Wednesday, June 7, 2006

 

Milwaukee Taps Jeffress In MLB Draft

HCHS Pitcher Jeremy Jeffress Was The 16th Overall Pick In The First Round Of The Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft

Halifax County High School pitcher Jeremy Jeffress made local sports history yesterday as the Milwaukee Brewers selected him as the 16th overall pick in the 2006 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
With yesterday’s pick by the Brewers, Jeffress becomes the first baseball player in Halifax County to be drafted by a Major League team in the first round of the player draft.
“I’ve been nervous and excited all day,” Jeffress said moments after having received the long-awaited telephone call.
“I’m relieved now. I’m ready to get it on and play baseball. It’s a business and I’m ready to play.”
Being tabbed by the Brewers in yesterday’s draft marked the realization of a dream for Jeffress.
“When I was younger, I never believed I’d be here,” said Jeffress.
“ I just played the game of baseball because I loved it. I thought I was good at it so I kept playing it and kept playing it. People kept saying you’re really good, you’re really good. I’m here now.”
Baseball, Jeffress says, continues to hold the same glamour for him now as it did when he was a young child.
“That’s the true meaning of loving the game,” he said.
“You can play it until it’s old, play it until it’s not here anymore.
“Baseball is a business,” added Jeffress.
“ It’s going to become one for me. I look at it as I have a job to do. I set my goals high. I’m really going to focus on my main goal of becoming a Major League baseball player. As long as I stay focused and keep doing what I have to do and play the game I love, I’ll never get tired of it.”
Jeffress spent yesterday at his North Main Street home and was surrounded by a large group of family members, friends and former coaches when the draft began yesterday at 1 p.m. His parents, Fred and Yolanda Jeffress, were every bit as excited as he was when the news of his selection came.
“I’m ecstatic,” said Fred Jeffress.
“ I’m happy for Jeremy and I’m happy for our family. I just don’t have the words to describe it.
“I’m really proud of Jeremy,” his mother added.
“ I’m excited. I want to cry. The whole family and the community is behind him. I’m excited about everybody in the community supporting him and loving him the way they have.”
The hard-throwing right-hander had a 9-1 record this past season for the Halifax County High School baseball team. He had an outstanding earned run average of 0.44 for the season, threw six complete games and logged three shutouts.
For his three-year varsity career, Jeffress compiled a 21-6 record, fanned a total of 288 batters and had an earned run average of 1.22. He threw 17 complete games during his three years as a varsity player and recorded a total of eight shutouts.
In addition, Jeffress has been named Player of the Year in both the Western Valley District and the Northwest Region.
“Jeremy is a pitcher with an athletic frame,” said Brewers Special Assistant to the General Manager/Director of Amateur Scouting, Jack Zduriencik in a prepared press release on the team’s Internet website.
“He has loose, clean arm action with a solid delivery. His athleticism is something that will help him develop into a solid Major Leaguer.”
The young South Boston resident’s blazing upper-90-mph fastball was tabbed second best in the nation in Baseball America’s 2006 High School Best Tools. Jeffress was ranked by Baseball America as the eighth best high school prospect prior to the start of the 2006 season.
Jeffress said he knows some tough challenges lie ahead of him, the biggest of which is not related to baseball.
“My biggest challenge will probably be going away from home, leaving my family and everybody I love, but it’s something I’ve got to face,” Jeffress said.
“I’m going to hate to see all of those eyes when I’m about to leave. That’s the biggest thing I’m going to have to beat. I know everybody is proud. But, I know I have something to do and I know what I want to do.”
Jeffress said his relationship with God will help him make it through the tough times.
“I give God all of the credit for me being where I am now,” Jeffress said.
“God has brought me through a lot and I thank Him very much.”

