Friday, February 24, 2006

County Teen Dies From Meningitis

Despite Rumors, No Additional Cases Have Been Reported

A 17-year-old Halifax County High School student is dead after contracting bacterial meningitis earlier this week, Halifax County Public School, Halifax Regional Hospital and Virginia Department of Health officials confirmed Wednesday.
Calvin A. Brumfield, a senior and honor roll student, was admitted to the South Boston hospital at approximately 6 a.m. Tuesday and died around noon, according to Dr. William Nelson, district health director for the Virginia Department of Health.
The test to confirm the presence of meningitis was given immediately upon Brumfield’s arrival, according to hospital spokesman Donna Strange.
Despite persistent rumors to the contrary, Lori Ammons, nurse manager of the Southside Regional Health District, confirmed yesterday that no additional cases of meningitis have been reported in the county.
“We have been monitoring the situation,” she said, “and are staying in contact with the hospital. We have no additional cases of meningitis and no other deaths.
“We have heard the rumors (of additional cases/deaths), and they just aren’t true,” Ammons added.
Dean Pryor, RN, nurse manager of the hospital’s emergency department, confirmed that there have not been any additional cases of meningitis reported at Halifax Regional Hospital.
“No one has been transferred to another facility with this disease nor have any additional people presented to the emergency department with symptoms of meningitis,” he said.
Dr. Babita Patel, the physician who treated Brumfield, said the youth arrived at the hospital complaining of fever, chills, headache and was vomiting.
She said symptoms began late Monday.
Patel said test results confirming the youth died of meningitis were returned Wednesday. “But treatment began before the case was officially confirmed.”
Nelson said that only 10-12 cases of bacterial meningitis are reported annually in Virginia, but around 10 percent of those affected with the disease don’t survive.
“We almost never see a second case unless it’s where people live closely together like the military or a college,” he said.
Both school and health officials cautioned residents against panicking, but suggested parents closely monitor the condition of their children’s health.
“You won’t get it by just sitting in a room or being in close proximity,” Nelson said, adding that contact with body fluids, especially contact with discharges from the nose and throat of an infected person, is necessary to contract the disease.
Contacted yesterday, Halifax County High School Principal Albert Randolph said that while some students were absent, there was no unusual amount of absenteeism as a result of the death.
“I don’t think we’re anywhere out of the norm,” he said. “I received a few calls this morning because children were sick and parents felt the need to keep their children at home.”
The principal said that a quick response by local health officials helped assuage some of the worry in the community immediately following the news of Brumfield’s death.
“I do feel that the health department and nurses did a good job of communicating the information to the parents in the community and that helped alleviate some of their fears,” Randolph added.
According to health department officials, all close contacts of Brumfield have been identified and are receiving preventative treatment. “This isn’t a situation where blanket treatments are necessary,” Nelson said.
School Superintendent Paul Stapleton said that all parents of school children received an information packet Wednesday.
“A tragedy like this always impacts the whole community,” he said. “But we don’t want anyone to overreact or panic. The medical community has the situation under control.
“We would simply ask parents to be in tune with their children and look for symptoms,” he said.
He said the school system is working closely with the health department to ensure that every precaution is being taken.
“We are extremely saddened by the loss of this student and we extend our sympathy to the family,” he said. “We are taking this situation very seriously because this is a serious disease. Every effort will be made to provide important and accurate information our community needs.”
Randolph said the school system held group meetings with the student body to help address their fears.
“Many of the students had very valid questions and the school nurse was able to help them by giving positive responses to their questions,” he said.
According to health officials, if a child develops a fever, headache, rash, stiff neck or eye discomfort they should be evaluated immediately.
“If you have a child at home who is experiencing these symptoms – don’t wait,” Nelson said. “You need to get the child evaluated as soon as possible in order to get the treatment under way.”
Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining around the brain that is caused by bacteria, according to health officials.
For more information, contact your physician or the Halifax County Health Department at 476-4863.

