First Baptist To Celebrate 125 Years

Dr. Mark Olson will be the guest minister Sunday when First Baptist Church celebrates its 125th Anniversary.
Olson served as pastor of the South Boston church from 1990-1996.
Immediately following the service, there will be a reception and covered dish luncheon in the fellowship hall followed by dedication of the church’s new playground. The Rev. Ralph Harrell will entertain the congregation with an accordion performance prior to the playground dedication.
During the anniversary celebration there also will be a display of historic documents and photographs associated with the church, including minutes from 1920’s business meetings, old newspapers and records buried in the cornerstone of the church’s second sanctuary dedicated in 1924 and a collection of photographs, according to church historian Pam Smith.
Leading up to Sunday’s celebration, two other former ministers of the church have been Sunday morning guest speakers. They were Dr. Curtis Finch, who served the church from 1981-1989, and Dr. Ray Pollard, 1975-1980.
History of First Baptist Church
In the year 1876, South Boston was a bustling town of a few stores, three tobacco warehouses, and one small Methodist Church.
Robert Hunter Beazley arrived in town with his wife and four children to make South Boston their home. He had left Manchester, Va., where he had worked in mercantile and boot making and had been Clerk of the Hustings Court of Manchester.
Two years later, Beazley felt the need for a place to worship so he started a Baptist Sunday School Class that met in the four-room schoolhouse on Jeffress Street. The classes became so crowded that they had to meet under the trees in the back of the school (near the end of the present church parking lot). In the colder months the Presbyterian Church was letting them use their church one Sunday a month.
In 1881, a lot was purchased from Captain E.B. Jeffress, who is considered the founder of South Boston. Beazley and his group of dedicated followers went to churches in this county and in North Carolina asking for contributions to establish a church. Dabney Cosby Jr., who built the Courthouse in Halifax, built the first building, a 40 x 60 foot structure.
The South Boston Baptist Church was organized on April 29, 1882 with 27 members. The first pastor was the Rev. George W. Beale. In 1895 the enrollment of the church was 166 and they needed more space. The old building was remodeled and an auditorium was added. In 1920 a parsonage was built next door to the church. In July 1923, the church voted to change the name of the church to The First Baptist Church. On Sept.7, 1924, the first service was held in the beautiful new sanctuary that included stained glass windows donated by members of the church.
From 1882 to 1930 the church had 10 pastors. In 1930 Rev. Frank Riley Sr. accepted the call to be church’s pastor and served for 20 years. One of the darkest days of the church’s history happened on Feb. 10, 1936. About one hour after church was over, the Sunday School building caught fire. The Sunday School building and the sanctuary were badly damaged. Rev. Riley was burned trying to save what he could from the buildings. The damage was repaired and in doing so, the “Good Shepherd” stained glass window was added to the sanctuary.
Dr. H. Walton Connelly was the pastor from 1951-1957. During that time the church helped with the organization of the present Ash Avenue Baptist Church and built the first lodge at Eagle Eyrie.
From 1957 until 1975, Dr. W. Franklin Cale was the pastor. During his long pastorate a new, three-story education building was built. The First Baptist Weekday School, The Downtown Friendship Mission and The Good Samaritan Clothing Closet were started.
When Dr. Ray Pollard became pastor in 1975, a committee was formed to look into the needs of the sanctuary. Because of fire damage, the building was not safe and a new one would have to be built. The organ pipes and the stained glass windows were moved to the new sanctuary and the old building was razed. The new sanctuary was dedicated Feb. 10, 1980.
Since 1980, Dr. Curt Finch, Dr. Mark Olson, Rev. Bob Fox and Dr. Tim Cannon have been pastors of the church.