 

Proposed County Tax Rate Sliced

Board Also Agrees To Exempt Farm Equip. From Property Tax

The Halifax County Board of Supervisors passed an amended budget Monday night, one that reduces the advertised real estate tax hike from six cents per assessed $100 to four cents per assessed $100.
Prior to the adoption of next year’s fiscal budget, supervisors also passed a proposal that exempts farm machinery from the county’s property tax.
The actions came as supervisors met for their regular monthly meeting in the public meeting room of the Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax.
Next year’s $129,361,506 budget is based on the following tax rates:
• Real Estate - $.41 Per Assessed $100.
• Personal Property - $3.30 per assessed $100.
• Machinery and Tools - $1.26.
• E-911 Fee - $3.00.
Supervisors had originally considered a $129,785,741 fiscal budget for 2007 that reflects a decrease in real estate taxes to 37 cents per $100 from the current rate of 41 cents per $100 due to last year’s reassessment, but increases the tax by six cents to cover debt service on a $60 million school construction project.
If approved, the county’s adjusted tax rate would have been 43 cents per $100.
But late last month, Finance Committee Chairman Doug Bowman said supervisors could balance the county’s budget while cutting taxes levied on farm equipment and lowering the adjusted tax rate to 41 cents per $100, an effective four-cent increase.
The current personal property tax rate is $2.50, but County Administrator Bryan Foster noted earlier in the budget negotiations that a change in the way motor vehicles are assessed – for the first time at loan value rather than retail value – resulted in a $3.30 rate because the county cannot make money from a change in assessment values.
“The changes made (on the budget) include the elimination of the tax on farm equipment and also has the increase of the real estate tax at four cents rather than six cents,” Foster said Monday. “That’s a little over $400,000 less than was originally proposed.”
Foster said that without exempting farm equipment, farmers would be paying an unfair amount of taxes on their property.
“That’s going to directly impact the farm community as an extra burden,” Bowman said during the earlier meeting. “In my opinion, we need to eliminate that (farm machinery) from personal property taxes altogether.
“The farm equipment will bear the brunt of the increase,” he added during Monday’s meeting. “The last two assessments show that rural property has increased in value faster than the rest of the county. They will have to pay more than their share of the burden and this is a way we can lighten the load on them a bit.
“We can exempt this altogether and look to other sources to fund the needs we have,” Bowman said Monday.
At the current $2.50 tax rate, $8,462,800 in assessed farm equipment results in $211,570 in revenue. At the $3.30 rate, $279,272 will be generated.
Next year’s budget is based on the following estimated revenues:
• Property Taxes - $21,301,818.
• Other Local Taxes - $5,216,000.
• Other Locally General Fund Revenue - $1,180,213.
• E-911 Emergency Fund - $891,580.
• Airport Fund - $300,000.
• Grants - $2,109,726.
• State Revenue - $3,454,939.
• State School Revenue - $38,700,243.
• Social Services Revenue From State - $3,711,865.
• Children At Risk Revenue From State - $1,737,125.
• Federal General Fund Revenue - $158,492.
• Federal School Revenue - $6,999,157.
• Enterprise Activities (Water/Sewer) - $213,500.
• School Construction Carryover - $624,349.
• Local School Funds - $1,805,000.
• Bond Proceeds - $40,000,000.
• Use Of Fund Balance - $957,499.
The following expenditures are estimated in next year’s budget:
• Government Administration - $1,953,781.
• Judicial Administration - $1,726,232.
• Public Safety - $5,408,727.
• E-911 Communications Center - $866,574.
• Public Works - $2,143,962.
• Health and Welfare - $7,275,967.
• Education - $60,537,711.
• Parks, Recreation and Cultural - $426,341.
• Community Development - $3,301,480.
• Capital Projects - $41,390,000.
• Airport - $335,724.
• Debt Service - $3,718,721.
• Enterprise Activities - $276,286.
On a motion by Bowman and with a second by Supervisor Wayne Conner, the Board passed next year’s budget 7-1 with Supervisor R.E. “Dickie” Abbott opposing.
In opposing the budget, Abbott said the budget increase is going to burden the county’s taxpayers.
“I don’t agree with all of this and you know that,” he said. “On down the line, it’s going to be worse and worse. ($129 million) is a whole lot of money for Halifax County. What I see about it is so many people in my category that this is going to hurt.”
“As Board members, we have the responsibility to do the best with what we have to grow an economy and get jobs here,” Board Chairman William Fitzgerald said. “People aren’t just hurting here in the county, it’s happening all over the country. We’re just a Board trying to run a county.”
“This is hard,” said Supervisor Bryant Claiborne. “There are some things (Abbott) is saying that I would agree with if you just look at it today. But we have to look ahead. A lot of us here probably will never see the results of what we’re doing today, but I think it’s the best thing for our county and our future.”
“We have the best quality of life of any county in Virginia on one of the lowest tax rates,” added Supervisor James Edmunds.

