Staunton River State Park Earns Historical Status

Staunton River State Park, which first opened in 1936, has been listed as a Historic District in the National Register of Historic Places according to Park Manager Josh Ellington.
The park is also registered as a Virginia Historic Landmark by the Virginia Board of Historic Resources.
The park qualified for listing as a historic district because it retains a number of original buildings constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) between 1933 and 1938. In addition, the park also maintains its original development plan.
According to Ellington, the process of obtaining these designations has been lengthy due to the extensive historical research required.
Technical assistance with the application, along with an outside consultant who conducted much of the research, was provided by Virginia State Parks’ resource management office in Richmond.
“After such a dynamic application process, we are very pleased with the outcome,” said Virginia State Parks District 5 Manager Tim Vest.
Staunton River State Park was one of the first six state parks in the original Virginia State Park system. Two CCC camps of 200 men each completed the initial construction of the park on land formerly known as “Fort Plantation.”
The state along with Halifax, Mecklenburg and Charlotte counties shared the $2,500 cost to purchase the property. As much as possible, buildings were constructed of materials available at the site, including timber cut for clearance and rock used for foundations.
The National Park Service maintains this official list of properties that have historical significance. Registration of the park as a historic site will help to encourage future perservation of historic resources, park officials said.
As stated in the park’s application to the National Register, “Staunton River State Park continues to fulfill its function as a public recreation facility and retains integrity of building types, park plan and landscape features.”
Plaques will soon go on display to indicate the park’s historic status.
For more information on Virginia’s State Parks, visit www.dcr.virginia.gov, or call 1-800-933-PARK.

Danville Woman Dies In Crash

A 27-year-old Danville woman was killed early Saturday morning in a single-vehicle crash in Halifax County.
Kimberly Michelle Edmonds, of Gay Street, was a passenger in a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am, driven by Sherita Gunn, 21, of Newport News, according to Virginia State Police Sgt. David Cooper.
Cooper said Gunn apparently swerved to miss a deer, overcorrected, and the car overturned, ejecting Edmonds, who was not wearing a seatbelt.
The crash occurred Saturday at approximately 2:05 a.m. on U.S. 58, one-half mile east of Rt. 836, according to Cooper.
Trooper T.C. Comer, who investigated the accident, declared the Pontiac a total loss.
Cooper said charges are pending further investigation.

Barker, Carswell Promoted At SBPD

During ceremonies Friday at the South Boston Police Department, Sgt. Dennis Barker was officially promoted to lieutenant and Cpl. Chris Carswell was promoted to sergeant.
Barker will fill the lieutenant’s vacancy left by the recent promotion of B.K. Lovelace to captain.
Barker has been with the South Boston Police Department since 1996 and has served as sergeant since October 2004. He will supervise the Patrol Division of the department.
Carswell has been with the police department since 1998 and has served as corporal since September 2004. He will be a shift supervisor in the Patrol Division of the department.
In announcing the promotions, South Boston Town Manager Ted Daniel complimented Chief Jim Binner and Deputy Chief B.K. Lovelace for the thoroughness of the evaluation and selection process.
Daniel noted, “All applicants for the positions were extraordinarily qualified, and Barker and Carswell are to be commended for their achievements.”
Barker and Carswell assumed their new duties July 20.

Obituaries

Edith Wyatt Smith
Edith Wyatt Smith, 85, of Brooksville, Fla. died July 18, 2007.
Mrs. Smith was born March 3,1922, in Danville the daughter of the late Emmett Jackson Wyatt and Bessie Elliott Wyatt.
Survivors of Mrs. Smith include her sons, Robert Leigh Stembridge III and his wife, Renee, of Tampa, Fla., Wayne A. Smith of Richmond, and M. Spencer Smith of Aiken, S.C.; her grandchildren, Ashleigh Wright Stembridge and Kathleen McQuaid Stembridge of Tampa, Fla., and Spencer Wyatt Smith and his wife, Amber, of Roanoke Rapids, N.C.; her great-grandchildren, Kadence Grace Smith of RoanokeRapids; one brother, Robert Paul Wyatt of Jarrett; and one sister, Betty Wyatt Grant of San Diego, Calif.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Edward Wright Stembridge; one son, Edward Wright Stembridge Jr.; her brothers, Emmett Jackson Wyatt Jr. and Bill Wyatt; her sisters, Ruth Farley and Mary Caldwell and her second husband, Cecil Andrew Smith.
Funeral arrangements are by Merritt Funeral Home, Spring Hill, Fla. Burial will be in Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider your local hospice.

