Friday, July 18, 2003

Death Penalty Specialists To Represent Xenia Morgan
Quarles School Trail Woman Faces Death in the Murder of 70-Year-Old Lillian Taylor

The Halifax County Grand Jury indicted Xenia Uzella Morgan this week for the May 9 beating and stabbing death of her 70-year-old Quarles School Trail neighbor, according to court records.

Morgan, 31, is charged with the capital murder and robbery of Lillian Beatrice Taylor.

The Virginia Capital Defense team, a group of attorneys who specialize in death penalty cases out of the Public Defenders Commission, will defend Morgan.

"Their purpose is to exclusively represent people in capital murder cases," Halifax County Public Defender Buddy Ward said yesterday.
The team will be in the Halifax County court on July 28 to set a trial date for the accused murderer, according to court records.

In Halifax County Circuit Court yesterday, the team was appointed to represent Morgan.

At trial, Morgan will face death for the crimes.

Halifax County Commonwealth's Attorney John Greenbacker said yesterday that the nature of the murder made prosecutors believe the death penalty is justified.

"It was just ghastly," he said. "I think the brutality of the crime speaks for itself."

According to an autopsy report, Taylor died from "multiple stab and blunt force injuries."

The report listed 78 separate stab wounds and 37 blunt force injuries to the head and face.

Investigators believe a large kitchen knife recovered at the scene could be the murder weapon.

"The living room looked like there had been a tremendous struggle," Halifax County Sheriff Jeff Oakes said shortly after Morgan's arrest. "Evidence from the crime scene suggests that Taylor fought for her life."

According to police officials, Morgan was taken into custody at her nearby residence shortly after police arrived at the May 9 crime scene, but was not formally charged with the crimes until she had been treated at Halifax Regional Hospital for several injuries and released.

She is being held in Halifax Regional Jail without bond.

Other Indictments
Jamichael L. Rogers, 25, of Old Quarry Road in Danville, was charged with a four-count indictment related to a January 19 shooting incident.

According to the indictment, Rogers allegedly shot into an occupied home on Pointer Road.

Rogers is charged with the attempted shooting, shooting into an occupied dwelling, the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Benjamin James McKinney, 25, of Main Street in South Boston, was charged with a four-count indictment related to the April 17 theft of a 1986 Chevrolet van belonging to Blue Ridge Beverage Company.

The indictment charges him with the theft of the auto, fourth offense driving under the influence, driving on a suspended or revoked license and refusing to submit to a blood or breath test.

Chase Ends In Felony Arrest

Silas Barnett was charged with drug possession and eluding an officer after leading police on a chase through South Boston Tuesday night, according to Captain Jim Binner of the South Boston Police.

“He was in possession of green plant material believed to be marijuana and white pills believed to be Percocets,” said Binner.

Binner said the chase began when Officer Michael McGregor attempted to pull Barnett over for a minor traffic violation at 10:05 p.m. near the intersection of Easley and Broad Street.

Barnett led police on a spiral route through northwest South Boston, reaching high speeds on College Street before finally stopping at his residence on Llewellyn Avenue.

“The chase probably lasted around five minutes,” said Binner.

Barnett was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance, felony eluding a police officer, and possession of marijuana.

The Halifax County sheriff’s office assisted with the arrest.

In other police business:
James Keith Henderson, 37 of Nathalie, struck and killed a deer Saturday night, causing an assessed $1500 in damages to his 2001 Ford, according to state police.

Trooper J.L. Crowder said that Henderson was driving on Route 58 when a deer ran in front of his vehicle approximately .25 miles west of Route 747.

Schools Receive Grant Money For Reading Program
Marshall: This Is A Great Thing For County Schools

Three Halifax County schools have been awarded Virginia Department of Education grants totaling $294,300, according to a press release issued yesterday.

Halifax Elementary, Meadville Elementary and Sinai Elementary schools will receive the grants to be used for the Reading First program.

The grants are part of the program awarded to Virginia earlier this year by the U.S. Department of Education.

Halifax County's Director of Federal Programs and Reading First Coordinator Valdevia Marshall said yesterday that the money was "a great thing for Halifax County Public Schools."

"I can see the three schools involved in the project as being the forerunners for change here in the county," she said.

The money will be used to fund programs that have been successful in improving reading levels in K-3 students, Marshall added.

"We'll be doing all the things that research says should promote achievement," she said.

In addition to putting the program in place, Marshall said that reading specialists from the U.S. Department of Education would be assigned to the area to assist with the instruction.

If the program proves effective, Marshall said that Virginia is eligible for up to six years of funding.

"This is the first time that we've had funding that will run this long," she said. "They're giving us the opportunity to try the methods for a period of time."

Marshall said she expects to receive the funds for the full period, but stressed that improvement in reading would have to be demonstrated in order for the school division to remain eligible to receive the money.

Halifax County is part of 14 school divisions to receive the grants, totaling more than $2.7 million statewide.

School divisions from across the state with Title I schools registering low reading achievement are eligible to compete for the funds.

"These (funds) will help provide additional tools and resources to ensure that all children are reading on grade level by the end of the third grade," Jo Lynne DeMary, superintendent of public instruction, said. "The funds will support critical improvements in classroom reading instruction."