 

Halifax Planning Commision
Planners Recommend New Dog Ordinance

Multiple Citizen Comments Offered, Council Will Now Address Issue

In front of a full house, the Town of Halifax Planning Commission heard feedback from eight town residents regarding its proposed changes to the town’s dog ordinances at a public hearing Wednesday.
The new language in the ordinance calls for “unlicensed dogs at large” to be changed to “dogs running at large.” There are also other changes to address destructive dogs, rabid animals and authority to order quarantine.
The penalty for violating the ordinance will be a class-one misdemeanor punishable by fine, according to Town Manager Carl Espy.
Citizens came to voice their opinions on the first section of the ordinance, “dogs running at large.”
Three residents, all of Meadow Drive, spoke against the proposed changes, saying they had an agreement to let their dogs run free on their street.
All the other speakers, representing several areas of town, weighed-in in favor of the stricter language.
Nancy Williams, of Cedar Lane, spoke first in favor of the proposed changes.
“Dogs just run all over the place,” she said. “I have rugs taken off of the front steps. Also, I feel these dogs should be tied up or fenced in the yard or whatever.”
In addition to having to clean up the messes these roaming dogs leave and the destruction of personal property like her husband’s pair of chewed up boots, Williams said there is a fear factor that roaming dogs bring to the neighborhood.
“The big thing is with kids,” she said, noting she has a 5-year-old granddaughter. “You’ve afraid to leave her out to play for fear that the dogs are going to come into the yard.”
Bobby Vernon, Phillip Lee and Elna Ruddle, all Meadow Drive residents, spoke in opposition to the proposed changes.
“We don’t have a problem,” Vernon said. “I have a little house dog, I live beside Elna Riddle and Phillip Lee, all three of us have dogs, we don’t have a problem. If the dogs make a mess we clean it up. If a strange dog comes down we look at the tags and call the owner.
“I’m against this 100 percent,” he concluded.
His neighbor Phillip Lee said that county ordinances regarding pet trespass already in place were sufficient to address destruction of property complaints.
“Anytime there is destructive activity on a person’s property that is not welcome, then the owner of that dog can be held liable for pet trespass,” Lee said. “That ordinance is in effect in the county and it applies within the Town of Halifax.
“This ordinance would penalize dogs that do not cause a problem,” he added. “As far as the dangerous or aggressive dog problem, there are ordinances in effect at this time that deal with that.”
Speaking in favor of the ordinance, resident Grace Byrne said she was nipped by a roaming dog during a walk.
During a walk on Mountain Road near Cedar Lane she said she saw a woman walking her dog with another dog following them. After speaking briefly, the woman and her dog walked off but the stray did not and turned around and bit her in the leg, she told the commissioners.
The bite did not break the skin, she said, but it did leave a bad bruise.
Other speakers echoed safety concerns and destruction of property stories before the hearing was called to a close.
Commissioner Evelyn Allocco spoke on behalf of three residents who could not attend, all supported the new ordinance.
Espy said Mountain Road resident Barbara Cage had called to get her opposition on the record.
Delbert Lester, an Oak Lane resident, responded to Cage’s opposition, “What a shock, her dogs run everywhere.”
Moore told residents all their comments and concerns would be taken into account as he closed the public hearing.
The second public hearing of the evening was opened to receive comment on proposed language changes to the town’s R-2 Residential zoning ordinance.
Several currently permitted uses in an R-2 district would be banned under the new code. Three current uses, “manufactured homes, with a special use permit,” “industrialized buildings” and “public and semi-public uses” would all be removed from the R-2 zoning language.
Manufactured homes now fall under the town’s R-1A zoning ordinance, Commissioner Tim Moore said.
After closing the public hearing commissioners debated the dog ordinance.
The new ordinance is not a lease law per se, Chairman Dick Moore said. “If it was I’d be against it.”
The ordinance calls for dogs to be under the “immediate control of its owner.”
Commissioner Frank Carr said that it was important that the new ordinance protect all citizens of the town while not being disagreeable to Council.
Commissioners voted to recommend both the dog ordinance and R-2 zoning changes to Council for their consideration.
Commissioner Parker, who also serves on Council, abstained from voting on the dog ordinance.
Also on the agenda, Dick Moore said that he and Evie Sloan of Hill Studio in Roanoke, who is helping the town with its comprehensive plan, conducted a land use field study of parcels of land throughout town.
He invited other commissioners to go with him and tour the available land in town and called the study an eye-opening experience.
“I thought I knew Halifax, I really did,” he said, noting the town has land, especially on the lake that would be ideal for development.
Lastly, the Commission agreed to hold its second comprehensive plan workshop on Thursday, March 30, at 6:30 p.m. at Halifax Elementary School.
The workshop is open to the public and citizen input is sought, commissioners said.