VIPER

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research announces the grand opening ceremony of VIPER (Virginia Institute for Performance Engineering and Research) today at 4:15 p.m. at its new facility at the Virginia Motorsports Technology Park at Virginia International Raceway.
Dignitaries from Southside Virginia, including state Sen. Charles Hawkins and U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode, will join representatives from VIPER and its partners in celebrating the grand opening of the research and test facility. VIPER is a partnership among IALR, Virginia Tech, Old Dominion University, and VIR.
“VIPER was conceived as a means of strengthening this region’s economy by leveraging existing regional motorsports assets,” according to IALR Executive Tim Franklin. “The partnership of Halifax County and other key contributors with VIPER represents a regional effort that synergistically combines the best resources to produce a significant economic impact.”
Under construction since the fall of 2005, the facility opens it doors this weekend to the public with two open houses set for Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
On display will be the 8-post vehicle test rig developed by Moog-FCS, a supplier of high-performance control systems for military and industrial applications. Moog-FCS personnel, along with representatives from racing teams and other industry players, will be in attendance at weekend events. Also on display will be a Roehrig shock dynamometer; a driving simulator will be available to qualified drivers on a first come, first served basis.
The VIPER building, which cost more than $1.4 million, provides state-of-the-art labs and testing equipment to be used by full-time mechanical engineering faculty and resident Virginia Tech graduate students to provide a variety of world class test assets.
The facility was designed by Eden & Associates of Martinsville, with construction by Blair Construction Inc., of Gretna.
Steve Southward, Viper technical director, says, “These are exciting times for both the motorsports industry and Southside Virginia as the Virginia Motorsports Alley expands. VIPER is dedicated to providing engineering test services to the industry which will ultimately promote growth and prosperity in the regional economy.”
The Danville Trolley will be providing free shuttle service to the VIPER building from the designated VIR parking areas during the event.

 

Obituaries

Helen Virginia Mitter Bacon
Helen Virginia Mitter Bacon, 72, of Philadelphia, PA, formerly of Charlotte County, died April 23, 2007, at Golden Living Center-Stenton, Philadelphia.
Mrs. Bacon was born in South Hill January 27, 1935, to Lula Watkins Mitter and the late Clarence Mitter. She was affiliated with Bright and Morning Star Baptist Church in Philadelphia. She was a retiree of General Electric.
Ms. Bacon was preceded in death by her father, one sister and two brothers.
Survivors include one son, Johnny Bacon and wife, Iva, of Williamsport, PA; five daughters, Linda Jones and husband, Abdul, Jackie Bacon and Ginger Bacon, all of Philadelphia, Regina Lee and husband, James, and Debra Ellis and husband, Donald, all of Williamsport, PA; 16 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild; her mother of Saxe; two brothers, Charlie Mitter of Baltimore, MD and Clifton Mitter of Philadelphia; two sisters, Louise Scott of Rocky Mount, N.C. and Nell Harris, and husband, Curtis, of Saxe.
Funeral services for Ms. Bacon will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow, April 28, at the chapel of Giles-Harris Funeral Home in Chase City with the Rev. Marvin Harris officiating. Burial will follow in Mount Mitchell Baptist Church Cemetery, Drakes Branch.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.harrisfhc.com
Berta Murphy Farmer
Berta Murphy Farmer, 81, of South Boston died April 25, 2007, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Farmer was born February 19, 1926, in Halifax County to the late Ernest Murphy and the late Eva Wilborn Murphy, and was married to the late Henry Scott Farmer. She was a charter member of South Boston Church of God.
Survivors include one son, Ronnie Hayes of Halifax; one daughter, Carolyn Conner of South Boston; three sisters, Anna M. Blanks of Alton, Marie M. Garrett of Martinsville, and Margaret Edwards of Arden, N.C.; three grandsons, Timothy Conner of South Boston, Ronnie Hayes Jr. and Michael Johns, both of Halifax; and one granddaughter, Michelle Johns of Halifax.
One brother, Watson C. Murphy, also preceded Mrs. Farmer in death.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, April 28, at 3 p.m. at South Boston Church of God with Dr. Bruce Hagy officiating. Burial will follow in Halifax Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends this evening, April 27, from 7 until 9 at South Boston Church of God and other times at the home of Anna Blanks, 11149 Philpott Road, Alton.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider South Boston Church of God, 3000 Halifax Road, South Boston, 24592.
Online condolences may be sent to brooksfh@earthlink.net
Dorsey Lee Daniel
Dorsey Lee Daniel, 91, of 1817 Chamberlain Street, South Boston died April 26, 2007, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Daniel was born in Pittsylvania County January 8, 1916, the son of the late Joseph Albert Daniel and Bertha Lee Griffin Daniel and was married first to Virginia Franklin Daniel then to Mildred Solomon Daniel. He was a member of Centerville Baptist Church, American Legion Post 8, VFW Post 8243, WOW Camp #106, and a Veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife; two step-daughters, Debra Solomon Girotti and husband, Tom, of Staunton, and Betty Lou Solomon of Greenville, S.C.; four step-grandchildren, Micha Girotti and wife, Elizabeth, of Charlottesville, Hannah Girotti, Jonathan Girotti and Sarah Girotti, all of Staunton; and one sister-in-law, Thelma Daniel of South Boston.
Two sisters, Eva Daniel and Ruby Arrington; and two brothers, Martin Franklin Daniel and Harry Wilson Daniel, also preceded Mr. Daniel in death.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, April 28, at 2 p.m. at Centerville Baptist Church with the Rev. Richard Saunders officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery with Military Rites.
The family will receive friends this evening, April 27, from 7:00 until 8:30, at Powell Funeral Home and other times at the home.

