SoBo police investigating homocide

Robert Franklin Bray, 33, of Roxboro, N.C., was found dead in a borrowed car Saturday evening on the west side of Easley Street between Noblin and Watkins Avenue in South Boston.
"He apparently died of gun shot wounds," South Boston Police Lt. B.K. Lovelace said yesterday.
Police are awaiting a state autopsy report.
There are no suspects, Lovelace said yesterday.
Bray, who would have celebrated his birthday July 28, was discovered following a 6:47 p.m E-911 call to police. He was found slumped over in a gray 1987 Thunderbird that Lovelace said was owned by Bray's cousin.
"His cousin reported him missing early Saturday morning," Lovelace said. "He had borrowed his vehicle about 2 a.m. to go to the store and had not returned."
Bray's wife filed at missing persons report with the Roxboro Police Department at about 1 p.m. Saturday, according to the South Boston officer.
Lt. Lovelace sought the public's help in the case, requesting information from anyone who "might have heard anything early Saturday morning."
Anyone with information is asked to call Lt. Lovelace, the South Boston Police Department at 575-4270, or CrimeStoppers at 575-8477.

No serious injuries in Route 58 collision

A three-vehicle crash Saturday night on Route 58 in Leggett's Bottom sent 17 people to the hospital, but all were treated and released, Virginia State Trooper B.E. Jones said yesterday.
Quincy Jerome Brandon, 20, of Chatham was charged by Jones with driving under the influence and possession of alcohol under 21 years of age following the approximately 11 p.m. collision.
Trooper Jones said that all three vehicles were westbound toward Danville when Brandon's 1991 Nissan Maxima sideswiped a 2002 Dodge pickup driven by James Michael Terry, 41, of Blairs.
The Maxima then struck a van, driven by James Ralph Bryson, 56, of Providence, N.C. The trooper said that Bryson was driving a van for the Danville Association for Retarded Individuals out of Blairs.
The road was blocked for about an hour following the collision, according to Jones.
Sixteen were transported to the Danville Hospital where they were treated and released, according to Jones.
He said fourteen were occupants of the van and two occupied the pickup.
Brandon, the single occupant of the Maxima, was treated and released at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Jones estimated damage to the pickup driven by Terry, and registered to T&B Associates Inc. of Conway S.C., at $4,000.
The trooper estimated damage to the van driven by Bryson at $200, and damage to the 1991 Nissan Maxima driven by Brandon at $3,500.

Mcpeters exits 31 years of extension service with smile

Toasts, roasts and a community's sincere thanks marked extension agent Larry McPeters' farewell dinner Saturday night in South Boston.
McPeters told the large crowd gathered at Brightleaf Forum that his work with extension here had been "a good fit, a good mix."
It was converging state and federal retirement opportunities driven by state budget cuts that made the early retirement decision "a no brainer," he said with a smile.
Tobacco producers Don Anderson, Bobby Conner and Dub Wilkins thanked McPeters for his work, expertise and commitment to the job, but Anderson and Conner also took the opportunity to gleefully roast McPeters.
"On behalf of our heads and hearts," said Anderson, "headaches and heartburn," he added with a laugh, the farmer recognized McPeters' expertise and advice.
But on a serious note, Anderson recognized the initiation of the tobacco show, work on the tobacco buyout, McPeters economic development contributions and the 30-plus boards the extension agent served.
"We respect you, you treated us with respect," Anderson said.
Conner unleashed a humorous slide show featuring McPeters on several jaunts, but he too ended on a serious note of thanks to the extension agent.
"As far as I'm concerned Larry is tops," said W.W. "Dub" Wilkins, whose father was an extension agent. "That's how I know a good county agent when I seen one.
"My family thinks a lot of Larry. He has done a fine job and ranks as one of the top agents ...," added Wilkins.
County Administrator Joe Morgan lauded McPeters for his energy, knowledge, low key approach, diplomacy and insight.
"Initiative, diversification, creativity - all are McPeters traits," said Morgan.
"He knows the $30 million tobacco crop has been and still promises to be the mainstay of Halifax County agriculture. He emphasizes that livestock and timber are next in value returned.
"He predicts a variety of market niches are the future. He's had the courage to help test those markets," continued Morgan.
"Many here know first hand the courage required to survive the cantaloupe and broccoli co-op effort."
The county administrator told the crowd that McPeters was always searching for new ag opportunities and "the next way to bring value."
"He reminds us that 3,000 of the county's 20,000 workers earn their living in agriculture," Morgan said, noting Huber and Sunshine Mills depend on agriculture.
During the evening, McPeters was presented a county flag by Morgan, a resolution and plaque from Supervisors Tom West and James Edmunds and honored for his work with the Halifax Economic Development Council, which he formerly served as chairman.
Friends and co-workers presented McPeters a canoe and canoe gear during the evening.
McPeters closed the evening in characteristic style, both serious and with humor.
He recalled some of the controversial challenges he faced, naming the location of Huber and the Clover power plant as well as his support for commercial hog farming in Halifax County.
He thanked supervisors for their support during those years.