 

Nathalie Man Found Guilty Of Assault, Battery

A 52-year-old Nathalie man was convicted Thursday in Halifax County Circuit Court of four misdemeanor charges, two for assault and battery, one for brandishing a firearm and one for the wreckless handling of a firearm.
Judge Charles L. McCormick III convicted James Thomas Miller of two separate charges of the assault and battery of household/family members, in addition to the two firearms violations.
All four charges stemmed from an incident on April 9, 2005, according to court records.
The court sentenced Miller to one year in jail for each of the convictions, suspending all time conditioned on Miller’s good behavior for five years.
The court additionally ordered Miller to undergo alcohol and substance abuse screenings through Halifax-Pittsylvania Court Services, to have no contact with Ethel Miller and Ruby Adams, and to forfeit his firearm to the Commonwealth.
Other Court Cases
• Dale Allen Neal, 43, of South Boston, pleaded no contest Thursday to the misdemeanor stalking of Elizabeth Scott and the misdemeanor destruction of personal property belonging to Scott.
Under terms of a plea agreement, the Commonwealth nol prossed an additional indictment against Neal, one charging him with the misdemeanor assault of Scott.
The court sentenced Neal to one year in prison each for the two convictions, suspending all time conditioned on Neal’s good behavior for two years, beginning immediately.
In addition, the court ordered Neal not to enter the Scott property or have any contact with Scott or her family for two years.
• Dean Jeffrey Palmer, 34, of South Boston, was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison, with all but one year suspended, for a fourth or subsequent offense of DUI.
The court ordered the suspended portion of Palmer’s sentence be conditioned on his good behavior for five years, revoked his operator’s license indefinitely, and ordered him to pay a $1,000 fine.
In a separate case, the court additionally revoked three months of Palmer’s previously suspended prison sentence for a probation violation.
• Winfred Earl Simon Jr., 49, of Scottsburg, entered an Alford plea Thursday to an indictment charging him with cocaine possession.
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.
Judge McCormick found evidence sufficient to convict Simon, but withheld its finding of guilt, placing Simon on first offender status and continuing the case for one year.
During that time, the court ordered Simon to abstain from alcohol and illegal drugs, submit to random drug tests, obtain employment, perform 100 hours of community service, and undergo a substance abuse treatment program through the probation department.
The court also suspended Simon’s operator’s license for six months.
• Angela H. Culley, 34, of Chase City, was convicted Thursday of attempting to defeat a drug or alcohol screening.
The court ordered a one-year suspended sentence for Culley conditioned on her good behavior for two years, beginning immediately, and ordered her to pay a $200 fine.

 

