Burton won 17 races while driving for Roush Racing and had four straight seasons in that stretch in which he finished in the top five in the final season points standings.
But, the next three seasons things started heading downhill. First it was a 10th-place finish in the points. Then came a 12th-place finish in points. Finally, late in the 2004 season, he departed from Roush Racing and hooked up with Richard Childress Racing.
The move was hoped to be springboard for Burton’s career and one that would get both Burton and car owner Richard Childress into Victory Lane. It didn’t materialize last year and the team missed the cut for The Chase and finished 18th in the final points standings.
“Last year we pretty much took and ass-whipping all year and didn’t run very well,” Burton acknowledged during a January test session at Daytona.
Still, Burton said he felt he did one of his better jobs as a driver.
“As stupid as this sounds, because we finished 18th in points last year, I think I did my best job driving I’ve ever done,” he said.
“I think I managed the year very well. I think I managed races very well. I thought I got everything I could get out of most races.
“When I stepped into Childress, I knew I was stepping into something that needed a lot of work, a lot of attention,” he added.
“I knew we had major things we had to do; I knew we had major changes that had to happen.”
Burton said Childress has implemented a number of changes and improvements to the operation. Now, Burton says, it’s time to start focusing on performance.
“Last year we were rebuilding; this year we have to perform,” said the South Boston native.
“You cannot continually have to be rebuilding, rebuilding; it’s time to get it done.”
Get it done, Burton has.
Last weekend Burton went out and won his third career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series pole and did it for the granddaddy of all stock car cares – the Daytona 500.
That big early accomplishment only adds fuel to Burton’s belief that his team can be a contender for wins and for the championship this season.
“I feel good about our chances of being in the top-ten,” Burton said.
“I really feel good about it. I can tell you that my cars and Childress cars in general are a heck of a lot better than they were last year. Part of that is a new nose and a new tail and a new hood. But, the majority of that is the fact that that we realized six months ago that what we had was not near good enough, and we set out for the last six months to do better.”
The bottom line, Burton says, is that everything at RCR has undergone a change for the better.
“I think we come into this year with much better engines; we come into this year with much better cars; we come into this year with much better engineering support,” Burton pointed out.
“I honestly believe that you will see an increase in our performance on the racetrack.”

 

Obituaries

Elnora Traynham
Elnora Traynham, 49, of New Haven, Conn., formerly of Halifax County, died February 9, 2006, at Yale New Haven Hospital.
Ms. Traynham was born in Halifax County on January 18, 1957, the daughter of Lottie Jones Traynham and the late Bennie Traynham.
Survivors include her companion, Don Chapman of West Haven, Conn.; one daughter, Wendy Traynham of New Haven; three grandchildren, Dayshawn Traynham, Dayshja Beamon and Dayraysja Traynham; her mother of South Boston; one sister, Hattie Britton of Clover; five brothers, Roy Traynham of Crystal Hill, Walter Traynham and Rickey Traynham, both of New Haven, Frank Traynham of West Haven, and Howard Jones of Baltimore, Md. Ms. Traynham was preceded in death by one sister, Viola Traynham; and three brothers, Roger, William and James Traynham.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, February 18, at 2 p.m. at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Ronald Claiborne officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home of her sister, Hattie Britton, 5118 Newbill School Road, Clover.

Mary M. Walton
Mary M. Walton, 96, of Rich mond, formerly of South Boston, died February 10, 2006.
Her husband, William H. Walton, and a daughter, Ann W. Boldin, preceded Mrs. Walton in death. She is survived by four grandchildren, Mary K. Thornhill, Martha B. Houchins and husband, Richard, William W. Boldin and wife Brenda, and Rebecca E. Williams and husband Martin; seven great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Elizabeth M. Owen.
Mrs. Walton was a member of First Baptist Church of South Boston.
Graveside services will be held tomorrow, February 18, at 2 p.m. at Oak Ridge Cemetery in South Boston.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider First Baptist Church.

Lawrence Gilbert Brockenbury
Lawrence Gilbert Brockenbury, 77, of Halifax died February 13, 2006, at McGuire Veterans Medical Center in Richmond.
Mr. Brockenbury was born November 5, 1928, in Bridgeport, Conn. to the late Arthur C. Brockenbury and Amanda Hudson Brockenbury Jennings. He was a United States Army Veteran and was a member of Christ Episcopal Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Priscilla Brown of Mitchellville, Md. and Gail Brockenbury of Indianapolis, Ind.; two sisters, Dannetta Corsey of Newark, Del. and Carmen Jones of Oklahoma City, Okla.; two brothers, Charles Arthur Brockenbury of New York, N.Y. and Fredrick Douglas ‘Peter’ Brockenbury of Scottsburg; two granddaughters, Tara and Tamika; one great-grandson, Niko; one son-in-law, Charles T. Brown of Mitchellville; and one sister-in-law, Evelyn Brockenbury of Scottsburg.
Funeral services for Mr. Brockenbury will be held tomorrow, February 18, at 11 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church with the Rev. David Booher officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service, and other times at 1211 Crawford Road.
Those wishing to view the remains may visit the Crawford House today, February 17, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Sylvester F. Barksdale
Sylvester F. Barksdale of Richmond died February 11, 2006, in Richmond.
Mr. Barksdale is survived by two daughters, Michele C. James and Angela Cunningham; one grandson, Zion E. James; two sisters, Pastor Bessie Mitchell and Pamela Bartelle; a foster brother, Conway Blanks; his son-in-law, Mark O. James; four sisters-in-law, Linda Jeffress, Terry Gilmore, Deborah Dean and Donna Blanks; four brothers-in-law, Fred Sparrow, Marshall Sparrow, George Sparrow and Charles Dean. His wife, Betty Sparrow Barksdale, preceded him in death.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, February 18, at 1 p.m. at the Hattie T. Jenkins Memorial Chapel with Pastor Bessie Mitchell officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Richmond.