Speedy trial violations sets accused drug dealer free


Failure by the Halifax County prosecutor's office to try an accused person within five and one half months has resulted in the dismissal of felony drug charges against a South Boston man.
Sheron Lakee Mosely, 32, walked out of courtroom in Halifax on Friday after Judge Leslie Osborn ruled in favor of a motion by Mosely's attorney to dismiss charges against his client.
Citing Mosely's rights to a speedy trial, Halifax attorney James E. Midkiff demonstrated to the court how his client had been held continuously since January 17, 2002 (176 days) without being tried.
On June 12, 2002, Mosely appeared for trial along with one of his co-defendants but the Commonwealth was forced to move for a continuance because of the failure of key witness to appear.
South Boston Police Lieutenant B.K. Lovelace charged Mosley with one count of unlawfully and feloniously selling and distributing cocaine and a second count of conspiring to sell cocaine.
Last August, the county prosecutor's office released the then accused murderer Marquis Lovelle White on an unsecured $200,000 personal recognizance bond after his attorney Robert Morrison attempted to have charges dismissed against his client on similar grounds.
At the heart of the issue is the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that guarantees the right of the accused to a speedy trial. In Virginia, that time is 152 days.
On Thursday, a Circuit Court jury acquitted Derrick Leander Crowder, 25, of Halifax , of five felonies stemming from a June 23, 2001, drive-by shooting on College Street where two persons were wounded.
Crowder was charged with two counts of shooting and wounding Kelvin Dwayne Cameron and Quincy Eugene Moore, two felony firearms offenses and a fifth felony of discharging a firearm from motor vehicle.
Co-defendant Chevelle Crowder was earlier acquitted in the crimes.
Approximately a dozen witnesses testified for the Commonwealth.
Following his acquittal, Derrick Crowder was returned to prison to complete other sentences imposed by the Circuit Court of Petersburg. Crowder was represented by Altavista attorney Glenn Berger.
In other cases last week, Robert Lee Fallen entered an Alford plea of guilty to the charge of rape and agreed to be sentenced to 10 years (five years and six months suspended) upon conditions of his good behavior for 10 years, one year of supervised probation following his release from incarceration, and that he have no contact with the female victim in the crime.
Victor Smith, 20, of Nathalie pleaded guilty to grand larceny of $350 in currency from Mary Fears last November. A pre-sentence report was ordered for August 26 and Smith was allowed to remain free on $3,000 bond.

Durham bites Gators

Southside Virginia Gators head coach Johnnie Williams called it first game jitters.
Jeff Davis, one of the organizers of the team, called it a wakeup call.
It was a lot of both for the Southside Virginia Gators as the Raleigh/Durham Wolverines dominated the action on both sides of the ball in a 49-6 win over the Gators Saturday night in Durham, N.C. in the debut game for Halifax County's first ever semi-pro football team.
"I think a lot of it was first game jitters," said the Gators' coach after the loss.
"We went brain dead. Everybody was really hyped up, so hyped up that nobody did what they were supposed to do."
Jeff Davis, one of the organizers of the team, agreed.
"I see this as a wakeup call," said Davis.
"They got too jacked up. They lost sight of the fundamental things that the coaches put in.
"I think everybody sees now some of the things we need to work on," Davis added.
The Gators' lone score came on a 20-yard pass from quarterback Leroy Tucker to Rudy Barksdale in the second quarter.
Raleigh/Durham, which was in the Mason-Dixon League playoffs last year, had already scored four touchdowns in the second quarter and was up 35-0 at that point.
The score by the Gators made it 35-6, which was the way the first half ended.
That was one of the few highlights of the game for the Gators who had trouble moving the ball against a veteran Wolverines defense.
The other big highlight for the Gators was its second half play.
With its defense tightening the reigns, the Gators held Raleigh/Durham to just two touchdowns in the second half, one in the third period and the other coming in the fourth quarter with 8:09 left to play in the contest.
"We played football in the second half," said Williams.
"They didn't quit and I liked that. The guys settled down and came out in the second half and played a lot better than they did in the first half."
The Wolverines defense was so stifling that the Gators managed only 59 yards of total offense in the game on 22 rushes.
Of that total, the Gators got 39 yards on the ground with the other 20 yards coming on the touchdown pass to Barksdale in the second quarter.
Tucker, the Gators' quarterback, was 1-18 passing and was picked off four times.
He was also sacked four times and was pressured on several other occasions.
The Gators had only two first downs in the game and it wasn't until the third quarter that the Gators picked up their initial first down of the game.
Both of the first downs came in the third quarter and both resulted from a penalty against the Wolverines.
A lot of the offensive struggles resulted from the play of an offensive line that could only occasionally counter Durham's defensive front four.
"We've never had the whole offensive front line together at one time," said Williams.
"We've got an awful lot of work to do on the offensive line."
By comparison, Raleigh/Durham had 17 first downs in the game.
The Wolverines' passing game netted four scores as quarterback Demarrio Luccier, a former Durham Hillside High School player, fired for four strikes on the end zone, the longest of which were 24 yards and 44 yards.
Two of The touchdown passes hurled by Luccier were to Tyrone Kiaku, a former player at Southern Illinois University.
Both of the long balls came in the second quarter.
Former North Carolina Central player Demetrius Harvey scored two touchdowns for Raleigh/Durham, one on a five-yard run and the other on a four-yard burst.
"They had good field position the whole game," said Williams.
"I don't think they had a drive much over 35 yards."
One of the things that Williams didn't want to see happen was for his to be riddled with injuries on opening night.
Unfortunately, the Gators were hit with injuries at key slots.
Starting tailback Ralph Staten had to exit the game with what was believed to be a fractured finger.
Kevin Jones was injured in the fourth quarter and was taken by ambulance to a Durham, N.C. hospital with what Williams said is believed to be a separated shoulder.
Defensive player Joe May had a bruised knee.
The status of the trio for Saturday night's road game against the Carolina Heat in Burlington, N.C. won't be know until about midweek.