Springing Into Action

Practice And Try-Outs Began This Week For HCHS, HCMS Spring Sports Teams

Don’t blame Halifax County High School and Halifax County Middle School students who are vying for positions on the various spring sports teams if they appear to be a little nervous today.
Today is cut day for a handful of the teams and coaches that do not conclude paring down their teams will likely do so Monday.
Most of the coaches have difficult choices to make as the pools of players vying for spots on the various teams have been large and the talent level has been good.
There is also a handful of new coaches on the spring sports scene this season, especially on the junior varsity level.
Dennis Seamster is the new head coach of the Comets junior varsity girls softball team and Jenny Armistead is the assistant coach. K.B. Young and Jessica Rose have taken over the helm of the Comets junior varsity girls soccer team.
Lisa Holmes Saunders is the new assistant coach for the Comets girls tennis team and will work with head coach Greg Donner. Also Alexander Aguilar is the new assistant coach for the Comets varsity boys soccer team and will work with head coach Frank Shealy.
The lineup of track coaches at Halifax County High School will be the same as it was for the indoor track season with Ralph Robinson being the head coach of the boys team and Lewis Watson and Lori Wilkerson coaching the Comets girls track team.
On the varsity baseball front, Comets head coach Kelvin Davis was greeted by 26 players that included a smattering of freshmen and sophomores.
“This year’s group is a bigger group than we had last year,” Davis pointed out.
“It’s a good group of players and I’m pleased with the numbers we have. Baseball has a big tradition in Halifax County and it’s good to see so many guys that are interested in our program.”
Davis said he saw some good things right off the bat when the players got onto the field for the first time on Tuesday.
“We saw some good things and we saw things that we need to work on,” Davis pointed out.
“We had a good day Tuesday and were able to accomplish everything we wanted to do. We’re going to give everybody an equal chance to show what they can do.”
Comets head varsity softball coach Melanie Saunders saw 31 players come out to compete for spots on the varsity and junior varsity team.
“I was pleased with the turnout,” Saunders said.
“We lost seven starters from last year, but all of our varsity pitchers from last year return this season. We have a lot of positions to fill, but we got a lot of kids from the middle school team of last year to come out.
“As far as conditioning goes,” Saunders continued, “you can tell who has worked on their conditioning. We’re working to get our timing down and out bats ready to go, and we have some scrimmages against some good teams to get us ready. The kids will get a chance to see the level of competition we’ll face this year.”
The Comets soccer teams also saw a good number of players come out with 31 players battling for spots on the varsity and junior varsity team rosters.
“We’re looking pretty good, but a little rusty, and that’s to be expected,” Shealy pointed out.
“We have some speed and ball handling skills and I think we’ll be pretty competitive this year.”
Sid Young, who returns at the helm of the Comets varsity girls team, said that 44 players came out to compete for places on the varsity and junior varsity team rosters.
“What we will likely do is keep 18 players on each team,” Young said.
As a result, he said some players are likely to face being cut. That, he said is a little different than last year.
“We didn’t cut anybody last year,” he pointed out.
“We had five or six that quit because of the conditioning that they had to go through.”
This year’s group of players, Young said, is a fairly experienced group.
“It’s one of the more experienced groups that we’ve had,” he pointed out.
“We have four seniors that played on the team last year back, we have five or six juniors that played last year back and a large number of tenth-graders that were on the jayvee team last year that are starting their third year in the program. We also have a few upperclassmen who have come out that have not played before.”
Young said the girls have worked hard this week and that cuts will likely be made today or Monday.
“Losing Monday hurt us a little bit,” he said.
“We’re going to be fair to everybody and give everybody a chance. But, we need to go ahead and choose the teams and get started with practice. We have a lot of work to do in a short period of time.”
Comets junior varsity baseball coaches Shawn Torian and Mike Lewis were greeted by 29 players on Tuesday when workouts began and are facing the task of having to pare down their squad.
Torian said cuts would come either today or Monday, depending upon circumstances they encounter.
The players, Torian said, have been very enthusiastic.
“They’ve got that baseball fever,” Torian noted.
“We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.”
Seamster, the junior varsity girls softball coach, said the opening of practice went well for his group.
Fortunately, Seamster is in a position where he likely will not have to make cuts.
“I’ve got 15 players, so I don’t have to make any cuts,” he pointed out.
“There is good enthusiasm and the talent level is pretty good. We had a good first day. All of the girls show good potential.”

