Friday, August 8, 2003

Marshall Resigns As Head Of Dems
Speculation Is The Chairman Stepped Down Due To Wike Nomination

A rift in the Democratic Party following its nomination of Brad Wike has resulted in the resignation of the county's committee chairman Josephine Marshall.

In a letter to the committee's vice-chair, Al Myers, Marshall resigned her position with the party.

"I am resigning as chairman of the Halifax County Democratic Committee because I feel that I can no longer provide the leadership needed for a successful committee," Marshall wrote, according to a party official.

According to published reports, Marshall said she had been contemplating her resignation from the post for more than a year, and cited personal reasons and health issues in her decision to resign.

Some within the party have suggested that Marshall simply could not support the county's nominee Wike, and was upset with his nomination.

"To my knowledge, that's (the May meeting) when it all started," one long-time Democrat said yesterday.

Contacted yesterday, Marshall confirmed that the rift within the party over the nomination impacted her decision to step down.

"It did have a lot to do with it," she said.

"I don't want to comment on it a whole lot because there's no need to stir everyone up, but you know the saying 'lead, follow or get out of the way'?
"Well they didn't lead. They wouldn't follow. So I got out of the way," the former chairman said.

During the May meeting, Marshall told the 30 or so in attendance that state Democratic leaders had been concerned that Wike didn't have a clear plan or the financial infrastructure in place to be a serious challenge to incumbent Delegate Clarke Hogan.

She suggested that the county Democrats find a more viable candidate.

"Today, we need to ask Brad Wike to not leave the party, but to step aside for the good of the party," Marshall said at the May meeting. "People have been concerned about where we're going and what would be best for the party."

As the May meeting grew more contentious, Marshall laid her cards on the table.

"All that I'm hearing is that you (Wike) can't win," she said as she looked the candidate in the eye.

"This isn't the time for Wike," Marshall continued. "We need to step back and get our house in order."

But despite pleas from the chairman, Halifax County Democrats voted 19-1 to support Wike's race.
According to committee member Faye Satterfield, the May meeting was the last time the committee has met.

While no one would say on the record that Wike's nomination was the reason for Marshall's resignation, her reaction shortly after the May meeting could provide an indication.

"I wanted him (Wike) to wait until the next election," she said. "He's a young man and he's committing political suicide. The pundits and all the people who know these things say he can't win.

"What they (Wike's supporters) are doing is killing the party."

Contacted yesterday, Wike said he had heard about Marshall's resignation, but he didn't think he was the cause.

"I know that she resigned but I don't think it has anything to do with my nomination," he said.

The candidate said that Marshall had been a great leader for Halifax County Democrats.

"She was like the mother of the Democratic Party in Halifax County," Wike said. "I'm sure she will always be in the background offering support and goodwill to the party."

The candidate also defended his nomination.

"Maybe it's time for a change," he said. "Things like this evolve and controversy is good within a party."

State Democratic spokesman Laura Bland said yesterday that it was time for Halifax County Democrats to move on.

"Regardless of what people felt in that committee, it's always the committee's will that selects the nominee," she said. "It's imperative that people not hold grudges.

"Josephine has been a tremendous Democrat," Bland continued. "She has been a part of the party for many, many years. We certainly are indebted to her for all she's done for us."

Marshall said yesterday that she would remain active in the state Democratic party.

"I haven't quit," she said. "But I couldn't really lead those people.

"I'm still going to work with the Democratic Party on a state level," Marshall pointed out. "I resigned as chair, but I didn't resign from the committee."

Williams Gets 40 Years For Murder


Quendell Lashawn Williams, a 22-year-old South Boston man, was sentenced Wednesday in Halifax County Circuit Court to 40 years in prison, with all but 12 suspended, for the November, 2001, second-degree murder of Thomas Jackson.

Jackson, a South Boston resident, died as the result of a gunshot wound he received during an altercation following a Thanksgiving Dance at American Legion Post 99 on November 23, 2001.

Judge William L. Wellons also sentenced Williams to three years in prison, with none suspended, for using a firearm to commit murder.

The court ordered the suspended portions of Williams' sentence be conditioned on Williams' good behavior for 40 years, and ordered him to be placed on probation for two years upon his release.

Williams entered an Alford plea to the second-degree murder as well as the firearms charge before the start of his jury trial in December, 2002.

Under terms of an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit his guilt, but realizes prosecution evidence against him would make a guilty finding at trial almost a certainty.

The defendant had initially pleaded not guilty during his pre-trial arraignment, but changed his pleas following the impaneling of a jury to hear his case.
According to prosecution evidence presented at Williams' trial, Jackson was one of a group of over 200 people attending a dance at Post 99 on November 23, 2001.