Roosevelt ‘Vel’ Garner
Roosevelt ‘Vel’ Garner, 73, of Nathalie, died February 13, 2006, at his home.
Mr. Garner was the son of Rosa Mae Garner Davis and the late Acie Garner and was married to Mary E. Garner. He was a member of New Shiloh Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife of the home; three sons, Roy, Danny Lee and John Garner, all of Nathalie; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; his mother of Nathalie; one brother, L.G. Garner and wife, Sylvia of Nathalie; five sisters, Vivian Jennings, Lillian Espinosa and husband Raymond, Barbara Jennings and husband, Johnnie, Cornelia Jennings and husband, Richard, all of Nathalie, and Emma Lee Davis of Washington, D.C.
Funeral services for Mr. Garner will be held today, February 17, at 2 p.m. at New Shiloh Baptist Church in Nathalie with the Rev. Sylvester Crawley officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Condolences may be emailed to Jeffressfh@aol.com.

John J. Glasscock
John J. Glasscock, 76, of Virgilina, died February 14, 2006, in South Boston Manor.
Mr. Glasscock was the son of the late John Henry and Janie Hather Glasscock.
The Rev. Aubrey Florence will hold graveside services at 11 a.m. today, February 17, at Virgilina Cemetery.
Survivors of Mr. Glasscock include one sister, Peggy G. Travis of Henderson, N.C.; four brothers, Henry A. Glasscock of Roxboro, N.C., James E. Glasscock of Rougemont, N.C., Ernest L. Glasscock and Billy N. Glasscock of Henderson.

Theodore Randall Johnson
Theodore Randall Johnson, 74, of 1081 Mulberry Road, Nathalie, died February 14, 2006, at Halifax Regional Hospital. He was born in Fayetteville, N.C. December 18, 1931, the son of the late Theodore Andrew Johnson and Sarah Averitte Johnson, and was married to Myrta Britt Johnson.
Mr. Johnson was a member of First Baptist Church of Republican Grove.
Survivors include his wife; three sons, Ted Johnson Jr. of Lanham, Md., Michael Johnson and wife, Doreen, of Clearsville, Pa., and David Johnson of Hollywood, Fla.; three daughters, Jean Johnson and Jane Johnson, both of Fayetteville, N.C., and Carol Kekeris and husband, Michael, of Lynchburg; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; three brothers, Bobby Johnson and Wayne Johnson, both of Fayetteville, and Andy Johnson Jr. of Gainesville, Fla.; two sisters, Betty Smith of Fayetteville, and Kathy Coons of Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Funeral services for Mr. Johnson were held February 16, at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Republican Grove with the Rev. Shelton Miles officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider First Baptist Church of Republican Grove Building Fund.

Willie Goode Jones
Willie Goode Jones, 89, of 1085 Henderson Trail, Vernon Hill, died February 14, 2006, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Jones was born in Halifax County on January 17, 1917, the daughter of the late Algie Goode and Mary Ballou Goode, and was married to the late Henry Jones.
Survivors include one son, Pastor Jones of Vernon Hill; two sisters, Catherine Goode of Brooklyn, N.Y. and Mary Thomas of Philadelphia, Pa.; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and one daughter-in-law, Irene Jones. One son, Gene Jones, preceded her in death.
Funeral services for Mrs. Jones will be held today, February 17, at 1 p.m. at Crawford House Chapel in Halifax with the Rev. Dr. Roger Ford officiating. Burial will follow in New Vernon Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the service.

Vernon F. Pool Jr.
Vernon F. Pool Jr., 84, of Carter’s Lane, Halifax, died February 15, 2006, at his home.
Mr. Pool was born in South Boston on February 18, 1921, the son of the late Vernon F. Pool Sr. and Eunice Faulkner Pool and was married to the late Mildred Hardie Pool. He was the owner of Vernon’s TV and Appliance and a teacher of electronics and refrigeration at Danville Community College. He was also a member of First Baptist Church in South Boston and was a World War II Navy Veteran serving on a Navy Destroyer Escort in the Pacific Theater.
Survivors include one daughter, Mary Ann Pool of Mt. Laurel; and numerous nieces and nephews. Mr. Pool was preceded in death by one sister, Virginia Elsie Frances Pool King.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, February 19, at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home with the Rev. Dr. Tim Cannon officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family will receive friends this evening, February 17, from 7:00 until 8:30 at Powell Funeral Home, and other times at the home of his daughter on Mt. Laurel Road, Clover.