Louise Collins
Louise Collins, 88, of Arlington, died Thursday, July 19.
She is the wife of the late John L. Collins Sr.
Mrs. Collins is survived by her son, John L. Collins Jr. of Arlington, and her nephews, Tom and Terry Hoy of Richmond and Hayne Wesson of Reston, and niece Elsie Hoy of Richmond.
Visitation will be from 1–3 p.m. and 7–9 p.m. Monday at Arlington Funeral Home.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Little Falls Presbyterian Church in Arlington.
Interment will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Oak Ridge Cemetery in South Boston.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to Capital Hospice, Halquist Memorial Inpatient Center, 6565 Arlington Blvd., Suite 501, Fairfax, VA 22042.

Betty Holland Beale
Funeral services for Betty Holland Beale will be at the Powell Funeral Home Chapel on Wednesday at 2 p.m. with Richard Bennet Bell conducting the service.
Burial will be private.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.
Mrs. Beale, 93, formerly of Halifax, died July 20, at the Orchard Nursing Home in Warsaw.
She was born on December 6, 1913, in Halifax County, the daughter of the late John Thomas Holland and Lessie Power Holland and was married to the late Bennet Beale.
Mrs. Beale is survived by two daughters, Betsy B. Bell and husband Charles of Callao, and Jane B. Plotke and husband Harry if Castle Rock, Colo.; two grandchildren, Richard Bell and wife Eliza of Richmond and Laura Morrissette and husband Floyd of West Point; a great-granddaughter, and a number of nieces and nephews.

Samuel Edward Martin Williams
A memorial service will be held for Samuel Edward Martin Williams, 63, on Saturday, Aug. 4, at 2 p.m. at the Berry Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. Anthony Miller officiating.
A reception with light refreshments will follow the service at the church.
Mr. Williams, of St. Louis, Mo., died April 17.
Born in South Boston on May 15, 1943, he was a son of the late Janice Martin Williams and Edward Williams.
He was a graduate of Mary Bethune High School and received an associate degree from Danville Community College.
Mr. Williams was a retired automotive master mechanic, a former employee at Westinghouse and a truck driver.
He is survived by one sister, Vanessa Ragsdale, and a niece, Vanessa Janel Mahalia Smith, both of St. Louis. He is also survived by a host of cousins, other relatives and friends.
Online condolences may be sent to aka197712@yahoo.com.

Bernice Dogan Wilkerson
Funeral services for Bernice Dogan Wilkerson will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Fellowship Baptist Church in South Boston with the Rev. Robert Wimbish officiating.
Burial will follow in the Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the residence, 706 Noblin Ave. in South Boston.
Mrs. Wilkerson, 85, died Thursday, July 19, at her residence.
She was born in Besoka, W.Va., on Feb. 9, 1922, the daughter of the late Edwin Dogan and Mamie Barnett Dogan.
Mrs. Wilkerson was a member of the Fellowship Baptist Church.
She is survived by a daughter, Cynthia Wilkerson of Lynchburg; two sons, Willie E. Wilkerson of Clarksville, and Tracy Wilkerson of South Boston; six grandchildren, a daughter-in-law, Temiches Wilkerson of Clarksville, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Mrs. Wilkerson was preceded in death by two sisters, Mable Daniel and Louise Hendricks; four brothers, Otis Dogan, Isaiah Dogan, Howard Dogan and John Chappell.

Frenchy Reaves Lewis
Frenchy Reaves Lewis of Old Cluster Springs Rd., South Boston, died yesterday at her home.
Mrs. Lewis was born in Halifax County May 21, 1927, and was 80 years old.
She was the daughter of the late Jessie Finch Reaves and Virgie Garret Reaves and was married to A.G. Lewis.
Mrs. Lewis was a member of Dan River Baptist Church, the Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 8243 and was a former member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
Mrs. Lewis is survived by her husband; three sons, Odie G. Lewis and wife Carolyn of South Boston, Kenneth D. Lewis and wife Beverly of Amherst, Mark A. Lewis and wife Patti of Virgilina; six sisters, Virginia Reeves of Halifax, Gladys Simmons of Richmond, Hazel Spencer and Mary Emma Irby, both of South Boston, Peggy Barker of Axton and Joyce Moore and Hilda Thomas, both of Jefferson City, Tenn.; six grandchildren, Ashley Sculley, Jessica Lewis, Travis Lewis, Tyler Lewis, Sarah Lewis and Anna Marie Lewis.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Sandy Willis Reaves and Ernest Lacy Reaves.
A funeral service for Mrs. Lewis will be held Wednesday, July 25 at 2 p.m. at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Don Bryant officiating. Burial will follow in the Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Brooks Funeral Home Tuesday from 7-8:30 p.m., and other times at the home.
The family requests that those wishing to give memorials to please give to the charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be sent to brooksfh@earthlink.net.

