Friday, April 28, 2006

Teen Dies From Accident

Five Passengers Including Six-Year-Old Injured, Driver Critcal
A single-vehicle accident Tuesday night claimed the life of a 16-year-old Halifax County High School sophomore and left five others injured, according to the Virginia State Police.
Shana Marie Ingram, of Hogan Road in Virgilina, a back-seat passenger in the vehicle, died at the UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill, according to investigating officer State Trooper T.C. Comer.
The driver, Christian J. Jackson, 20, of Crystal Hill, was transported to the Duke University Medical Center in Durham where he was listed in critical condition yesterday, according to a hospital spokeswoman.
Four other passengers in the vehicle were also injured and transported by the rescue squad, according to Comer.
Derek M. Talley, 19, and three passengers under the age of 18, including a six-year-old were reported injured in the accident, police said.
The six-year-old was taken to an area hospital where he is being held for observation, but his injuries were not considered to be critical, Comer said.
Talley, who was a front seat passenger, and a nine-year-old back seat passenger were the only two in the vehicle wearing seat belts, Comer said.
The accident occurred at approximately 9:40 p.m. Tuesday night on Wilson Road (Route 740), two miles south of Route 602 when a 2005 Ford Focus driven by Jackson ran off the right side of the road, overcorrected with the right rear tire digging in the dirt causing the car to turn sideways and overturn several times, according to the police report.
Two occupants, Ingram and the six-year-old child, were ejected from the vehicle, police said.
Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $15,000.
Funeral arraignments for Ingram will be announced by Brooks Funeral Home.
Also Tuesday, a 19-year-old Nathalie man was charged with reckless driving and consuming alcohol under 21 years-of-age following a single-vehicle accident, according to Comer.
Jason M. Smith was charged after his 1991 Toyota pickup reportedly ran off the left side of the road while attempting to avoid a deer and struck several trees before overturning, Comer said.
Smith was reported injured, but not transported by the rescue squad, according to the police report.
The accident occurred on Route 57, a half mile east of Route 751, at approximately 11:52 p.m., according to Comer.
Damage to the pickup was estimated at $2,500.

 

Sunday Wreck Claims Jacobs

The Halifax County minister transported to Duke University Medical Center following a Sunday morning accident has died, according to officials with Duke University Medical Center.
Rudolph P. Jacobs, of East Hyco Road in South Boston, died Tuesday at 10:10 a.m., according to a hospital spokesman.
Rev. Jacobs was the pastor of Revelation Baptist Church and was 77 years old.
According to police, the accident is still under investigation.
A memorial service has been planned for Rev. Jacobs at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Centerville Baptist Church.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Revelation Baptist Church, where Jacobs was pastor for 46 years.

 

Celebrating The Place We Call Home

In an effort to highlight Halifax County’s diverse history, the South Boston/Halifax County Museum of Fine Arts and History has spent countless hours developing a permanent exhibit – “Welcome Home To Halifax County.”
A grand opening for this ambitious undertaking will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
The event will showcase the history of the county from its earliest days to the present.
The grand opening is free to the public and refreshments will be provided.
During the opening celebration, author Judi Eastwood will be on hand reading excerpts from her book “Dragon” and will have a six-foot dragon with her. The Eastwood presentation will be held from 10 – 11 a.m.
Following Eastwood’s reading, Steve Chipps will be on hand to offer a presentation dressed in Native American regalia. Chipps will be presenting from 11 a.m. until noon.
From noon until 1 p.m., guests are invited to visit the exhibits the museum offers.
From 1 p.m. until 4 p.m., Lori Mitchum-Burns will offer a quilting demonstration, while bluegrass music will be performed from 2 – 4 p.m.
The Halifax County Middle School Chorus will perform at 3 p.m.
Also from 1 – 4 p.m., the 6th Virginia Cavalry will present a re-enactment in period costume. And local farmers will demonstrate tobacco tying techniques.
Make plans now to visit the county’s museum and see this one-of-a-kind exhibit.
For more information, call the museum at 572-9200.