 

Farmer Urges Land Use Assessments

Says Agricultural Community Being Targeted Due To Current Method Of Taxing Property

Halifax County farmer Mike McDowell made an impassioned plea to the Halifax County Board of Supervisors Monday, urging them to consider land use assessment – a move he says could offer some relief to farmers facing skyrocketing property taxes.
“I come before you to discuss agriculture, the financial position of production agriculturists, agricultural taxes, land values and the related complexities of these topics that I feel are grossly misunderstood by a majority of the citizens in this county,” he said.
While McDowell said it was not his intent to complain about paying taxes or ask for special considerations for farmers, he said that what has been happening to the agricultural community is placing an extra burden on the county’s beleaguered agricultural community.
The Vernon Hill farmer said that over the past 50 years, wealth has been measured in financial holdings rather than in land.
“In earlier land use hearings in this county, farmers were referred to as large, wealthy landowners,” he said. “I present to you that farmers/landowners may appear wealthy only due to the land values that are artificially escalated in price.”
Noting that most farmers are heavily financed, often on the very land being taxed, McDowell quoted a bank officer who said he had “customers who make more money pushing snow than from their large farm operation.”
“Consider a farmer who may own $200,000 worth of farmland according to the Halifax County valuation/assessment,” he said. “He has an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $30,000 to pay for food, clothes, health, medical, education, future security, retirement, etc., and to service debt that approaches $1,000. All of this must come from the profit that is the AGI.
“Now consider that agricultural taxes could soon approach $2,000 or even $3,000 given current practices. This could equal 10 percent of the AGI expenses without adding anything to production or earning ability of the individual,” McDowell added.
But the adoption of land use taxation would base the tax valuation on the ability of the land to generate income.
“If we adopt land use valuation and you sign up and are approved, the land then becomes valued at its present use,” McDowell said. “This will establish some value on it and as long as you are paying taxes at that rate, you are expected to continue to use the land in its present capacity.
“Should you decide to sell it in the future, the taxes not paid at the higher rate would have to be paid at that time,” he added.
Adoption of land use assessment could also conserve the county’s farmland, according to McDowell.
“It is incumbent upon you to be as fair and equitable as possible when determining who carries the load of this county’s tax burden,” he said. “While land may be valuable and farmers may own even significant amounts of land, this is not indicative of cash resources, nor liquidity, nor ability to pay ever-increasing taxes when farmland is appraised and taxed in the manner now utilized by the county.
“Simply stated, continuing to tax farmland as this county is currently positioned is the same as taxing individual’s investment plans and portfolios, their retirement plans, 401-k’s and their social security benefits, a significant percentage of which was funded by an employer and not the individuals themselves,” McDowell said.

 