Howard Grinnan
Howard Grinnan, 80, of 1078 Lacks Town Road, Clover died April 24, 2007, at Medical College of Virginia Hospital in Richmond.
Mr. Grinnan was born in Halifax County July 9, 1926, to the late William Grinnan and Adlissa Grinnan and was married to Corinne Lacks Grinnan. He was a member of St. Matthew Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife of the home; three sons, Clinton Alphonso Grinnan of South Boston, Lester Gerald Grinnan of Beacon, N.Y., and Robin Terry Grinnan of Baltimore, Md.; one brother, Shirley Grinnan; two sisters, Sadie Sturdivant and Marie Heard; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three daughters-in-law, Sherry Grinnan of New York, Gloria Grinnanof Chase City and Karen Grinnan-Jenkins of Rio Rancho, NM; and one sister-in-law, Eliza Scott.
Funeral services for Mr. Grinnan will be held tomorrow, April 28, at 4 p.m. at St. Matthew Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Whitfield Scott officiating. Burial will follow in the Lacks Family Cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home.

Frank Traynham
Frank Traynham, 56, of West Haven, Conn., formerly of Halifax County, died April 23, 2007, at New Haven Hospital.
Mr. Traynham was born in Halifax County on November 12,m 1950, to Lottie Jones Traynham and the late Bennie Traynham. He was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church.
His survivors include his mother of Clover; one sister, Hattie T. Britton of Clover; four brothers, Roy Traynham of Crystal Hill, Howard Jones of Baltimore, Md., Walter Traynham and Rickey Traynham, both of New Haven; three grandchildren; four sisters-in-law; one brother-in-law; and a devoted friend, Lucy Robinson of New Haven.
One daughter, Twyanna Nixon; two sisters, Viola Traynham and Elnora Traynham; and three brothers, Roger, William and James Traynham, preceded Mr. Traynham in death.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, April 28, at 2 p.m. at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Nathalie with the Rev. Ronald Claiborne officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Britton, 5118 Newbill School Road, Clover.

Wayne Edward Hoy
Wayne Edward Hoy, 67, died April 25, 2007.
He is survived by his wife, Elsie Covington Hoy; two children and their spouses, Hunter Wayne Hoy and wife, Donna K. and Jo Ellen H. Gray and husband, George W.; two brothers, Terry H. Hoy and Thomas L. Hoy; four grandchildren, Taylor Hoy, Chad Hoy, Chase Gray, and Hailey Hoy.
Mr. Hoy was a retired school teacher and coach for the Henrico County School System. He also served as director of Kanawha Recreation Association, was a member of Tuckahoe Masonic Lodge No. 347, the Scottish Rite Bodies, and also ACCA Temple Shrine (Klowns Unit).
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, April 28, at 11 a.m. at the West Chapel of Bennett Funeral Home, Richmond. Burial will follow at Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, 3551 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19140.

Judy Harris Warren
Judy Harris Warren, 80, of Roxboro, N.C. died April 24, 2007, at Duke University Medical Center.
Mrs. Warren was born in Halifax County March 12, 1927, to the late Elijah Harris and Amanda Pointer Harris, and was married to the late Weldon U. Warren. She was a member of St. Mark Baptist Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Ruby Rogers of Roxboro, N.C.; two sons, Cecil L. Harris and Lawrence L. Harris, both of Roxboro; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one daughter-in-law, Jacqueline Harris.
Two sisters, Ruth Royster and Berta Mitchell; seven brothers, Willie, Elijah, Richard, Ralph, Claude, Grant and John Harris, preceded Mrs. Warren in death.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, April 28, at 11 a.m. at St. Mark Baptist Church with the Rev. Herbert Pettiford officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home.