Reading First, a component of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, will provide resources for scientifically-based reading programs to help the students in the three schools as well as teacher training in reading.

The program suggests a 90 minute block per day dedicated to reading, Marshall said.

Diamond Frenzy: World Series Bound
Three Halifax County Teams Win State Championships to Advance to World Series; Four More Will Begin State Title Quests Today

By JOE CHANDLER | G-V Staff Writer

Three South Boston and Halifax County teams, two in softball and one in baseball, have claimed state championships and will advance to World Series play.

And, they all did it on the same night.

Halifax County National softball team won the Virginia Dixie Ponytails State Tournament in dramatic fashion here Wednesday night at the Mary Bethune Complex, sweeping a doubleheader from Halifax County National 13-5 and 10-9 to win the state championship.

The Halifax County National team will now move on to World Series play which will begin August 2 at Bay St. Louis, Miss.

A few miles away in South Boston, the South Boston Dixie Pre-Majors all-star baseball team scored a come-from-behind 9-5 win over Vinton to win in the championship in the Virginia State Dixie Majors Baseball Tournament.

The South Boston Pre-Majors all-star team will open play in the Dixie Pre-Majors World Series at Thomasville, Ala. on July 26.

South Boston had been in the driver's seat until it lost 1-0 to Vinton Tuesday night, a result that forced an extra game to determine the championship.

Also Wednesday night, the Halifax County National Dixie Angels softball all-star team upended Powhatan 2-0 to win the Virginia State Dixie Angels Tournament played in Madison Heights.

Halifax County National will begin World Series play on August 2 at Muscle Shoals, Ala.

Four more South Boston and Halifax County teams, two in softball and two in baseball, begin state tournament play this weekend.

South Boston's Dixie Boys 13-Year-Old and 14-Year-Old all-star teams open play here tonight in the Virginia State Dixie Boys Baseball Tournament being held at the Day Complex on Houghton Boulevard.

The 13-Year-Old all-star team will face Amherst at 6 p.m. and the 14-Year-Old all-star team will play Wythe County at 8:30 p.m.

In softball, the Halifax County National Belles will open play tonight in the Virginia State Dixie Belles Tournament at Crewe.

Halifax County will face Bedford Metro in a 6:30 p.m. contest.

Also, the Halifax County National Dixie Debs all-star team will begin state tournament play tonight at Shrader Memorial Park in Amherst County.

Halifax County will face tourney host Amherst American in the 8 p.m. game.

Obituaries

Ruby Clay Brumfield

Ruby Clay Brumfield, 57, of Altavista, died July 15 at Virginia Baptist Hospital. Her former husband was Ollie Brumfield of Concord.

Mrs. Brumfield was born September 28, 1945, in Halifax County the daughter of the late Ocie Clay Sr. and Lula Walker Clay. She was of the Baptist faith.

Survivors include four sons, Randy and Calvin Brumfield of Concord, Jimmy and Ronnie Brumfield of Clover; one brother, Ocie Clay Jr. of Nathalie; four sisters, Dorothy Moore of South Boston, Rosa Wells of Killeen, Texas, Debra Pryor of Keysville and Patsy Layne of Altavista; and 17 grandchildren.

Graveside services for Mrs. Brumfield will be held today, July 18 at 11 a.m. at the Clay Family Cemetery in Nathalie with the Rev. Greg Taylor officiating.

Vernessa Henderson Mills

Vernessa Henderson Mills, 82, of South Boston died July 14 at The Woodview.

Mrs. Mills was born in Halifax County on October 1, 1920, the daughter of William Morton Henderson and Irene Satterfield Henderson and was married to Herbert G. Mills. She was a member of First Baptist Church of South Boston.

Survivors include one son, Herbert Glass Mills Jr. and wife, Laura, of N.C.; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Mrs. Mills will be held today, July 18 at 11 a.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Ralph Harrell officiating. Burial will take place in Oak Ridge Cemetery.

Crystal Renay Tune

Crystal Renay Tune, 20, of Nathalie died July 15.

She is survived by her mother and father, Bridget Tune and Calvin Barbour; one sister, Calisa Barbour; her grandmother, Margaret Barbour, all of Nathalie; three godsisters, Teresa Bailey, Denise Boyd and Terry Barbour.

Funeral services will be held tomorrow, July 19 at 11 a.m. at Republican Grove Baptist Church in Nathalie with burial in Millstone Baptist Church Cemetery.

Earl Weatherford

Earl Weatherford, 82, of 3150 Ridge Road, Vernon Hill died July 16 at The Woodview.

Mr. Weatherford was born in Caswell County, N.C. on November 12, 1920, the son of Luther and Nettie Weatherford, and was married to Mamie Barksdale Weatherford.

Survivors include four brothers, James Weatherford of Halifax, Calvin Weatherford of N.C., Billy and Clifton Weatherford, both of Danville; seven sisters, Elizabeth Barksdale of Halifax, Annie Ladd of Garnerville, N.C., Dolly Richerson of South Boston, Lottie Farmer, Gladys Mays and Joan Barker, all of Danville.

Funeral services for Mr. Weatherford will be held today, July 18 at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Rudolph Jacobs officiating. Burial will take place in Halifax Memorial Gardens.