A longer school day will result at Halifax County High School with the switch to a block schedule format.
The county's elementary schools may also see a longer school day.
As a result of the move, classes at the high school will start next year at 8:35 a.m. with the end of the school day coming at 3:30 p.m.
High school teachers and staff will have to be at school at 8:10 a.m. and remain at school until 3:40 p.m.
What effect the move to block scheduling at Halifax County High School will have on the schedules of the rest of the county's schools is unclear at this point.
"My best guess would be 10 to 15 minutes additional time to the elementary school day," county school superintendent Dennis Witt said yesterday.
"But, that is very tentative."
Witt said that school system officials have been reviewing school bus schedules and routes and that efforts will be made in the coming months to fine tune them.
He stated that school bus routes and schedules will be a key factor in what will ultimately impact the starting and dismissal times for the county elementary schools.
Witt said that with the implementation of the block scheduling at Halifax County High School, he and school system officials hope to be able to make progress toward standardizing the school day for all of the county elementary schools.
"We are going to look at standardizing the school instructional day at the elementary schools to the extent possible," Witt stated.
We would like to make the instructional day the same at all of the elementary schools."
The time that the current instructional day starts and ends at the county elementary schools varies from school to school, primarily due to bus schedules.
For instance, Volens and Virgilina start their school day at 8:50 a.m. and end at 3:10 p.m. Scottsburg starts at 8:55 a.m. and ends at 3:25 p.m. South of Dan starts at 8:55 a.m. and ends at 3:05 p.m. and several others start their school day at 9 a.m. and end at 3:10 p.m.
Halifax County Middle School has the longest school day in the county with classes starting at 8:43 a.m. and ending at 3:20 p.m. Halifax County High School starts its classes at 8:50 a.m. and ends school at 3:10 p.m.
According to a proposed schedule unveiled by assistant high school principal Leon Johnson, the first class block will be 100 minutes in length and will run from 8:35 a.m. until 10:15 a.m. with a 10 minute period being designated for homeroom.
After a five minute period for class change, the second block will start at 10:20 a.m. and run until 11:50 a.m., a period of 90 minutes.
Following a five minute period for class change, the third block will begin at 11:55 a.m. and conclude at 1:55 p.m. with a 25 minute lunch period being included.
Students having "A" lunch will go to lunch immediately after the second block ends. They will report to their third block class at 12:20 p.m. and remain in class until 1:55 p.m.
Students having "B" lunch will go to class at 11:55 a.m., break for lunch from 12:25 p.m. until 12:50 p.m., return to class at 12:55 p.m. and remain in class until 1:55 p.m.
In the scenario for "C" lunch, students will report to class at 11:55 a.m., go to lunch from 1 p.m. until 1:25 p.m. and remain in class from 1:30 p.m. until 1:55 p.m.
Class change will occur from 1:55 p.m. until 2 p.m. with the fourth block slated to start at 2 p.m. and end at 3:30 p.m.
In the overall analysis, the high school's instructional day will consist of 360 minutes with 25 minutes for lunch, a total class change time of 20 minutes, and a 10 minute homeroom period.
Halifax County High School officials got the okay Monday night to implement a 4x4 Block Schedule format for the 1998-99 school year.
The county school board approved the switch from the current six period school day to block scheduling in a close 5-3 vote following two hours of discussion that included comment from school and school system officials, parents, and teachers.
School trustees Wanda McDowell, Raleigh Moorefield, and Lottie Nunn cast the negative votes.
Prior to the vote, high school principal Larry Clark urged the school board to okay the switch, citing recent state mandated changes in graduation and course requirements as a key factor.
"The agenda for public schools in Virginia has been established by the new standards adopted by our State Board of Education," he said.
"It is now our responsibility to adapt to the changes which have been set forth. One thing is crystal clear. The status quo is no longer acceptable because continuing to do what we have done will not meet the challenge presented to us."
Clark added that "it is our opinion that the 4x4 block schedule fits our needs as a student body, faculty, and administration. No, it is not a cure all and yes, glitches will occur. We believe making this change is a step in the right direction as we look to preparing Halifax County's children for the 21st century."
School board chairman Alan Gravitt also advocated the move, pointing out "the rules have changed."