Fastball To The Fast Lane

Jeremy Jeffress Kept His Game On Track Despite A Myriad Of Distractions

Baseball fans have flocked to Halifax County High School in droves this season to see Jeremy Jeffress deliver his blazing 100-mph fastball.
The Comets star made it look almost effortless as he sent high-speed pitch after high-speed pitch hurtling toward the plate.
Jeffress’ arm and pitching ability have made him one of the country’s premier high school pitchers and one of the most sought after high school baseball players in the nation.
The young South Boston resident hit the high mark of his young career yesterday when he was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers as the 16th pick in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft.
That honor came on the heels of his having been named last week as the Western Valley District Player of the Year and, on Monday, being tabbed as the Northwest Region Player of the Year.
Being picked high in the Major League Baseball draft brought a sense of relief to Jeffress. For the past several months, he has been caught up in a swirling whirlwind of dealing with professional baseball scouts, fielding an untold number of telephone calls, dealing with requests from the media for interviews and, at the same time, keeping up with his schoolwork and playing baseball.
Somehow, the young Halifax County High School baseball star managed to take it all in stride.
“All the stuff has been a nuisance at times, but you stay focused and keep going towards what your dream is,” Jeffress said.
“ You do what you have to do to get where you need to be.”
Jeffress remembers well the excitement of his first contacts from college and pro baseball scouts.
“Once you get into it, it’s exciting,” Jeffress said.
“ I remember when I got my first letter from a college and a from a pro team scout I was so excited. As it goes on, you just get used to it. It becomes routine. It has become a nuisance at times but it really doesn’t bother me that much.”
The door of Jeffress’ North Main Street home has been a constantly revolving door as pro baseball scouts have come by to visit, some on several occasions.
“Every Major League Baseball team in the nation has talked to me,” Jeffress noted.
“They come to the house and they meet me after the games. We just sit around and talk for a long time.”
The topics of the conversations vary.
“They ask all kinds of questions and we become very close,” explained Jeffress.
“ Just sitting down and talking with them (the pro scouts) is very exciting for me. They basically break it down to see where I am, to see how I feel about going into the League and then they tell me how it is.
“It’s all pretty similar,” he continued.
“ Everybody’s story is pretty much the same, but some of them have this way and some have got another way. You have to pick and choose.”
One of the favorite things Jeffress liked to do during the meetings was see the championship rings.
“Every time a representative from a team that has won a championship comes, seeing their championship rings has been exciting,” said Jeffress.
“I like seeing how big they are and how heavy they are.”
Jeffress has faced his share of pressure the past few months, but not on the baseball diamond.
“Pressure baseball-wise is I just play the game,” he pointed out.
“ My parents have been pushing me pretty hard, but I guess that’s what they’ve got to do because they’re parents. There are people that put pressure on you and there is peer pressure and everything, but I stay focused and keep on doing what I’ve got to do.
“I know what I have to go for,” he continued.
“ I learned from my sisters and brothers. They saw what they needed to do and they went for it and I want to follow in their footsteps.”
His sister, Racquel, a senior at Virginia Union University, is a basketball player and is pursuing a doctorate degree. Jeffress’ brother, Freddie, a former standout athlete at Halifax County High School, is a sophomore at Norfolk State University. He has turned from the more traditional sports to boxing.
“My brother is the person that pushes me the hardest,” Jeffress pointed out.
“I really love my sister. She’s a big influence on my life. She saw what she had to do and went for it. I’m going to do the same thing.”
One thing that has been hard for Jeffress to put aside has been the tremendous amount of publicity he has received and the reaction of people to his success.
“People come up to me and tell me ‘Jeremy you’re in the paper, you’re on TV,’ and things like,” Jeffress said.
“I have to put all of that aside and keep on going and focus on what I’ve got to do and play my game. People think my head is getting big, but I’m staying humble and I’m going to keep on being focused.”
At every game he has pitched this spring, Jeffress has faced a battery of pro baseball scouts. Standing behind the fence at home plate, the scouts, many with radar guns in hand, study every move he makes and jot down notes in their notebooks.
For many young athletes, it would be a distraction to their attempt to hone in on a batter and make their pitches hit the spot. It wasn’t that way with Jeffress.
“It makes me feel that I’m a good baseball player and they’re here to see me,” Jeffress pointed out.
“I’ve been seeing scouts since the beginning of last summer. That’s a long time to be seeing scouts behind the plate. To me, they’re just fans who have come to watch the baseball game. I’ve seen them enough to where it doesn’t bother me.”
Jeffress said while he was on the mound, his young freshman catcher, Kaleb Long, was a positive influence.
“While I’m in the game, my catcher, Kaleb Long really kept me focused,” Jeffress said.
“ Kaleb is the best catcher I’ve seen come through Halifax. I really love Kaleb. Every time he sees me getting tired or throwing off a little, he comes out there and makes me laugh. He keeps the game calm when he comes out to the mound.”
In looking back over his high school career, Jeffress says he has greatly improved since taking the mound for the Comets for the first time as a sophomore.
“I feel from tenth grade through twelfth grade I improved about 150 percent because of the coaches, “ Jeffress pointed out.
“ Kelvin Davis is an excellent coach. Coach (Kenneth) Day is a funny guy. I love him a lot. He’s improved me a lot. He showed me a couple of pitches, worked with me on my mechanics and helped me a whole lot.
“Coach (Ronnie) Duffie, you never forget Coach Duffie,” continued Jeffress.
“ He kept my head on straight in the dugout. If I got mad or struck out or couldn’t get it going on the mound, he’d pull me aside and say ‘just keep focused, just keep doing what you’ve got to do.’ I love all three of them.”