 

Former Comets Player Is Now Head Baseball Coach At Craig County

Chris Conner Leads Program In Group A Pioneer District

Chris Conner has played and coached a lot of baseball during his lifetime, starting with the area youth baseball leagues and continuing as a player with the Halifax County High School, Ferrum College and Averett University baseball programs.
Conner, former coach for both the Halifax County Collegiate and South Boston American Legion Post 8 baseball teams, now has a new challenge as head baseball coach for Craig County High School.
Craig County, a Group A school and member of the Pioneer District, is located about 30 minutes west of Roanoke, according to Conner, who got wind of the opening from a former Halifax County teacher.
“I found out about a teaching position at the middle school in Craig County, and when I got there, John Looney, a former teacher in Halifax County, was already there teaching,” said Conner.
Looney, originally from that area, told Conner the previous baseball coach had left and that he had taken the position. Looney further told Conner that he had second thoughts about taking the job and wanted to spend more time with his family.
“I talked to him about it and pretty much took the position then,” explained Conner, who has been head coach since November.
Craig County High School, with 250-300 students in grades 9-12, presents a unique coaching challenge for Conner, one he has already tackled.
“We have so many kids playing different sports, and six out of my eight returning players play two if not three sports. It’s a challenge to keep them interested,” said Conner.
The rural nature of Craig County has its benefits, he added.
“There’re not many diversions here, so they play sports and it keeps them off the streets and out of trouble.
“Little League baseball has been here, and Dixie baseball has started up this year. And, the Craig County football and basketball teams have both been competitive this year, having their best seasons in the past several years.
Conner expects his senior-dominated team to be a force this spring in the Pioneer District, which includes Covington, James River, Highland County and Bath County.
“I inherited a good program,” began Conner.
“Craig County usually plays for the district title each year, and I have about 15 players this year, eight of whom are seniors.
“One is Brandon Fisher, a Division I prospect,” noted Conner.
“He’s a shortstop and pitcher, and he throws in the low 90s. I also have Sean Looney (John Looney’s son), at second base, and our leadoff batter, the center fielder, is another three-year player.
“I think I have the top three pitchers in the district on my staff.”
Conner will benefit from the experience of his assistant coach, Dallas Fisher, a long-time sports fixture in the area.
“He played a little professional baseball, and he’s been in baseball about 40-50 years. He’s a sports hall of famer in the Roanoke area and knows all the teams,” said Conner.
“I’ll learn as much from him as anyone.”
Conner, the son of Mickey and Martha Conner, said his dad probably influenced him as much as anyone when it came to coaching.
“He helped me a lot with the American Legion team and he was the collegiate coach for awhile,” said Conner.
“He played some ball, but most of what he knows he’s read about and watched over the years.
“There’s no telling how many game tapes he has at home. When I was in high school, we brought a batting cage and he worked with me in that.
“He’s probably the biggest influence I’ve had,” continued Conner. “I’ve taken the best things from him and all the other coaches I’ve had and combined them all.
Conner said the experience gained while coaching in Halifax County has prepared him for his new position, and added he was eager to get started.
The Rockets open their season at home March 14 against Giles County.
“My past experience has prepared me for this, I was excited to start and I knew what to expect.
“We had good turnouts for weight lifting and conditioning prior to tryouts and I didn’t have to make any cuts.
“The big thing is to get the respect of the kids, and if that happens they’ll do anything you ask them to do in return.”

 