Referring to a prior comment that the school system will, in a sense, be experimenting with the county's children, Gravitt noted "if we do nothing we're experimenting with these kids. Things are going to change no matter what any of us in this room does. There is risk in going into it and there is risk in doing nothing."
The school board chairman said that he sees no choice in the matter.
"I don't see it as an option at all," Gravitt said of the possibility of continuing with the six period school day.
"The ground rules have changed. There is nothing we in Halifax County can do about it like it or not like it."
Wanda McDowell cited uncertainty on the part of a few members of the high school faculty over the switch and the fact that some questions remain unanswered.
"I appreciate what the teachers have to say," McDowell said.
Her concern, McDowell said, "is that the staff be behind it all the way."
In reference to comments by high school and school system officials that research has shown student achievement and test scores improve under block scheduling, McDowell commented "I think the jury is still out."
"I don't think it has been in place long enough to prove anything."
Clark admitted that two years ago when the idea of moving to block scheduling was first advanced he said he felt like he needed the okay and support of 75 percent of the high school faculty.
"The rules of the game have now been changed," he noted.
Clark added, "I urged the faculty to come to this meeting and express for themselves how they feel about it. They have a stake in it."
School board member Patricia Nelson pointed out that "we can't be certain achievement will be improved. But, I feel confident it won't decrease. Nothing I've seen or read about the 4x4 indicates that achievement is going down."
Nunn cited concerns about transportation and the fact that some students may find themselves at the bus stop five to ten minutes earlier than they are now and that the fact that some students will find themselves arriving at their bus stop a few minutes later in the afternoon.
"I'm not opposed to block scheduling," Nunn commented after the vote.
"What bothers me is the transportation. I can see little kids out there with flashlights (in the early mornings). That's my concern."
Transportation concerns were also at the heart of Moorefield's opposition.
Deputy Superintendent Dr. Bobby R. Hall told school trustees that the transportation issue is being dealt with on an ongoing basis. Work will continue throughout the summer to streamline bus routes and bus schedules to the extent possible.
Using a chart showing some of the earlier and latest pickup and discharge times for students. Hall stated that under the current schedule the earliest pickup time for a student is made by a bus that starts from the Birchland Park area. That bus picks up four secondary school students at 7:10 a.m. and discharges its last pupil at 4:50 p.m.
Hall speculated that the move may mean some minimal changes such as the first student being picked up at 7:05 a.m. and dropped off at approximately 5:05 p.m. He stressed that attempts will be made to hold any changes in pickup and discharge times to a minimum.
A small handful of parents urged the school board not to adopt the new scheduling format. Many cited concerns over what they feel are some yet unaddressed problems.
"It is my opinion that a number of details concerning block scheduling have not been addressed," remarked Susan Leonard who voiced concerns over matters dealing with accelerated classes.
Sheila Irby aired questions concerning the school being able to provide some innovative elective classes, details on whether or not funding will be available to provide adequate staff development for teachers and how will makeup work be handled for students that have to miss class as the result of sports or extracurricular school academic activities.
Phyllis Marston, a teacher who has a daughter in the tenth grade at the high school, stated that she had attended several of the meetings at the high school concerning block scheduling and that from her perspective, the concerns of a majority of the parents at the meetings have not been alleviated.
"I'm not convinced that in the minds of a lot of the parents they have gone away yet," Marston stated.
"I believe that if you get something new it should be better," Marston added noting that as many weak points as possible should be resolved before a change is made.
"As a parent, I don't have a good feeling about it right now."
Several Halifax County High School faculty members spoke to support block scheduling. Major Allen Hughes who directs the JROTC program stated simply that if the school stays on its current six period day the school will lose the JROTC program.
English teacher Mary Eanes pointed out that she had mixed feelings about block scheduling but that "I have confidence in my administration and my fellow teachers that we can make this thing work."
Business Department member Donna Smith pointed out that if the change is not made she is afraid that the school will lose some of its vocational classes. Perkins noted she favors block scheduling because "we can give students more opportunities to do different things" such as taking more computer and keyboarding classes.
"If we're satisfied with what we've got, we won't go forward," she added.
Science Department member Karen Fisher told school trustees that she has undergone several changes in her professional life, four years years of which has been as a teacher and that she can change with this.
"It can be done," she said.
"I know we can do it. I trust our administration."