Jean Wilborn Wilmouth Myers
Jean Wilborn Wilmouth Myers of Woodcrest Apts., South Boston, died Saturday, July 21, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Myers was born in Halifax County on October 5, 1937, to the late Frank Wilborn and Dorothy Burton Wilborn and was 69 years old.
She was of the Baptist faith.
Mrs. Myers is survived by two daughters, Debra Elliott of South Boston, and Lisa Duffer of Halifax; one sister, Carolyn Miller of South Boston; one brother, Beverly Wilborn and wife Jean of Greenville, S.C.; seven grandchildren, Brian Epps, Justin Elliott, Jared Elliott, Jenna Elliott, all of South Boston, Megan Duffer, Brent Duffer, and Mackenzie Duffer, all of Halifax.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Everette Wilmouth.
A graveside service for Mrs. Myers will be held tonight at 7 at the Grace Baptist Church Cemetery, with Rev. Norman Talley officiating.
The family will receive friends a the home of her daughter, Lisa Duffer, 680 Mountain Rd., Halifax.
The family requests that those wishing to give memorials please consider the American Kidney Fund, 6110 Executive Blvd., Suite 1010, Rockville, MD 20852.
Online condolences may be sent to brooksfh@earthlink.net.

Dorothy Davis Campbell
A funeral service for Dorothy Davis Campbell of Seventh Street, Virgilina, will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 24, at Union Christian Church with Rev. Jimmy Pulliam conducting the service.
Mrs. Campbell died July 20 at Somerset at the age of 86.
She was born January 21, 1921, in Winston-Salem, N.C., to the late Frank “Dixie” Davis and Hannah Kirke Davis and was married to the late Russell Eugene Campbell.
Mrs. Campbell was a member of Union Christian Church and was a former member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
She is survived by two daughters, Kit Hooper of Virgilina, and Luanna Bowen of Topsail Beach, N.C.; one son, Rusty Campbell of Cary, N.C.; two grandchildren, Molly Hooper and husband Eric of Scottsville, and Kirke Hooper Sander and husband David of Wake Forest, N.C.; and by two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be tonight at Brooks Funeral Home from 7:00 to 8:30, and other times at the home.
The family requests that those wishing to give memorials please consider Halifax Regional Hospice, 2204 Wilborn Ave., South Boston, VA or your favorite charity.
Online condolences may be sent to brooksfh@earthlink.net.

Halifax County South Wins State Tourney Opener

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
The Halifax County South Dixie Youth Baseball AAA League all-star team got off to a good start in the Virginia DYB AAA State Tournament in Salem with a 2-0 win Saturday over Grayson County.
HCS hurler Drew Link went the distance and held Grayson County to one hit while fanning 11 batters. He yielded only three walks.
Both of the two Halifax County South runs came in the third inning. Zach Holt singled and Ryan Glass reached base on a walk. Tristan Howerton singled and, with the help of a couple of errors on the play by Grayson County, both Holt and Glass scored to give Halifax County South a 2-0 lead which it held the rest of the way.
Halifax County South had five hits in the game with Howerton leading the way with two hits. Link, Holt and Eddie Chaney each had one hit in the game.
Halifax County South was in action again last night, facing Rustburg in a winner’s bracket game. Rustburg beat Goochland 9-3 in its opener.