Power Surge

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
Halifax County High School baseball coach Kelvin Davis has seen his players hit balls all over Comets Field in practice – and sometimes out of it.
Tuesday night, he saw his team do it when it counted – in a Western Valley District game here against Patrick Henry.
The Comets, with 11 hits, including a booming solo homer by Allen Stephens in the third inning and a three-run round-tripper by Tony Barbour in the fourth inning, blanked PH 10-0 in a game stopped after five innings under a slaughter rule.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Davis after the win that improved his team to 9-5 overall and 2-1 in district play.
“We’re so pleased to see this because we see guys hitting the ball out of the park and all around the park in practice. It’s good to see it come to reality.”
Stephens, Barbour, and Justin Jacobs led the Comets’ offensive attack with two hits each. Justin Bagbey, hurler Kyle Long, Joey Rogers, Patrick Currie and Eric Brandon each had one hit.
The Comets also took advantage of six walks given up by Patrick Henry pitchers.
Kyle Long had a solid evening on the mound, fanning nine Patriots batters while yielding five hits and three walks while the Comets’ defense played errorless ball.
After forcing the Patriots to strand two runners on the sacks in the bottom of the first inning, the Comets took a 1-0 lead with a leadoff single by Barbour and a two-out double from Stephens that plated Barbour.
For the second straight inning, of forcing the Patriots (3-4 overall, 0-2 district) to strand a pair of runners, the Comets scored, this time with a one-out bunt single by Kyle Long and a two-out triple by Currie, to make the score 2-0.
Stephens’ solo homer in the third inning put the Comets up 3-0. Barbour’s three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning and an unearned run that the Comets scored later in the inning when Billy Joe Garrett scampered home on a passed ball put Halifax County up 7-0.
The Comets put the game away with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning with Rogers, Michael Ferrell and Brandon doing the honors with the help of run-scoring hits from Bagbey and Jacobs.
“This is what we wanted,” Davis pointed out.
“We wanted to come out and explode and get some runs and let Kyle do what he does best.”
The explosiveness of Stephens’ homer, one of the longest-hit balls to sail out of Comets Field in quite awhile, was no surprise to Davis.
“The kid’s got unbelievable power,” Davis said of Stephens.
“He’s finally getting a grip on how to hit. He’s going to be an amazing hitter once he realizes the tools he has. The kid is so strong. His wrists are really strong. He’s a big talent for us.”
The game was a good overall effort for the Comets who had struggled against GW last Friday in Danville.
“It was a good overall effort from everyone,” Davis said.
“That’s what we need as a team.”
The Comets are idle tonight but will be back in action in a pair of Western Valley District games. Halifax County will go on the road to face Franklin County on Tuesday and will face E.C. Glass in Lynchburg on Friday.