 

Francisco Rolls A Perfect Game

Local Bowler Jackie Francisco Hit Paydirt With A Perfect 300 Game And An 835 Set
There is the no-hitter in baseball, the “hat trick” in hockey and soccer and the triple double in basketball – the trademarks of a perfect game.
South Boston resident Jackie Francisco turned in a perfect game Tuesday night, rolling a perfect 300 while participating in league bowling at the Palace Pointe Lanes in Roxboro, N.C.
Francisco also broke the 800-pin mark for one set, with his three games of 248, 287 and 300 netting him an 835 set for the night.
Tuesday night’s marks by Francisco marked the first perfect game and his 835 set now stands as the highest set to be bowled at the Roxboro, N.C. facility.
“I’ve got to thank the Good Lord,” Francisco said.
“I’m really tickled. I have been wanting an 800 set as well as a 300 game. I’ve been bowling a long time to get this. Very few people have had a 300 game and an 800 set.”
Tuesday night marked the final night of the league bowling competition that Francisco participates in and he saved his best performance of the season for last.
Francisco nailed a total of 30 strikes in his three games, a dozen of them coming in his march to the perfect 300 score.
“In the first game, I pulled it (the ball) a little bit on my first ball and left one pin,” Francisco pointed out.”
From there, Francisco knocked down strikes until he got to his twelfth ball, at which time he missed again and left one pin standing.
The second game started out as a good one with Francisco immediately hitting his marks.
“I struck the first 10 balls,” Francisco noted.
“I missed on the eleventh ball and left two pins standing. Then I hit one pin on the next ball.”
With that game ending with Francisco posting a 287 score, it was soon back to work for the start of the final game. Francisco got off to another good start and, this time, hit the big 300 game.
“Luck was just me,” Francisco said.
“All you can do is throw a good ball and hope the pins fall.”
Francisco has come close to hitting the magic marks of a 300 game and an 800 set before but has fallen just shy of the marks. He has rolled a pair of 299 games, one of which came here at the World of Sports Bowling Center. The other 299 game was one Francisco rolled last year while competing in the State Seniors Bowling Tournament.
Consistency, Francisco says, is the key to his success. His six previous sets prior to Tuesday’s 835 were 689, 676, 670, 674, 675 and 659.
Those numbers are good for anyone, especially for an individual who has had to battle to overcome health problems.
Francisco, 64, a longtime member of the South Boston Bowling Association and a member of the South Boston Bowling Association Hall of Fame, has battled to overcome a number of health issues including heart by-pass surgery, the implant of a heart stent, the removal of a brain tumor and mini-strokes.
While health issues may have slowed Francisco down some, they haven’t put a dent in his desire to reach his goals and enjoy the sport that he loves so much.
“I’m just very fortunate,” Francisco said.
“I thank The Good Lord for the opportunity to have done this. I’ve been trying for many years and had never done it until now.”
Francisco says just because he has reached two goals doesn’t mean he’s going to stop bowling and trying to hit the perfect set of a trio of 300 games.
“If I could bowl three 300 games (in one night), I’ll feel like I will have accomplished everything there is to accomplish,” Francisco concluded.

 

Comets Stay On Top In District Race

HCHS Hurler Jeremy Jeffress Spun A No-Hitter As The Comets Edged GW 4-2 Tuesday Night In Danville