 

Comets Jeffress, Davis Sweep Regional Player Of The Year Honors

Comets baseball senior hurler Jeremy Jeffress and softball sophomore shortstop Lashunda Davis have swept both district and regional post-season honors after each was named Northwest Regional Player of the Year yesterday.
Two other Comets baseball players, senior third baseman Bobby Owens and senior outfielder David Lacks, also made the All-Northwest Region team, both named to the Honorable Mention squad.
The Western Valley District was well represented this year on the All-Northwest Region baseball team, with second baseman Reggie Keen of GW-Danville, outfielder Hunter Naff of Franklin County and utility player Lincoln Garner, also of Franklin County, joining Jeffress on the First squad.
Joining Owens and Lacks on the Honorable Mention team were pitcher Rob Whitley, and shortstop Nevada Watlington of GW-Danville, Whitley also making the Honorable Mention team as a designated hitter.
Catcher Adam Hart of Patrick Henry, and first baseman Drew Elkins and outfielder Alex Kozera, both of E.C. Glass, were also Honorable Mention selections.
In addition to Davis, four other Western Valley District players were named to the All-Northwest Region softball team, shortstop Amy Betterton, catcher Jenny Law, pitcher Shannon Manning and second baseman Ashlee Washburn, all of Franklin County.
Comets baseball coach Kelvin Davis said it was a great honor for Jeffress to be named Player of the Year at both the district and regional levels.
“He’s had just an awesome year. To win both the district and regional player of the year says a lot about his talent and the respect he’s gained from other teams in the region,” began Davis.
“The numbers speak for themselves.”
Jeffress’ being named Northwest Regional Player of the Year, along with Owens’ and Lacks’ selections, capped another successful season for the Comets, according to Davis.
“We had our ups and downs as a team this year, but we accomplished our goal of making it to the regionals and we won a game once we got there,” noted Davis.
“I’m proud of the guys for their composure and for finding a way to win.”
Lashunda Davis was named Co-Player of the Year for the Northwest Region along with Lauren Hensley of Osbourn Park, but Davis will be number one in state balloting based on her stats, according to her coach, Melanie Saunders.
Davis went four for six for Halifax County in two regional games.
“It’s awesome, and it’s really something to get two players that are Player of the Year in the district. But when you get two players that are Player of the Year in the Northwest Region, it’s really special,” said Saunders of Davis and Jeffress.
“I ‘m really proud of Lashunda and I’m excited for both her and Jeremy.”
Saunders, like coach Davis, thought the Western Valley District fared well in terms of regional selections this year, and that was due to the strength of the district in baseball and softball.
“There was a lot of praise for [Lashunda] at the regional meeting,” said Saunders.
“I think that with her stats, she’s got a pretty good chance at making the all-state team.
“Usually, other districts have players with higher stats than we do. This was the first year that we had stats we could compete with.”
2006 All-Northwest Region Baseball Team
Player of the Year-Jeremy Jeffress, pitcher, Halifax County High School, Sr.
Coach of the Year-Keith Howell, Osbourn High School
First Team
Pitcher-Jeremy Jeffress, Halifax County, Sr.
Pitcher-Justin Wright, Forest Park, Jr.
Catcher-Sean McCauley, Osbourn, Jr.
First Base-Chris Boggs, Osbourn, Sr.
Second Base-Reggie Keen, GW-Danville, Sr.
Third Base-Mike Romett, North Stafford, Sr.
Shortstop-Brent Greer, Osbourn, Sr.
Outfield-Hunter Naff, Franklin County, Sr.
Outfield-Rob Gregor, North Stafford, Sr.
Outfield-Mark Embrey, Osbourn Park, Sr.
DH-Billy Barber, Colonial Forge, Jr.
Utility-Lincoln Garner, Franklin County, Sr.
Second Team
Pitcher-Matt Fouch, Colonial Forge, Sr.
Pitcher-Tony Pasquariello, Osbourn, Sr.
Catcher-Jerry Newfang, Colonial Forge, Jr.
First Base-Mike Cleary, Stafford, Soph.
Second Base-Rory Palese, Fauquier, Sr.
Third Base-Pat Quinn, Osbourn Park, Jr.
Shortstop-Matt Johns, North Stafford, Jr.
Outfield-Jarrett Parker, Colonial Forge, Jr.
Outfield-Anthony Ragos, Forest Park, Jr.
Outfield-Eddie West, Gar-Field, Sr.
DH-George Piccirilli, Osbourn Park, Soph.
Utility-Drue Vernon, Brooke Point, Sr.
Honorable Mention
Pitcher-Rob Whitley, GW-Danville, Sr.
Pitcher-Matt Johns, North Stafford, Jr.
Pitcher-Eddie West, Gar-Field, Sr.
Pitcher-Anthony Askey, Osbourn Park, Jr.
Catcher-Adam Hart, Patrick Henry, Sr.
Catcher-Matt McDaniel, Forest Park, Jr.
First Base-Drew Elkins, E.C. Glass, Sr.
First Base-Harry Williams, Potomac, Sr.
Second Base-D.J. Califano, North Stafford, Jr.
Second Base-Tommy Hoffman, Woodbridge, Sr.
Third Base-Bobby Owens, Halifax County, Sr.
Third Base-Bobby Schwe, Forest Park, Soph.
Shortstop-Nevada Watlington, GW-Danville, Jr.
Shortstop-J.T. Gregory, Gar-Field, Sr.
Outfield-David Lacks, Halifax County, Sr.
Outfield-Alex Kozera, E.C. Glass, Sr.
Outfield-Mickey White, Albemarle, Jr.
Outfield-Nick Beall, Forest Park, Jr.
Outfield-Marcus Powell, Osbourn, Jr.
Outfield-Dan Taylor, Stonewall Jackson, Sr.
DH-Rob Whitley, GW-Danville, Sr.
DH-Mike Furr, C.D. Hylton, Jr.
Utility-Brett Howell, Osbourn, Jr.
Utility-Mike Matta, Potomac, Sr.
2006 All-Northwest Region Softball Team
Player-of-the-Year, Lashunda Davis, Halifax County, Soph.
Player-of-the-Year, Lauren Hensley, Osbourn Park
Jasmine Tillman, Massaponax
Reihle Kash, Massaponax
Melissa Kirby, Stonewall Jackson
Caitlin Stauffer, North Stafford
Jenny Law, Franklin County
Amy Betterton, Franklin County
Amanda Craig, Osbourn Park
Amanda Burres, Stonewall Jackson
Shannon Manning, Franklin County
Kat Beauvais, Osbourn Park
Ashlee Washburn, Franklin County
Nikki Black, North Stafford
Brittney Harris, Albemarle County
Ariel Keidel, Brooke Point
Cat Jennings, Gar-Field
Jessica Schwier, Forest Park
Emileigh Lambert, Albemarle County
Sarah Himan, C.D. Hylton
Chelsea Paprocki, Forest Park