VIR Joins Forces With HMSA For Gold Cup Historics

VIRginia International Raceway’s signature vintage racing event, the Gold Cup Invitational Historic Races, will benefit from a new partnership between the track and one of America’s most renowned vintage racing sanctioning bodies.
VIR has joined forces with the California-based Historic Motor Sports Association (HMSA), which produces some of the best vintage and historic races in America, to take the Gold Cup Invitational Historic Races to the next level.
“We’re very pleased with the development of the Gold Cup Invitational Historic Races to date,” said VIR co-owner Harvey Siegel, “but we want to grow the event into the top echelon of vintage racing events in America, and that requires more entrants and more historically significant cars. HMSA has the ability to help achieve both those goals, and we look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship.
“At the same time, however, while we are seeking more historically significant cars for the Gold Cup, by no means do we want to discourage any of our previous participants from returning. All of our previous participants are invited to remain part of the Gold Cup family, and we hope they will join with us to help the Gold Cup Invitational Historic Races realize their full potential.”
HMSA is one of the most respected historic racing organizations in the United States, producing world-class spectator events across the country. HMSA members own, restore, preserve and race the most historic and valuable sports and racing cars in the world. Their events feature historic production cars built through 1966 and purpose-built Formula, Sports Racing and IMSA cars built through 1984.
HMSA was created in 1977 to serve as the sanctioning body for premiere historic racing events such as the world-famous Monterey Historic Automobile Races and remains the only organization to mandate the cars race as they were and not what they could have been (historically correct within the time period the car originally raced).
Other HMSA spectator events include the Jefferson 500 at Summit Point, W.Va., May 19-21, and the 30th Annual Portland Historic Races, July 7-9. HMSA also runs club events for its members, including the exclusive and limited-membership club Targa Sixty-Six.
“VIR is one of America’s most beautiful racing facilities,” said HMSA president Cris Vandagriff, “and a perfect setting for a vintage race. It is one of the most challenging road courses in the United Stares, if not the world, and the type of facility our members should all experience. We’re looking forward to working with the VIR staff to build the Gold Cup Invitational Historic Races into one of America’s premiere vintage events, and to introducing many of our members to this wonderful and historic venue.”
The seventh annual Gold Cup Invitational Historic Races are scheduled for the weekend of June 9-11. This year’s event will pay tribute to the racing cars of Germany. German manufacturers have played a major role in the history of motorsport, and the names Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Porsche are all synonymous with racing excellence.
Historic examples of each will be on hand for the weekend, along with a variety of vintage racing machinery running the gamut from MGs, Triumphs and Lotus to Ferraris, Maseratis and Alfa Romeos to the sports racers and fire-breathing American muscle cars of the 1960s and ‘70s. Off-track activities will include the fifth annual Gold Cup Car Show, which will take place on Saturday, June 10, plus car corrals and parties. Entry forms for participants are available at www.vir-goldcup.com.
For more information on VIR, visit the track’s website at www.virclub.com or telephone 434-822-7700. For more information on HMSA, visit their website at www.hmsausa.com or telephone 818-249-3515. For further information on the Gold Cup Invitational Historic Races, a new website has been established for fans and participants at www.vir-goldcup.com.

 

Obituaries

Calvin Anthony Brumfield
Calvin Anthony Brumfield, 17, of 2078 Cole Lane, Scottsburg, died February 21, 2006, at Halifax Regional Hospital. He was born September 8, 1988, in Halifax County, the son of Jennifer Williams Clay and her husband, Len Clay, and Garvis Calvin Brumfield Sr. He was a senior at Halifax County High School.
Survivors include his mother and her husband of Scottsburg; his father of Arrington; four sisters, Ashley Diane Clay and Kimberly Faye Clay, both of Scottsburg, Ruby Michelle Brumfield and Tabatha Brumfield, both of Lynchburg; two brothers, Marty Brooks Brumfield of Lynchburg and Garvis Calvin Brumfield Jr. of Arrington; one stepsister, Brooke Clay of Alton; two stepbrothers, James Clay of Alton and Cody Clay of Cluster Springs; his paternal grandfather, Ollie Brumfield of Clover; his maternal grandparents, Gladys Brumfield of Scottsburg and Monroe Eugene Williams of Danville; and four special friends, Jannie Walker, Livian Lloyd, A.J. Briggs and Jesse Traynham. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandmother, Ruby Clay; and his maternal step-grandmother, Betty Williams.
Funeral services will be held at Ash Avenue Baptist Church tomorrow, February 25, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. John Eure officiating. Burial will follow at Ellis Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home this evening, Februry 24, from 7:00 until 9:00, and other times at his home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider a charity of choice.