An argument ensued inside the building shortly before the dance ended early the next morning, with the argument spilling out into the parking lot of Post 99.

Jackson was reported to have shouted to his opponents, "You think you're hard, you're not hard...I'll show you you're not hard," shortly before several shots rang out.

At least three shots hit the victim, with Jackson dying later from loss of blood, according to prosecution evidence.

Authorities said Jackson was unarmed at the time he was shot.

Other Court

• Diane Dalton Arthur, 40, of Nathalie, was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison for driving after declared an habitual offender, and to one year in jail for an indictment charging her with misdemeanor hit and run/property damage.

Judge Wellons additionally sentenced Arthur to a $200 fine for the misdemeanor destruction of personal property valued at less than $1,000 belonging to Richard Jackson.

The court suspended all of Arthur's prison sentence to her entry and completion of both the Detention and Diversion Center programs.

Judge Wellons ordered Arthur to be of good behavior for three years, and ordered her to be placed on probation for two years, beginning immediately.
In addition, the court ordered Arthur to abstain from alcohol and illegal drugs, to undergo counseling and treatment, and to pay $100 restitution to Richard Jackson and $1,426,73 restitution to Nationwide Insurance.

• Vincent Lee Stovall, 29, of South Boston, was convicted Wednesday of shooting at/against an occupied building.

Stovall is free on bond, and under Halifax-Pittsylvania Court Services (HPCS) supervision until sentencing in the September court term.

• Robert Lee Harris, 27, of South Boston, was convicted Wednesday of shooting within an occupied dwelling and misdemeanor assault and battery of Kathryn Sons Slayton.

Harris was released under a $10,000 recognizance bond, until sentencing in the September court term.

Harris will be under HPCS supervision until sentencing.

• George Edward Herndon, 41, of South Boston, pleaded guilty Wednesday to an indictment charging him with the unauthorized use of an auto belonging to Nannie B. Herndon.

Herndon also entered a plea of no contest to possession of cocaine.

The court ordered Herndon be placed on first offender status and deferred its finding of guilt on the drug charge, continuing the case until the September court term.

Herndon was released on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond, was ordered to undergo drug counseling and treatment, and was placed under HPCS supervision until sentencing.

• Pency King Hammock, 36, of Brookneal, pleaded guilty Wednesday to an indictment charging him with cocaine possession, after entering into a plea agreement with the Commonwealth.

The court found evidence sufficient for a finding of guilty, but deferred its finding, ordering Hammock to be placed on first offender status until sentencing in the September court term.

Hammock is free on bond until that time.

• John Henry Jones, 55, of Halifax, withdrew his appeal of a lower court ruling which convicted him of the misdemeanor assault and battery of Sheriff's Deputy T.C. Spencer.

Judge Wellons reaffirmed the lower court's decision, ordering Jones to pay a $500 fine.

• Jason Anthony Jackson, 22, of Halifax, was convicted Wednesday of misdemeanor escape from the custody of Officer R. Nicholson.

Judge Wellons ordered sentencing for Jackson continued to a court date later in the term.

• Patricia Ann Coleman, 44, of South Boston, was convicted Wednesday of a probation violation.

The court revoked two years of Coleman's previously suspended prison sentence.

• Donald Kelly Ferrell, 26, of South Boston, was convicted Wednesday of a probation violation.

The court revoked one year of Ferrell's previously suspended prison sentence.
• Eugene Lee Skipworth II, 20, of South Boston, was convicted Wednesday of a probation violation.

The court revoked one year of Skipworth's previously suspended prison sentence, and extended his probation for an additional year.

• Claybon Daniel Owen, 35, of Virgilina, was convicted Wednesday of a probation violation.

The court revoked six months of Owen's previously suspended prison sentence.

Debs Finish Fourth In WS After Loss To Tennessee

By DOUG FORD| G-V Staff Writer

The clutch hitting that took the Halifax County Dixie Debs through the district and state tournaments, as well as the first two games of the Dixie Debs World Series in Muscle Shoals, Al., wasn't evident in their final game, a 3-0 loss to Tennessee that knocked them out of the series.

Halifax finished fourth in the series with a 2-2 record, defeating Mississippi 11-1 and Arkansas 10-4, before a 4-2 loss to Alabama and Wednesday's loss to Tennessee.

A game summary for the Tennessee contest will appear in a future edition of the Gazette-Virginian.

Halifax County used the big inning in winning their first two games in the World Series.