 

Sixth Annual YMCA 5K Run Set For Saturday

Runners and walkers both young and young at heart will again hit the streets of South Boston on Saturday, as the South Boston-Halifax County YMCA hosts its sixth annual 5K Run/Walk.
The event includes a one-mile fun run and a full 5K (3.1-mile) run, with the fun run getting underway at 8:30 a.m. for children 12 years of age and under, followed by the 5K run/walk at 9 a.m.
Both races will take place rain or shine.
The course remains the same for both runs, the 5K course starting with a hard, uphill climb up Hamilton Blvd to North Main St., where participants turn right.
After a somewhat level run on North Main St., runners will turn right onto Edmunds St. for a brief downhill sprint, before a steep uphill climb up Penick Ave. to Jeffress Blvd. and then to Broad St.
Competitors take a right on Broad St. and shortly another right onto Norwood St., followed by runs along Linden Pl. and Greenway Dr., before the course ends where it started, at the entrance to the YMCA.
Entry fees are $15 per person ages 13 and older if registered by June 9, and $20 per person ages 13 and older if registered after June 9.
An entry fee of $5 per person applies to persons 5 to 12 years of age at all times before the event.
The entry fee includes T-shirts to the first 60 registrants.
Peter O’Brien of Lynchburg is the two-time defending men’s champion in the YMCA 5K, while Halifax County High School track athletes Deelynn Leigh and Amey Totherow won last year’s women’s race with identical times.
For more information or to volunteer for the event, contact Barbara Edgar at the YMCA of South Boston-Halifax County at 572-8909.