A parent, Susie Robbins, followed by saying that she is not happy with the move and that she is concerned about the curriculum.
"I'm not happy with the Math curriculum program now," she stated.
She also told the school board that one of her children told her that some students the child has encountered are feeling a great deal of pressure about having to perform and that as a result there has been an increase in cheating.
School superintendent Dennis Witt urged the school board to adopt the block schedule format.
"I don't know of any situation we have that would not be in jeopardy if we stay with the six period day," Witt said.
"I will say that this has been very carefully studied by teachers and administrators with 20 to 30 years experience."
Witt stated that that does not mean that problems may come up and "that doesn't mean there won't be glitches. What it means is that the intent is the best interest of the students and teachers."
School board vice chairman Carl Furches asked Clark if the school attendance policies will need to be revamped since students will be moving on an accelerated schedule in taking a new course each semester.
Noting that he feels that the matter will likely be examined by a committee, Clark replied, "I think the committee needs to be aware that a student suspended from school for five days will miss the equivalent of 10 days work in the present year if we go to block schedule."
Nelson asked Clark what the situation will be for students who miss school due to illness or other valid reasons.
"I think we will have to provide some kind of structured makeup opportunity to give students who experience an extended illness (several days) an opportunity to make up work."
Wanda McDowell expressed a concern over the fact that some of the school faculty has indicated they have reservations about the block schedule format.
"I think anytime you experience change it produces anxiety," Clark stated while noting that it is impossible to be able to address every possible problem at this juncture.
McDowell then questioned Clark as to how it will be possible for students, especially those in accelerated classes, to cover all of the material in a 90 day period that they would normally cover in 180 days.
"I do not see us covering every activity in 90 days we have been doing in 180," Clark said.
"I think the new SOLs have forced us into streamlining course content anyway. We have to look at what we're currently doing, what we're expected to do, and make the best possible use we can of the number of days it requires to cover that content."
Four additional teachers will be needed at Halifax County High School next year with the implementation of block scheduling.
While that seems like a high number, the impact is not as great as it would have been had school trustees opted to keep the school on a six period school day.
School officials noted that if the school had remained on a six period school day, an additional five to seven teachers would need to hired to fulfill the need.
According to data compiled from recent student registration, two of the teachers would be needed in Social Studies to handle the additional 23 sections of World History that will be needed next year.
High school officials noted in the report that one additional teacher will be required in English, Art, Business, and Agriculture.
In the report to school trustees, high school assistant principal Gail Bosiger noted that while staff increases are needed in those areas, there will be an increase of one faculty member in Earth Science and one faculty member in Biology.
One teacher, Bosiger noted, has dual certification in both Earth Science and History and has volunteered to move to the Social Studies Department to take one of the positions there.
The big increase in Social Studies is seen in World History and World Geography courses, both of which are now being required for graduation.
World History is not being taught at the school this year.
In English, there is growth in theater arts, journalism, newspaper, photojournalism, and an additional course that is needed for ninth graders.
There was also growth seen in the request for classes in all areas of Agriculture, Business, and Art.
Bosiger's report noted that there was growth in requests for classes in several other areas. However, those needs could be covered without increasing staff.
The Halifax Education Association is asking school trustees for an average eight percent salary hike for teachers for the 1998-99 school year.
HEA president Henry Weston, the only individual to touch on 1998-99 school budget initiatives during Monday night's public forum, also asked school board members to maintain the current level of health insurance benefits for the coming year.
Pointing to Virginia Education Association statistics for the 1995-96 school year, Weston stated that the average salary of Halifax County teachers was $6,184 lower than the statewide 1995-96 average of $34,792. He noted that at the time, Halifax County's average teacher salary ranked 120th in the state.
"We have no reason to believe 1996-97 is any better or that 1997-98 will see much improvement," Weston said.
The situation is discouraging Weston said, especially in light of the improvement of the economy and increases in the average salaries of teachers across the state.
"Every year the teaching profession gets more and more challenging," Weston pointed out.
"Teachers are asked to do more paperwork, more social work, more police work, more parenting, and more disciplining," he added noting that it is not unreasonable for teachers to receive salaries at least equal to their peers across the state.
"Salary is a reflection of worth in our society," concluded Weston.
School trustees and school system officials will continue the process of putting together a proposed 1998-99 school budget package. The current school year's budget totals more than $38 million.