Junior Boys Open With No-Hit Win Over Christiansburg

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
The Halifax County Dixie Junior Boys all-stars got a combined no-hitter from Dylan Sons and Ryan Puryear, and Sons helped his own cause with a four-for-five day at the plate in a 21-0 four-inning win over Christiansburg in the State Dixie Junior Boys Tournament on Saturday.
Halifax played Madison Heights yesterday in its second game of the tournament, with the winner facing Buckingham tonight at 7 p.m.
The tournament is being held at the Harkrader Sports Complex in Christiansburg.
Sons pitched three innings of no-hit ball against Christiansburg and Puryear came on to hurl the fourth inning, needing only 10 pitches to complete the first no-hitter of the state tournament.
Halifax broke out the bats in a big way, scoring three times in the first and four times in the second, adding six more runs in the third and eight in the fourth inning to help end the game.
Dustin Davis’ RBI double was the big blow for Halifax in the first inning, and four runs in the second made it 7-0.
Halifax scored six times in the third and Sons slugged two triples in the eight-run fourth inning to cap a game where he had two RBIs and scored three runs.
L.J. Barnett had a perfect three-for-three day at the plate for Halifax County, with a pair of doubles and four runs scored along with three RBIs.
Christiansburg had three base runners for the game, one on a first-inning walk, one on an error in the third inning and one in the first on a fielder’s choice.

Barker Edges Falk In Dramatic Finish

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
Adam Barker was mad. So was C.E. Falk.
Both drivers left South Boston Speedway with torn up cars and ill feelings following Saturday night’s Italian Delight 150 racing program.
Barker scored his ninth win of the season in the 150-lap NASCAR Late Model Stock Car Division race, barely edging Falk as they slammed and banged their way through a two-lap sprint to the finish that ended with both cars spinning into the wall in the first turn.
Barker, who led only the final lap of the race, edged Falk by a scant .085 second to get the win. However, the taste of Barker’s victory was soured somewhat as both drivers blamed the other for the crash at the end of the race.
“He (Falk) blocked me twice, so I pushed him down into (turn) three and beat him to the (finish) line,” Barker said, “so he decided to wreck us. If he wants to drive like that, that’s his problem We’ve got a long ways to go this year. I really wish he hadn’t done that.”
Falk, on the other hand, pointed the finger at Barker, alleging that Barker had jumped the start on the final restart.
“He (Barker) hit me before I even went,” Falk said of the final restart.
“He definitely jumped the gun on that. It was pretty much going to come down to who got off of turn four coming to the green flag the best. I thought we were okay in (turns) one and two. We held him off and in (turn) three he just drove me up the racetrack.”
The loss was a bitter one for Falk to swallow.
The 19-year-old Virginia Beach resident had started on the pole and had led the entire race as he and Barker sliced through the field. Falk had built a lead of nearly a quarter of a lap on Barker at lap 106 with only four cars remaining on the lead lap and still had a solid lead when a caution flag came out with four laps to go and erased it.
That caution period was just what Barker needed as it put the four lead-lap cars together at the head of the pack for a two-lap sprint to the finish.
Barker got into Falk as Falk attempted to block Barker’s bid for the top spot. Coming off of the fourth turn on the final lap side-by-side, the two cars made contact again as they raced to the checkered flag. They made contact one final time as they crossed the finish line and both cars went spinning into the first turn wall.
With appearances of a confrontation quickly brewing, track NASCAR officials promptly intervened and sent both drivers to their respective trailers and sent members of both race teams to their respective pit areas.
“Our car was really hooked up,” Falk said.
“I was just trying to take care of my equipment and trying to finish this thing out. I hated for that last caution to happen because we had the thing pretty much sewn up.”
Barker said he was confident of his chances for the win if he could get a good jump on the final restart.
“I felt like I could get a jump on him on the start, and I did,” Barker said.
“I think he (Falk) slipped a little bit down in (turns) one and two. He tried to block me going down the backstretch. I pushed him into (turn) three because if he’s going to block me he’s got to take the push. He went up the track and I got under him and beat him back to the (finish) line We got to the (finish) line side-by-side and then I got wrecked going into (turn) one.”
Wayne Ramsey was in the mix at the end but settled for a third-place finish. Ramsey, who won the season opener in his Ford, said he had the best view of the incident.
“I had the best view in the house,” Ramsey remarked after edging Rodney Cook of Reidsville, N.C. for third place.
“I could see it happening. I could have gotten right in the middle with them but I’d probably have wound up in the wall myself. It wasn’t worth tearing the car up doing that mess. I’m happy with third and having the only car here in Victory Lane.”
David Triplett Jr. of Timberlake, N.C. rounded out the top five finishers, following Barker, Falk, Ramsey and Cook at the finish.
Jerame Donley of Winston-Salem, N.C, Eddie Johnson of Midlothian, Deac McCaskill of Raleigh, N.C., Owen Miller of Emporia and Jonathan Bailey of Keysville rounded out the top ten finishers.
Only the top four finishers were on the lead lap at the end of the race.
Barker averaged 77.641 mph in the race that took 48 minutes and six seconds to complete.