Lady Comets Fall To Rockets For First Loss Of Season

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
The Comets varsity softball team saw its 13-game winning streak to start the season come to an end with a 6-3 loss at Person High Wednesday.
Halifax held a 2-1 lead after two innings, but Person scored three runs in the third and two in the fifth for a 6-2 advantage.
The Comets added their final run in the seventh, but a strikeout ended the game with the tying runs aboard.
Key Ferrell (double), Lashunda Davis and Liz Trickey led the Comets with two base hits apiece, Ally Thompson had an RBI double and Betty Rose added a RBI base hit, while Stephanie Clark finished with one base hit.
Clark reached base on an infield single and Davis reached base on an error in the first inning to give Halifax a 1-0 lead, and the Comets added another in the top of the second when Paige Rickman reached base on an infield error and scored on Thompson’s double. Thompson was out trying for third base, and Ferrell followed with a double, but was stranded at second.
Person plated one run in the bottom of the second on a single and double to cut it to 2-1. Halifax responded with a one-out single by Trickey and two-out single by Davis in the third inning, but Trickey was thrown out trying for third base on the play.
A two-out rally gave Person three runs and the lead in the bottom of the third, three base hits and a double giving the Rockets a 4-2 advantage.
Person added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth on four base hits, the Comets getting an out at home to stop one potential run and getting another force on a fielder’s choice at home plate.
The Comets tried to rally with two outs in their last at-bat, Clark reaching base, Trickey hitting a single and Rose reaching base on a ground ball that hit Trickey after going past the Person infielder, scoring Clark to make it 6-3.
A strikeout with the tying runs on base ended the game.
Clark started the game for Halifax, pitching the first four innings, allowing five runs on six hits, while striking out three batters. Rickman came on with two on and no outs in the fifth inning and finished the game for the Comets.
HaIifax 7, Patrick Henry 0
The Comets varsity softball team made it three wins in a row in the Western Valley District and 13 overall for the season with a 7-0 shutout of Patrick Henry in Roanoke Tuesday.
Lashunda Davis smacked a solo home run for Halifax and Heather Hudson finished with two base hits and an RBI, while Emily New belted a two-run double.
Liz Trickey had a RBI single for the Comets, and Betty Rose, Stephanie Clark (double), Key Ferrell and Ally Thompson added base hits in support of a one-hitter tossed by Paige Rickman.
The Comets struck for three runs in both the second and third innings to grab a 6-0 lead, and Davis hit her solo homer in the sixth inning for the final run of the game.
The second inning rally began when Ferrell hit a one-out single and advanced on a passed ball. Hudson reached on an error, Thompson drew a two-out walk, Davis reached on an error and Trickey hit her RBI single.
Ferrell, Hudson and Thompson scored to make it 3-0 and the Comets added three more runs on four hits the next inning.
Clark hit a one-out double to start the rally and Ferrell walked. Hudson hit a RBI single and stole second before New doubled home two more runs.
Thompson singled and stole second to put runners at second and third. A flyout and groundout ended the inning with Halifax ahead 6-0.
The Comets added three more hits the final three innings, Davis with a solo homer and Rose with a single in the sixth, and Hudson with a two-out single in the seventh.
That made it 7-0, more than enough for Rickman and the Comets’ defense.
The sophomore right-hander allowed one hit, a fourth inning single, while striking out 12 batters and walking none.
Only two other Patriots reached base in the game on two-out errors in the fourth and seventh innings.
The Comets have three games next week, here Monday against Heritage, followed by road games at Franklin County and E.C. Glass.

A Tale Of Two Halves

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
It was a tale of two halves.
In the first of Tuesday night’s Western Valley District game against Patrick Henry, the Comets could seemingly do little right, giving up three goals, managing to get off only two shots and committing three fouls including one in the box.
The second half was a different story.
Halifax County played a much better half, held the Patriots scoreless and had more on-goal shots. Unfortunately, the Comets didn’t score either and the problems they encountered in the first half left them on the short end of a 3-0 score.
“We played with a much more team effort in the second half and possessed the ball a little better,” said Comets coach Frank Shealy.
“We really picked it up in the second half. I told our guys after the game they can play with those guys (PH). They move the ball a little better than we do and they move off of the ball real well but we can too.”
The first half was a nightmare for Shealy and the Comets.
PH scored its first goal at the 5:30 mark of the first half and added another at the 12-minute mark to take a 2-0 lead. Another goal, that one at the 26-minute mark, left the Comets trailing by the eventual 3-0 final score.
It was a tough half for the Comets as they were out shot 18-2, were behind 2-0 in corner kicks and committed three fouls.
“We gave up some gimme goals,” Shealy noted.
“They got us on our heels. We got a little confused on defense. It was just the way they were making their runs. They were making back-side runs and defensive runs. We were almost over-marking the ball side.
“Offensively, we really didn’t create anything in the first half,” he continued.
“My forwards were standing still at midfield just about the whole half, kind of waiting. We barely got the ball on their side of the field the whole first half.”
The Comets turned things around in the second half.
PH out shot the Comets by only a slim 7-5 margin but the Comets had more chances on direct on-goal shots than the Patriots. Both teams had three corner kicks and the Comets had fewer fouls than Patrick Henry.
“It wasn’t a 180-degree turnaround, but it was much better,” Shealy said of his team’s second-half effort.
The Comets coach pointed out that Patrick Henry is a very talented and skilled team.
“From what I’ve seen, they’re the best in the district right now,” Shealy aid.
“We’ve seen E.C. Glass and GW. PH looks very good. They have good speed and quickness. They don’t have a lot of (physical) size, but their possession and movement off of the ball is very good. They showed that to us right off the bat.”
The Comets are off tonight but will play a pair of Western Valley District games next week, going on the road to face Franklin County and E.C. on Tuesday and Friday respectively.