A Monday morning fire at a Hitesburg community home left an estimated $40,000 damage in its wake.
Virgilina Volunteer Fire Department assistant chief Curtis Hudson said that the exact cause of the blaze that damaged the home of Robert and Dorothy Fountain located on Route 733, a mile and a half from the intersection of Hitesburg Church Road, was not known.
The approximately dozen Virgilina and Midway fire fighters that responded to the call were able to contain fire damage to the living room and kitchen. However, the remainder of the house sustained heavy heat, smoke, and water damage.
Hudson stated that nobody was in the house at the time that the fire broke out. One or more family members were outside the house when the blaze was discovered and attempted to extinguish the blaze with a garden hose.
"They had it just about out with the garden hose," Hudson said.
"But, the water gave out."
When that happened, the blaze intensified.
Hudson said that fire was showing from the south end of the house (which housed the living room and kitchen) when the first fire fighters reached the scene. But, firemen were able to quickly knock down the blaze and save the structure.
"If there had been a few more minutes before help got here the entire house would have been gone," Hudson said.
A Halifax County Circuit Court jury took little more than an hour to convict a former member of the South Boston Town Council for a misdemeanor count of assault and battery.
Hundley Gilliland, 48, of South Boston was sentenced to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine for the April 10, 1997 assault and battery of Tammy Arendall. He was remanded to jail after Tuesday's trial.
Two additional misdemeanor charges of attempting to impede a witness by threat or force and assault of Renae Arendall were dismissed.
Circuit Court Judge William L. Wellons granted a defense motion to strike the evidence on the threatening a witness charge, while the four-woman, three-man jury dismissed the assault charge of Renae Arendall.
(Juries for misdemeanor cases are comprised of seven jurors, while felony cases are heard by a 12-person jury.)
Gilliland was represented by court-appointed attorney Buddy Ward. He was prosecuted by Special Prosecutor Robert Hurt of Pittsylvania County.
In a motion hearing held late last year, Ward successfully fought to exclude Halifax County Commonwealth's Attorney John Greenbacker from trying the case.
That motion was granted after evidence was presented of a hallway verbal confrontation between Gilliland and Greenbacker during a previous Gilliland trial held in the Halifax County General District Court.
In Tuesday's trial, evidence was presented of two separate assault cases involving the Arendall sisters.
The first case occurred at the Dinis Brothers Pizza & Restaurant on Wilborn Avenue on April 10,1997. Gilliland was convicted of assaulting Tammy Arendall, who was a waitress at the restaurant.
Gilliland became agitated after talking with a fellow patron of the restaurant, businessman Ed Owens, according to testimony.
Owens and some family members were sitting in an adjacent booth when he and Gilliland began laughing and talking with each other, Owens testified.
Gilliland told Owens that he had been cutting grass that day as part of a lawn maintenance business he had recently started. Owens, in a what he described as a playful jest, asked Gilliland if he had been "cutting grass for John Greenbacker," according to testimony.
Gilliland, prior to that evening, had been involved in a show cause case for not performing a total of 100 hours of court-ordered community service.
At the remark, Gilliland suddenly ended the conversation with Owens and turned away, Owens told the court.
Meanwhile, Gilliland had received the small pizza he had ordered but had not yet received a Pepsi-Cola he had also ordered, according to testimony. He was not given the drink until he had only two pieces of pizza left, Gilliland later testified.
He began to yell obscenities at Tammy Arendall while demanding his Pepsi-Cola, she testified. When she brought him the drink, she told him, "'Don't yell at me. It's rude,'" she told the court.
When she walked away, he threw the pizza and drink at her and yelled additional obscenities. The pizza struck the restaurant's jukebox, according to testimony.
Gilliland then followed her to the waitress station, yelling that she should be "fired for her bad attitude," and then struck her in the right upper chest area with his open palm, according to her testimony.
He then left the restaurant, got into his truck, and squealing his tires during his departure, Arendall testified.
Gilliland was arrested eight days later after Tammy Arendall filed the assault and battery charge.
As the case began to work its way through the court system, Gilliland encountered both Tammy and Renae Arendall on the evening of June 20 at the Jiffy Store on Rt. 360.