Coaches preach the importance of executing the small things, the fine details, the basic fundamentals. It’s those things that win ballgames.
Both Halifax County High School and GW staged a clinic in baseball fundamentals Tuesday night.
Halifax County, with some heady base-running backing a no-hitter from senior hurler Jeremy Jeffress, edged archrival GW 4-2 Tuesday night in Danville to go to a perfect 3-0 mark in Western Valley District play.
“Anytime we can get a win against GW, it’s bigger than life,” said Comets head coach Kelvin Davis.
“We knew it was going to be like this. We knew it was going to be a close ballgame.”
The game featured a classic pitching duel between Jeffress and GW right-hander Rob Whitley. Whitley fanned 11 batters and held the Comets to one hit. Jeffress, however, did one better, hurling a no-hitter while fanning 10 GW batters.
With the pitchers in control, the game boiled down to which team could manufacture runs. Halifax County did what it had to do on this night.
GW manufactured its first run in the bottom of the first inning when leadoff batter Reggie Keen walked, stole second and scored on a sacrifice fly by John Gregory. The 1-0 held up until the top of the fourth inning.
Whitley walked the Comets’ Justin Bagbey to start the fourth inning. Scott Gieselman laid down a bunt on the first-base side of the diamond between Whitley and the GW first baseman and reached base with the Comets’ only hit.
With Bagbey at second base and Gieselman at first, Tony Barbour attempted to repeat the play. This time, however, GW made the play, but not without first baseman Greg Hairston being injured on the play. Bagbey moved to third base and Gieselman advanced to second base.
Whitley hit Jeffress with a pitch to load the bases with one out and David Lacks hit a fly ball to left field for the second out. Then, Whitley walked Bobby Owens to force in a run that tied the game. The Comets took the lead at 2-1 when Whitley hit Jacob Swillie with a pitch to force in Gieselman.
Another bad pitch from Whitley allowed Comets pinch runner David Clarke to score on a passed ball. On that same play, Owens, with nobody covering the plate on the throw back to the pitcher, slid across the plate to put his team’s fourth run on the scoreboard to give the Comets what would be an insurmountable 4-1 lead.
“Heads-up base-running like that is what wins ballgames,” Davis said after the game.
“In big ballgames, a big play like that sometimes happens. Fortunately, tonight it happened for us.”
Davis said Owens made the decision on his own to attempt to score.
“That’s just heads-up on his behalf,” Davis pointed out.
“ I looked back for him and he was gone. Bobby knows his speed and knew he had to get a good jump. He got a good turn on that play and it worked to perfection.”
After the one shaky inning, Whitley settled back down and logged six of his 11 strikeouts for the game in the last three innings.
GW managed to score one run in the sixth inning when Jeffress made his only real miscue of the game in failing to cleanly field a ground ball hit to the mound by GW’s Kyle Grantier. Grantier later scored on a wild pitch by Jeffress to make the final 4-2 score.
“We did a lot of little things right,” said Davis.
“ We manufactured runs and did everything we’ve been talking about that we need to do to win ballgames like this one.”
Both Davis and GW coach Scooter Dunn said the game was a great one that featured two great pitchers.
“It was a great ballgame all the way around,” said Davis.
“ Both pitchers did a great job. Whitley is a heck of a pitcher. The fans saw two great pitchers in Jeffress and Whitley. You could see both of them wanted this game badly.
“You saw two pitchers throw great,” added Dunn.
“ One threw better than the other one in one inning. In one inning it fell apart. Neither team hit anything and nobody hit the ball hard anywhere.”
Dunn, noting his team played with the most intensity it has shown to date this season, said Gw did what it felt it needed to do to win.
“We did exactly what we needed to do,” said Dunn.
“We got people on base and scored two runs without a hit. That says something. Not many teams can do that.”
The Comets are back on the road again tonight, traveling to Lynchburg to face district co-leader E.C. Glass. Game time tonight is 6 p.m.

 

Comets Varsity Softball Team Shuts Out GW 3-0

Halifax Gets Key Hitting, Defense In Win

Liz Trickey finished with three hits, an RBI and one run scored, Shayna Oakes had a RBI triple and Betty Rose a run-scoring single to back a three-hitter by hurler Beth Throckmorton, as the Comets varsity softball team got a key 3-0 road win Tuesday at GW.
Halifax finished with nine hits for the game, Trickey with three, and Lashunda Davis, Rose, Key Ferrell, Jasmine Parker, Beth Throckmorton and Shayna Oakes with a hit apiece.
That proved to be enough run support for Throckmorton, who struck out six batters and walked none in seven innings, while the Comets defense played one of its best games of the season, according to coach Melanie Saunders.
“This was one of the best defensive games we’ve had this season, and we were able to leave GW runners on base,” noted Saunders.
“We were much more focused tonight, and that was something we’d been working on,” added Saunders.
Halifax stranded 11 base runners, and the Eagles stranded seven, but the Comets got key hits and defense when it mattered most.
The Comets had the best of the scoring chances early on before taking the lead in the third inning.
A pair of GW errors and a hit by Davis put runners at second and third with one out in the Comets’ first at-bat, but two strikeouts got GW out of the inning.
Blair Gillespie hit a single for GW with two out in the bottom of the first, but was out trying to take an extra base, and the Comets stranded another base runner in the second after a one-out walk to Throckmorton.
Halifax executed on offense to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, Trickey hitting a leadoff single, advancing on a sacrifice by Oakes and scoring on a two-out hit by Rose, and threatened again in the fourth.
Halifax used hits from Parker and Trickey and a walk to Jessica Morris to load the bases with two outs, but a runner interference call got GW out of trouble.
Another good defensive play prevented GW from tying the score in the bottom of the fourth, the Eagles using a leadoff single by Ashley Salmon, stolen base and Comets error to put two base runners aboard.
The next batter hit a ground ball and Salmon attempted to score on the play, but was thrown out at the plate for the first out of the inning. A GW sacrifice put runners at second and third, but Throckmorton got a big strikeout to get out of the jam.
Halifax added two runs on three hits in the top of the sixth inning to put a little distance between them and the Eagles.
Throckmorton hit a one-out single and Oakes followed with a RBI triple, scoring herself on Trickey’s two -out base hit to finish the scoring.
GW had a base runner in each of its final two at-bats, but couldn’t push across a run, Halifax sealing the win in the seventh with two Throckmorton strikeouts.
The Comets varsity softball team, now 2-1 in the Western Valley District and 10-3 overall, has another key district game here Friday against a vastly improved E.C. Glass team.
The contest is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