Unfortunately, Alabama used that same formula Tuesday, scoring all four of its runs in the third inning to hand Halifax County a 4-2 defeat.

Each team collected five hits in the game, with Cari Clark smacking a double, and Erica Elliott, Reagan Cannon, Jamie Anderson and Emily Pool hitting singles.

Clark and Amanda Rogers had RBI's for Halifax County.

Elliott singled with two outs, and Clark doubled her home in the first inning, as Halifax County took a 1-0 lead, and Halifax threatened again in the second inning.

Cannon reached first on an error to start the inning, and Anderson sacrificed her to second.

Carla Boelte hit a grounder to the shortstop, who threw to first for the second out, with Cannon trying to score on the play, but the first baseman threw home in time to get Cannon for the third out.

Alabama broke through in the top of the third inning, scoring four runs on three hits and a walk.

The first batter singled, the second walked and the third reached base after a Halifax error on a bunt attempt.

Two consecutive base hits scored three runs, and the fourth run came home on another error.

Halifax tried to respond in the bottom of the inning.

Kristi Myer and Rogers drew walks to start the inning, but a strikeout, fielder's choice and groundout ended the threat.

Halifax added a run in the bottom of the fourth, after a Cannon single, Anderson walk and two-out walk to Myer loaded the bases.

Rogers was hit by a pitch, scoring one run, but an out on a fielder's choice ended the inning.

Halifax got out of a two-on, no-out jam in the top fo the fifth, and Elliott got as far as third base on a passed ball in the bottom of the inning, but didn't score.
Halifax County put two runners on base in each of the last two innings, but couldn't push across the tying runs.

Anderson singled to lead off the sixth inning, and Pool hit a one-out single, but Anderson was out at second on the play.

A flyout ended the inning.

Mallory Lawter drew a walk to start the seventh inning, and Elliott sacrificed her to second.

After a strikeout, Carlyn Matos drew a walk, but another strikeout ended the game.

Myer, Boelte and Pool pitched the game for Halifax County, Myer going the first two innings.

Boelte pitched the third, fourth and fifth innings, with Pool pitching the last two innings.

Obituaries

Sanford Lee Faulkner

Sanford Lee Faulkner, 74, of 2024 Virgie Cole Road, South Boston died August 4 at Halifax Regional Hospital.

Mr. Faulkner was born in Halifax County on March 2, 1929, the son of the late John Edward Faulkner and Mary Gertrude Gerst Faulkner. He was married to Mary Logan Faulkner, and was a member of Jeters Chapel Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Carmetta Waller of Clarksville; one grandson, Antawn Faulkner of South Boston; one sister, Clara E. Darden of Buffalo Junction; two sisters-in-law, Mae Fannie Faulkner and Nannie Lovelace, both of South Boston.

Funeral services for Mr. Faulkner will be held August 9 at 11 a.m. at Jeters Chapel Baptist with the Rev. Samuel Mitchell officiating. Burial will follow in the Faulkner Family Cemetery.

The family is receiving friends at the home.

Lennis Edward Lacks

Lennis Edward Lacks, 73, of 5097 Black Walnut Road, Randolph died August 6 at his home.

He was born in Halifax County on January 9, 1930, the son of Arthur Jackson Lacks and Ida Williams Lacks and was married to Margaret Duffey Lacks. Mr. Lacks was a member of Mt. Laurel United Methodist Church.

His survivors include his wife; two sons, Keith Edward Lacks and Jeffrey Miles Lacks, both of Randolph; two sisters, Blanche Duffer of Burlington, N.C. and Mary Brinn of Randolph; and two grandchildren, Dana and J.J. Lacks, both of Randolph.

Graveside services for Mr. Lacks will be held today, August 8 at Mount Laurel United Methodist Church Cemetery at 2 p.m. The Rev. Don Pizzeck will officiate.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Clover Volunteer Fire Department EMT's.

June Redford Palmer

June Redford Palmer, 62, of 1210 N. Nichols Ferry Road, South Boston died August 6 at Halifax Regional Hospital.

Mrs. Palmer was born in Richmond on March 29, 1941, the daughter of Raymond Earl Redford and Mary Wright Redford and was married to John Palmer. She attended Bethel Baptist Church.

Survivors include her husband; one son, John R. Palmer of South Boston; one daughter, Janet P. Kirkland of Hendersonville, N.C.; two brothers, Calvin and Lloyd Redford, both of Richmond; and one granddaughter, Anna Kirkland of Hendersonville.

Funeral services for Mrs. Palmer will be held today, August 8 at 11 a.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dr. Tony Brooks conducting the service. Burial will take place in Oak Ridge Cemetery.