William Owens Cameron
William Owens Cameron, 58, of South Carolina, formerly of Halifax County, died February 16, 2006.
Mr. Cameron was born March 19, 1947, to Gracie Cameron and was married to Odelsia Prioleau Cameron.
Survivors include his wife; four children, William Cameron and wife, Wendie, Donna Cameron, Keidra White and husband, Lawrence, and Quentin J. Cameron; his mother; three sisters, Brenda Noell, Virginia Logan and husband, Garland, and Dora Burdine and husband, Robert; one brother, Joe ‘Teddy’ Cameron; and five grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mr. Cameron were held February 20, at 1 p.m. at Milligan’s Funeral Home Chapel. Burial followed in Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery in Alrin, S.C.

De’Shari Lamar Chambers
Infant De’Shari Lamar Chambers of Lynchburg died February 21, 2006, in Richmond.
He is survived by his parents, Diawania Herndon and Larvell Chambers, both of Lynchburg; grandparents, Patricia Jackson of Madison heights, Darlene Chambers of Md., Raymond Jennings of Nathalie, and Eddie Chambers of Philadelphia, Pa.; and two great-grandparents, Estelle Waller of Long Island and Hayward Chambers of Nathalie.
Funeral services for Infant Chambers will be held tomorrow, February 25, at 11 a.m. at the chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Brookneal, with burial in Second Buffalo Baptist Church Cemetery, Nathalie.
Condolences may be emailed to Jeffressfh@aol.com

Josephine Brown Diallo
Josephine Brown Diallo, 100, of Nathalie, died at her home.
Mrs. Diallo was born in Halifax County on March 25, 1905, the daughter of Bennie R. Brown and Ella Wheeler Brown. She was a member of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.
Survivors include two sisters, Madeline Brown Wolfe of Nathalie and Carol Mjaanes of South Boston; and one sister-in-law, Sygnora Brown.
Memorial services will be held tomorrow, February 25, at 2 p.m. at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church with the Rev. Traynham officiating.

Mary Willie Younger Holt
Mary Willie Younger Holt, 90, of Hodges Street, Nathalie, died February 20, 2006, at Danville Regional Medical Center.
Mrs. Holt was born in Halifax County on October 24, 1915, to the late Rev. Beverly Younger and Annie D. Chandler Younger, and was married to the late Jack Holt. She was a member of Crystal Hill Baptist Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Mary C. Holt of Alexandria; two sons, William H. Holt of Blairs and Fredrick Holt of Clinton, Md.; one sister, Marion Jordan of South Boston; one brother, Jesse Younger of Geneva, N.Y.; four grandchildren; and two daughters-in-law, Brenda Holt and LaVerne Holt. Mrs. Holt was preceded in death by one son, Charles Wayne Holt.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, February 25, at noon at Crystal Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. Louis S. Leigh officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Viewing will be at Crawford House Chapel today, February 24, from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Bessie Coleman Powell
Bessie Coleman Powell, 80, of 1140 Allen Trail, Scottsburg, died February 22, 2006, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Powell was born in Halifax County on February 3, 1926, to the late Edward Coleman and Kitty Tucker Coleman, and was married to Earnest E. Powell Sr. She was a member of St. Matthew Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Louise Staten and husband, Glasco, of New Haven, Conn. and Kitty Coleman of Scottsburg; three sons, Earnest E. Powell Jr. and Tony Powell and wife, Cynthia, of Scottsburg, and Nathaniel Powell and wife, Claudette, of Randolph; one brother, Edward Coleman of Greensboro, N.C.; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; three sisters-in-law, Louise Lewis, Sally Yancey and Dorothy Shaw, all of Baltimore, Md.; two brothers-in-law, Cecil Powell of South Boston and George Samuel Powell of Scottsburg. Mrs. Powell was preceded in death by one sister, Theresa C. Ferrell.
Funeral services will be held February 26, at 2 p.m. at St. Matthew Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Whitfield Scott officiating. Burial will follow in the Powell Family Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Jeffress Funeral Home Chapel in South Boston tomorrow evening, February 25, from 6:00 until 7:00, and other times at the home.