 

Obituaries

Mary Brooks Royster
Mary Brooks Royster, 91, of 1200 McPhail Drive, South Boston died April 25, 2006, at her home.
Mrs. Royster was born in Halifax County on October 4, 1914, to the late Robert Brooks and Edith Brooks, and was married to the late Mack Royster. She was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Olivia and husband, Clarence Duncan, of Washington, D.C.; one sister, Rosa Owen of South Boston; six grandchildren, Mack King, Anne and husband William Wilkerson, Lee King, Linda and husband, Ralph Hayes, Professor King and AJ King; 14 great-grandchildren; 24 great-great-grandchildren; and her caretaker, Sallie Ewell.
Eight brothers; two sisters; and one grandchild, Frank King, also preceded Mrs. Royster in death.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, April 29, at 11 a.m. at Crawford House Chapel in Halifax with Elder Bernard Watkins officiating. Burial will follow in Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery in South Boston.
The family is receiving friends at the home.
Carolyn Ann Thorpe
Carolyn Ann Thorpe, 46, of 1137 New Bethel Road, Alton, died April 26, 2006, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Ms. Thorpe was born in Halifax County on March 17, 1960, to Joseph Sydnor Thorpe and Odessa Chavious Thorpe. She was a member of New Bethel Baptist Church, and was a nurse’s aide at the Camelot Nursing Home in Danville.
Survivors include her parents of Alton; two brothers, Joseph Donald Thorpe and Larry Cornelious Thorpe, both of Alton; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Thorpe will be held April 30, at 2 p.m. at New Bethel Baptist Church with the Rev. Harvey Bigelow officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Thorpe, 13030 Philpott Road, Alton.
Frank Barrow Tillotson
Frank Barrow Tillotson, 90, of Virgilina, widower of Esther Puryear Tillotson, died April 25, 2006, at The Woodview.
Mr. Tillotson was the son of Hamlin Mays and Myrtie May Hall Tillotson. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, was a retired farmer. Funeral services will be held tomorrow, April 29, at 11 a.m. in the chapel at Watkins Cooper Lyon Funeral Home in Clarksville with the Rev. William Salmons officiating. Burial will be in Hitesburg Baptist Church Cemetery.
Surviving Mr. Tillotson are one daughter and son-in-law, Deborah T. and Bob Puckett of Rougemont, N.C.; one son, Abraham Mays Tillotson of Virgilina; a brother, Oscar Tillotson of South Boston; a sister, Flora McPeters of Richmond; and two grandsons, Jon Puckett of Wilmington, N.C. and David Puckett of Greenville, N.C.
The family will receive friends this evening, April 28, from 7 until 9, at Watkins Cooper Lyon Funeral Home.
You may express condolences at www.wclfh.com.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Multiple Sclerosis Society, 733 Third Avenue, New York City, NY 10017, or a charity of choice.
James Barry Brown
James Barry Brown, 53, of 1229 Winns Creek Road, Halifax died April 27, 2006, at Danville Regional Hospital.
Mr. Brown was the son of the late Charlie James Brown and Thelma Irby Brown. He was a member of Winns Creek Baptist Church and was employed by the Virginia Department of Transportation. He also was a carnival ride owner/operator booked with the Inners Shows, and was a member of Halifax Masonic Lodge #96 AF&AM.
Survivors include his mother of Crystal Hill; two aunts, Elsie Guill of South Boston and Maude Lacks of Virgilina; and six cousins.
Funeral services for Mr. Brown will be held April 30 at 2 p.m. at Winns Creek Baptist Church with the Rev. Jim Kopco officiating. Burial will follow at Crystal Hill Southern Baptist Church Cemetery with Masonic Rites.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home tomorrow evening, April 29, from 7:00 until 8:30, and other times at the home of his mother.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax County Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston, 24592.
Brenda Lorine Ewell Clark
Brenda Lorine Ewell Clark, 54, of Queens, N.Y., formerly of Halifax County, died April 23, 2006, at New York Cornell Presbyterian Hospital.