Gilliland attempted to speak to Tammy Arendall, but under previous instructions from the prosecuter's office, declined to reply. This apparently angered Gilliland, who said, "'I don't know why she's being such an ---. She doesn't have a pot to -- in,'" according to testimony from Renae Arendall.
Gilliland got into his pickup truck to leave the store, while Renae Arendall and Jiffy Store employee Kathy Waller were walking near and behind his parked truck, Renae Arendall told the court.
Renae Arendall had just told Gilliland not to say such things to her sister. When Gilliland saw Renae Arendall in his rearview mirror, he "stomped on the gas," nearly striking her, she testified.
I would have been hit if I hadn't jumped out the way," she told the court. "He missed me by about six inches."
Waller presented an entirely different description of what happened at that point. She told the court that Gilliland did not appear to be in an angry or agitated mood at the store, though he did "sarcastically" greet Tammy Arendall.
She also stated that Gilliland did not make the comments presented in earlier testimony.
Waller testified that she was closer to the truck than Renae Arendall, that no conversation took place outside the store, that she never heard anything like a threat, and that Gilliland had never raised his voice.
Under cross examination from Hurt, Waller admitted that she has previously been "convicted of lying, cheating, or stealing." She was recently transferred to the Jiffy Store in Brookneal near where she lives, according to testimony.
Gilliland, who took the stand in his own defense, also denied that much of the previous testimony had taken place in either incident.
As for why the restaurant incident occurred, he testified, "I was disgusted about something she said to me and I didn't have a drink yet and there were only two other tables (of customers) in the place."
After first denying that he had cursed Tammy Arendall, under cross examination, Gilliland conceded that at one point he did. However, he did deny ever touching or striking the waitress.
Gilliland also denied attempting to run Renae Arendall down with his truck on June 20.
Gilliland told the court that he had hurriedly come to the Jiffy Store to buy two packs of Winston cigarettes during a commercial break for the "20/20" television show which he was watching with his mother.
I was not angry," he told the court. "I was too in a hurry to get the cigarettes and get back home...I didn't know that Belinda (Renae Arendall) and Kathy were behind the truck."
Gilliland also testified that he "backed up slowly."
In his closing argument, Hurt described Gilliland as being untruthful in his testimony. "Tammy Arendall has no motive to do all of this (court appearances) for her own entertainment," he told the jury.
The initial motive which triggered the two incidents came not so much from the Arendall sisters, but from his inability to handle a joke from Owens, Hurt told the court.
"He (Gilliland) was too much of a coward to take his anger out on Ed Owens," Hurt said. "So he took his anger out on Tammy."
Ward recounted Gilliland's denials of the sisters' testimony. "Hundley Gilliland got up and walked out and that was that," Ward told the court. "He didn't do it."
After the jury returned the guilty verdict on the assault and battery count, Gilliland apologized and ask Judge Wellons for a reduction in the sentence.
I'm sorry for the turn of events," he said. "I offer my apologies for exploding."
Judge Wellons, noting that Gilliland had failed to conduct himself with good behavior in previous dealings with the court system, refused to lower the sentence.
"You have been much more fortunate than most people who have come before the court," he said. "You have been given warnings in previous occasions, but you allowed your emotions to gain reign. The jury has spoken."
By Beth Robertson
A South Boston business landmark for 100 years, Star Laundry and Cleaners' owner Eddie Black III locked the company's doors for the last time Jan 1.
"I closed then just so I could say 100 years," said Black, leaning against the old counter in the now January frigid office. "It's hard to close down," he add quietly.
"Toward the end of the business, to get and keep good labor was hard. One hundred years is long enough ... I feel like I worked 100 years," quipped Black.
Although the South Boston native is keeping the laundry's office open as Star Antiques and Things, the building and the equipment are for sale.
"I thought Mary J. was going to run it," said Black of his daughter. "She can do it but I don't think she wants to. And there is no male in the family interested," he added.
"And I can't lift like I used to," added Black, citing health problems.
Nevertheless, it was obvious talking about the business unleashed its own sentimental journey for Star's last owner.
"One of my first jobs was collecting bills on shirts," he began with a smile. "Granddaddy would give me five tickets at a time to collect. It was about fifty cents for five shirts then," he added.
After young Black made his collections, his grandfather would give him another five tickets and again send him on his way.