 

Obituaries

Merle Waller Terry
Mrs. Merle Waller Terry, of L.P. Bailey Highway in Halifax, died Sunday, June 4, at her home.
She was born in Halifax County on October 7, 1944 and was 61. Mrs. Terry was the daughter of the late Willard W. Waller and Minnie Dalton Waller and was married to Coy V. Terry. She was a member of the Centerville Baptist Church and the Halifax County Humane Society.
Mrs. Terry is survived by her husband, one daughter, Bonny Terry Childrey and husband Jimmy or Halifax; her mother’ one sister, Thelma June Vaughan of South Boston; two brothers, Lester W. Waller of South Boston and Kenneth B. Waller and wife Hilda of Nathalie; two step-grandchildren, Summer and Dylan Childrey and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mrs. Merle Waller Terry will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 6, with services at the Centerville Baptist Church.
The Rev. Richard Saunders will officiate.
Burial will follow at the Mulberry Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Monday, June 5, from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home and other times at the home of her daughter, 5237 L.P. Bailey Highway in Halifax.
The family request that for memorials, please consider the Halifax County Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston, Va. 24592 or the Halifax County Humane Society, P.O. Box 969, South Boston, Va. 24592.
Michael M. Kekeris
Michael M. Kekeris, 47, of Lynchburg died Tuesday, May 30, in Silver Springs, Maryland.
He is survived by his wife, Carol, and children, Ryan and Olivia, two sisters, Christine Travis and Cathy Kekeris, and brothers, Billy, Jimmy, Steven, and John Kekeris.
Mr. Kekeris is the son of Arthur and the late Catherine Kekeris of Silver Springs, Maryland.
Graveside service will be held on Saturday, June 10, at 4 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Republican Grove with the Rev. Shelton Miles officiating.
For memorial donations please consider the Children’s Recreation Fund, First Baptist Church Republican Grove, 4210 Leda Grove Road, Nathalie, Virginia 24577.
The family will receive visitors in the church fellowship hall following the service.
Tommy Lee Martin
Graveside services for Mr. Tommy Lee Martin will be held today at 2 p.m. at Virgilina Cemetery with military rites.
The service will be conducted by the Rev. Buddy Hall.
The family will receive friends at the home of Tommy Joel Martin, 689 Blue Wing Road in Roxboro.
Mr. Martin, 58, of Charlie Lawson Road in Virgilina, died Sunday, June 4, at McGuire VA Hospital in Richmond.
He was born in Richmond on January 26, 1948 the son of the late Lovelace Martin and Lillie Childrey Martin.
Mr. Martin was a U.S. Army veteran who served with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam.
He is survived by a daughter, Angela Brankley and husband Floyd of South Boston; a son, Tommy Joel Martin and wife Misty of Oxford, N.C.; and two grandsons, Tyler Martin of Oxford and Gabriel Brankley of South Boston.
Etta Wilborn Clark
Etta Wilborn Clark, 97, of Niceville, Fl., and formerly of the Amis Chapel community in Halifax County, died May 31 at The Manor Nursing Home.
Mrs. Clark was the daughter of the late Phillip T. and Laura Wilkins Wilborn, a member of the Amis Chapel Baptist Church and was a homemaker.
Etta Clark is survived by one grandson, Graham Eugene “Gray” Clark of Canton, Ga.; two sisters, Roberta W. Lowery of Richmond and Virginia W. Murray of Norfolk; and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Graham Clark and one son, William Graham Clark Jr.
Graveside services for Etta Wilborn Clark will be held Friday at 4 p.m. at Amis Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery, with the Rev. Gene Brooks conducting the service.
Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
A viewing will be held at Gentry-Newell & Vaughan Funeral Home, 503 College St., Oxford, N.C., on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Friday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.