Mrs. Clark was born in Halifax County on December 22, 1951, to Addie Ewell and the late Tony Childress, and was married to Harvey Clark.
Survivors include her husband; two sons, Alonzo Clark of N.Y. and Ramon Clark of Halifax; her mother of Halifax; one sister, Joyce Ewell of Halifax; and four grandchildren.
Mrs. Clark was also preceded in death by two brothers, Calvin and Kenny Ewell.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, April 29, at 2 p.m. at New Vernon Baptist Church with the Rev. Howerton officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home of her mother, 1040 Duck Trail, Halifax.
Rev. Rudolph Parker Jacobs
Rev. Rudolph Parker Jacobs, 77, of 3134 East Hyco Road, South Boston, died April 26, 2006, at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C.
Rev. Jacobs was born in Pittsylvania County on September 28, 1928, the son of the late Parker Wright Jacobs and Gladys Snow Jacobs and was married first to the late Bettie Jean Powell Jacobs and then to Ruby B. Jacobs who survives.
Rev. Jacobs began as pastor of Revelation Baptist Church in 1960. For 12 years he served as full-time pastor while working full-time at a local newspaper office, The News & Record. He retired from the newspaper in 1972, in order to devote all his efforts to serving as full-time pastor of Revelation Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife of the home; two daughters, June Jacobs Woodall and husband, Shannon, of Kernersville, N.C., and Melinda Blanks and husband, Ronnie, of Roxboro, N.C.; four sons, Randy S. Jacobs and wife, Brenda, of South Boston, Daryl W. Jacobs and wife, Tammy, of Axton, Ronnie Blanks and wife, Melinda, of Roxboro, and Brice Blanks and wife, Brenda, of South Boston; one brother, Norman Jacobs and wife, Joyce, of Bassett; 17 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. One grandson, Stephen Jacobs, also preceded Rev. Jacobs in death.
A funeral service will be held April 30, at 3 p.m. at Revelation Baptist Church with the Revs. Raymond Moorefield and R.J. Barber Jr. officiating. Burial will follow in Halifax Memorial Gardens.
A memorial service for Rev. Jacobs will be held at Centerville Baptist Church tomorrow evening, April 29, at 6:00 with the Revs. Richard Saunders, Ralph Neal and Donnie Stevens officiating. A visitation will follow the service at the church.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Gideon’s International.
Cecil McKinney Ratliff
Cecil McKinney Ratliff, 72, of 1041 Hunter’s Lane, South Boston, died April 26, 2006, in Danville Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Ratliff was born in Halifax County on June 12, 1933, the son of the late John C. and Florence Ramey Ratliff, and was married to Joyce Francisco Ratliff. He was a member of Winns Creek Baptist Church, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, was an Army Veteran having served in the Korean Conflict, and was a retired shift supervisor with Wabash Magnetics.
Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Ronnie Ratliff and wife, Pam, of Halifax; two daughters, Pam Paynter and husband, Tommy, of South Boston and Sandra Lambert and husband, Mark, of Powhatan; five sisters, Eunice Hall of Wilmington, N.C., Linda Ratliff of South Boston, Gladys Spangler of Hampton, Carrie Cifers of Danville and Marie Flippo of Chesterfield; two brothers, Rosco Ratliff and Bob Ratliff, both of South Boston; seven grandchildren, Jeremy Ratliff, Kelly Dockery, Adam West, Kristina West, Joshua Paynter, Kelsey Lambert and Kendfall Lambert; and two great-grandchildren, Hanna Ratliff and Harmony West.
Mr. Ratliff was also preceded in death by his brothers, Henry, Cleve, Glen and Joe Ratliff.
Funeral services will be held today, April 28, at 2 p.m. at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Tony Sisk and Jim Kopco officiating. Burial will follow in Winns Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax County Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston, 24592.
Online condolences may be sent to brooksfh@earthlink.net