Through the years Eddie and his brother Freddie worked in the laundry, with Eddie eventually logging time at every unit in the place.
Then, in 1972, Eddie bought Star Laundry and Cleaners from his dad.
Smiling, Black shared one memory of that always special ownership moment. "I remember I was the proud new owner coming in at 6 a.m. to open," he began.
It was then, however, that he encountered his father ...at the cash register.
"He opened the cash drawer and took all the change and bills and went out the door laughing. Said he had forgotten it," added Black.
The new owner had to run across the street to The Palms restaurant and borrow $20 in change and bills for morning business. "I never forgot that," added Black, shaking his head.
In the laundry's heyday, Black remembers about 32 people working there, some using hand irons.
The last owner also "barely remembers" the stable for horses used to pull early delivery wagons.
Another page from the past.
At the time Star did laundry for Waskey Cleaners, who had almost a dozen trucks running out in the county, according to Black.
"Dad only ran trucks in South Boston and Halifax," he added.
It was in the county that delivery had a distinctly Mayberry RFD flavor, with racks installed in various country stores for folks to deliver and receive their cleaning and laundry, according to Black.
Black also remembers one unique laundry triumph. "A Mrs. Stover ran a boarding house in South Boston, a place people could have meals."
It seems that one day a kitten crawled into the tied tableclothes and napkins awaiting collection by the laundry. "Granddadday washed it, tied a red ribbon around its neck and charged Mrs. Stover a dollar," laughed Black.
Many years later, and a technology maxi-leap into the future, the cleaning business worldwide would take a big hit through a simple two-word innovation known as "drip-dry." Wash-and-wear was here to stay as new fabrics made their debut.
With Star's closing, Black notes only Edmondson, Powell, Comet and Waskey cleaners are left in South Boston ...and Star Laundry and Cleaners was the only laundry doing tableclothes, linens and shirts.
Star's History
A reference to Star's early beginnings can be found in a Main Street Methodist Church history issued by its official board in 1953.
Goodman's Chapel sold on June 9,1883 to H.A. Edmondson and W.H. Shepherd for $1,160.00, reports the history.
"Messrs. Edmondson and Shepherd, owners of the old church, rented the building for some years for a cooper's shop, and later when E.N. Black Sr. came to South Boston in 1898, he rented it from them for a laundry. While he was operating a laundry there it burned down - around 1905," recorded the history.
Part of the Black family history includes comments from Carroll Headspeth, who told a family member that as a boy he worked for Mr. Black and that when he and the boys went to Halifax to pick up laundry, they stopped at Toots Creek for the horses to drink.
This week, Eddie Black recalled living in a duplex near the current Wilborn Ave. Star Laundry location. His grandparents lived in one side and his father's family in the other.
Yet another note from the past, as told to the late Mrs. Jackie Black by Dr. William Webb and Lawrence Henderson.
"Deep Snow of 1940 - started 23 January; this snow was blanketed by another blizzard in March. Star Laundry was owned and operated by E.N. Black Sr. and his son, E.N. Black Jr., grandfather and father respectively of present owner, E.N. Black III.
"The building on the left of Star Laundry housed the following businesses: E.J. Wyatt, Crowell and Henry Bethel Motor Company, Nat Llewellyn Shoe Shop and a Bicycle Shop.
"'Big Four Warehouse,' as building was named, burned the following year on 1 April 1941. It destroyed everything between the Citizens's Bank on the corner, down to the Star Laundry, which survived," wrote Black.
"Much of the above information is from Dr. William E. Webb and Lawrence Henderson as told to Jackie Black, 1984."
Willie Arthur Hankins of Halifax died Saturday, January 3, 1998 at Halifax Regional Hospital. He was 69 years of age.
Mr. Hankins was born in Halifax County.
Survivors include his wife, Gloria Hankins of Halifax; four daughters, Jocelyn Graves and Simone Kirby, both of Halifax, Suzanne Hankins of Long Island, NY and Iris Lumpkins of New York, NY; one son, Gregory Hankins of Teneck, NJ; 12 grandchildren; two sisters, Amelia Hamilton of Suitland, MD and Lavern Hankins of Washington, DC; three brothers, Bernard Hankins of Suitland, Cliff Hankins of South Boston and Clyde Hankins of Bronx, NY; and other relatives and friends.