Obituaries

Timothy Cole


A funeral service for Timothy Cole, 70, of South Boston will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Mt. Olive Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. James M. Crowder officiating.
Burial will follow in the Prospect Hill Baptist Church.
Mr. Cole died Friday at Halifax Regional Hospital.
He was born in Halifax County on February 21, 1932, a son of the late Odelia Cole and was married to Mrs. Carolyn Younger Cole.
Mr. Cole was a member of the Prospect Hill Baptist Church. He was a former employee of Crowell Motor Company.
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Cole, one daughter, Ms. Deborah Younger of South Boston, and three sons, Jerry Thomas Cole and Clay Jervis Cole, both of South Boston, and Gregory Younger of Newark, N.J.
Also surviving are one sister, Mrs. Reathie Woody of South Boston, 11 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
The family will receive friends at the residence, 1035 Cole Trail, South Boston.


Willie Pearl Muse Dixon


Mrs. Willie Pearl Muse Dixon of Chatham Road, Halifax, died Friday, July 19 at her home.
Mrs. Dixon was born in Halifax County on May 28, 1933, and was 68 years-of-age at the time of her death.
Mrs. Dixon was the daughter of the late George Washington Muse and the late Jannie Anderson Muse and was married to the late Eddie Lewis Dixon.
She was a member of the County Line Baptist Church.
Mrs. Dixon is survived by four children; Mrs. Sandra Tucker, of Java; Al J. Dixon of Disputanta; Mrs. Angela M. Barley of Dumfries; and Kenneth S. Dixon of the home.
She is also survived by three sisters; Mrs. Lillie Mae Tucker of Halifax; Mrs. Elaine Coleman of Washington, D.C.; and Mrs. Emma Lee Bowman of Manhattan N.Y.; nine grandchildren, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Willie Pearl Muse Dixon will be held Saturday, July 27, at 2 p.m., with services at the County Line Baptist Church with Pastor Otis R. Dillard conducting the services.
Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the services and other other times at the home, 6003 Chatham Road.


Annie Pauline Powell Nelson


Annie Pauline Powell Nelson, 74, of 9620 Carolina Avenue, Virgilina, died July 19 at her home.
Mrs. Nelson was born in Halifax county on January 28, 1928, the daughter of Charlie Powell and Annie Smith Powell and was married to William Owen Nelson. She retired from Russell Stover Candy Co.
Survivors include five sons, Jimmy Owen Nelson and James Alvin Nelson, both of Virgilina, Emory Chester Nelson and Christopher Henry Nelson both of Roxboro, NC, and Richard Willis Nelson of Nelson; two daughters, Mary Nelson Powell of Virgilina and Deborah Ann Dillon of Roxboro; four sisters, Fannie Children of Halifax, Louise Hawkins of South Boston, Lorene Hatcher and Jeanette Newton, both of Scottsburg; one brother, Edward Powell of Danville; 13 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mrs. Nelson were held Sunday, July 21 at 2 p.m. at Florence Avenue Baptist Church with the Rev. Leslie Puryear officiating. Burial followed in Virgilina Cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the American Liver Foundation, North Carolina Triangle Chapter, PO Box 268, Morrisville, NC 27560.


Henry Lee Seamster


A funeral service for Henry Lee Seamster, 78, of Nathalie, will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Republican Grove with the Rev. Dr. Elwood Seamster and the Rev. Shelton Miles conducting the service.
The burial will take place in the church cemetery.
Mr. Seamster died Friday at Halifax Regional Hospital.
He was born in Halifax County on September 16, 1923, a son of Jessie J. Seamster and Mrs. Nettie Paul Clay Seamster, and was married to Virginia Pierce Seamster.
Mr. Seamster was a member of the First Baptist Church of Republican Grove.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia Seamster, two sons, Elwood Lee Seamster of Clover, S.C., and Paul Lewis Seamster of Nathalie.
Also surviving are one sister, Gracie S. Newcomb of Gretna, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family asked that you consider the First Baptist Church of Republican Grove Building Fund.