Memorial services for Mr. Hankins were held Saturday, January 10 at 2:30
p.m. at Solid Rock Full Gospel Church in Halifax. Bishop Allen Graves officiated.
Anita Garrett Collins of South Boston died Thursday, January 8, 1998 at Halifax Regional Hospital. She was 98 years of age.
Mrs. Collins was born in Halifax County.
Survivors include one granddaughter, Gena Collins of Arlington; one grandson, Ardith Collins of Alexandria; four great-grandchildren, Courtney Collins of Lexington, Ardith Collins III, Alexandria Collins and Averi Collins, all of Alexandria; one sister-in-law, Eliza Garrett of South Boston; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Collins were held Sunday, January 11 at 2:30
p.m. at Bethel Grove Baptist Church with Rev. William Hicks officiating.
Harvey McDowell 'Mac' Claiborne, 73, of Virgilina died Sunday, January 11, 1998 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Claiborne was born in the Virgilina community and was married to Peggy Satterfield Claiborne. He was a member of Florence Avenue Baptist Church, and worked for W.W. Tuck and Son Road Construction.
Funeral services were held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, January 13 at Florence Avenue Baptist Church with Revs. Bill Keen and Jack Stewart officiating. Burial was in the Virgilina Cemetery.
Survivors of Mr. Claiborne are two daughters and sons-in-law, Joyce and Phil Hill of Oxford, NC and Jane and Gene Lloyd of Virgilina; one sister, Gladys Elkins; one brother, Oscar Claiborne, both of Roanoke; two grandchildren, Chad Lloyd and Trey Hill.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Florence Avenue Baptist Church Building Fund, Hwy. 96, Oxford, NC 27565, or to the Virgilina Rescue Squad.
Deacon William Lovelace of Jersey City, NJ died Wednesday, January 7, 1998 at his home. He was 77 years of age.
Mr. Lovelace was born in Halifax County and was married to Mable P. Lovelace.
Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Marscell King; one son, William T. Lovelace; one grandson, Eric Edwards, all of Jersey City, and other relatives and friends.
Graveside services for Mr. Lovelace will be held today, January 14 at 11 a.m. at the Lovelace family cemetery in Vernon Hill with Rev. Robert Wimbish officiating.
Sadie Dodson Stevens of 604 Bennett Circle, Keeling, died January 13, 1998 at the home of her daughter. She was 88 years of age.
Mrs. Stevens was born in Halifax County on July 13, 1909 the daughter of Percy Grammer Dodson and Hattie Strickland Dodson and was married to Roy Franklin Stevens. She was a member of Beth Car Baptist Church.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 15 at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home chapel with Rev. Charles Stewart conducting the service. Burial will be in First Baptist Church of Millstone cemetery.
Survivors of Mrs. Stevens include one daughter and son-in-law, Betty Stevens Bennett and Samuel G. Bennett of Keeling; two granddaughters, Sarah B. Collins and her husband, Keith R. Collins of Keeling and Leigh Ann Shields and her husband, Bobby Shields of Keeling; two great-granddaughters, Lori Collins and Hannah Shields, both of Keeling; six sisters, Cornelia D. Baker of Randolph, Emcie D. Harris of Chesapeake, Lenzy D. Allison of Chase City, Hassie D. Gilbert of Roanoke, Joyce D. Talley of Waldorf, MD, and Alberteen D. Mudd of Brandywine, MD; two brothers, Lacy E. Dodson of Chase City and Nathaniel A. Dodson of Laplata, MD. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Noel Dodson, Humphrey Dodson and Hubert Dodson ; and two sisters, Malissia D. Keesee and Doris D. Harris.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home tonight, January 14 from 7 until 8:300, and other times at the home of her daughter, 604 Bennett Circle, Keeling.
Harry L. Newbill Jr. of Richmond died January 13, 1998. He was 70 years of age at the time of his death.
Mr. Newbill is survived by his mother, Ocie Rorer of Mechanicsville; one brother and sister-in-law, Eddie and Edith Newbill of Richmond; one niece and one nephew, also two great nieces.
Graveside services will be held Thursday, January 15 at 11 a.m. at Washington Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends tonight, January 14 from 6 until 8:00 at Laburnum Chapel Woody Funeral Home, 2110 East Laburnum Avenue.