By JOE CHANDLER
Virgilina Elementary School has avoided the ax one more time, but by the most narrow of margins.
A split 4-4 vote by the Halifax County School Board on a motion to close the school left the motion to fail and the more than 200 Virgilina area residents that packed the meeting to cheer.
"I'm excited, ecstatic," said Virgilina Mayor John Youngk, one of the Virgilina citizens spearheading the effort to save the small community school of 84 students.
"I shook hands with (School Superintendent) Dennis Witt and we're going to join with his force to make that school the best in the community. We're going to make it a model."
The outcome pleased new Board of Supervisors chairman David Martin.
Earlier this month, supervisors passed a resolution requesting the school board to not close Virgilina Elementary School.
"I commend the school board for the decision it made," Martin said.
"I think this is the first step in a long process of taking the county in a positive direction.
"When the (school board) chairman, Mr. Anderson looked at me and said 'we'll be in touch,' I fully expect them to get in touch with me," added Martin.
"I fully expect the Board of Supervisors to work with the school board to bolster the viability of our outlying communities."
Casting the votes against the closing of the school were new school board member Arthur Reynolds, Alan Gravitt, G.C. Ratliff and Carl Furches.
Board chairman Steve Anderson, vice chairman Patricia Nelson, Jason Parker and D.H. McDowell Jr. voted in favor of closing the school.
Gravitt's vote turned out to be the surprise of the meeting.
Up to that point, the Halifax attorney had spoken in favor of closing the school citing its lack of students and the high costs involved in renovating the facility.
After pleas from county officials including Bill Confroy, the Executive Director of the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority, and former delegate W.W. "Ted" Bennett to keep the school open for the sake of the Virgilina community and it's potential for future economic development, Gravitt continued to voice concerns about keeping the school open.
"Everybody says they don't want to close Virgilina Elementary School but they don't necessarily say I want my tax rate to go up to do it or I want you to cut out something to do it," Gravitt said.
"I really didn't know how to take the resolution I read in the paper last week. Does that mean they're willing to pay the money to keep Virgilina open? Maybe that's one of the things we should find out. I don't know whether the county as a whole or the Board of Supervisors are willing to put up that kind of money.
However, he cast his vote in the other direction after he and Ratliff failed to persuade the body to postpone a vote on the issue until a later time.
"I know that for a lot of people it would prolong the agony but I don't think we need to make a decision tonight," Gravitt said.
"I don't think that the facts, as they exist, justify keeping it open. But, for whatever reason, the issue has generated a lot of support in other areas in terms of budget and in terms of support for a building program.
"It is an issue of fairness," added Gravitt.
"It is an issue of money. It may be that we can work out some sort of solution that could lead to it being kept open."
Ratliff, the school board representative for the Virgilina community, attempted to appeal to a broader issue in his attempt to stave off the attempt to close the community school.
"Regardless of which side of the issue you are on, from what I'm hearing, it seems to me we stand to lose a lot more by closing the school based on the division it would put between us."
School Superintendent Dennis Witt said yesterday that the issue needed to be decided now.
"We needed to take the vote and needed to make the decision one way or the other," Witt said.
"I think the democratic process ran its course. I think now it's time to move on and deal with other matters."
Confroy, citing an opinion that Virgilina has the potential to be a viable economic community in the county, called upon the school board to keep the school open.
He also said school system and county officials need to get together and develop a plan to enhance the county's educational system.
"Under the circumstances, I would look to keep it open and I'd also look at other alternatives," Confroy said.
"I'd approach Halifax County like it doesn't have an elementary school system at all."
Confroy cited a belief that the issue of the composite index matter which cost the county approximately $3.5 million a year ago and again this year has impacted the decision making process.
"But, I think there may be a new day ahead," Confroy noted.
"Until we know that we may have other resources to channel toward elementary schools, it seems discretion is the better part of valor."
Bennett called upon the school board to defer a decision on closing Virgilina Elementary School.
The former delegate said that the Board of Supervisors' action in passing the resolution asking the school board not to close the school shows that a new day is dawning.
"It is an indication we have a proactive board, that we have a progressive board that is willing to work to do for the public schools in this county that have not been done before," Bennett said.
He asked the board, instead, to develop "a clear plan for the significant and major enhancement of public education in Halifax County" and ask the Board of Supervisors to support it.
"I'm asking you to put together the pieces that are essential to set the county apart from the rest of the state with a view toward putting it toward the Board of Supervisors and asking for their support," said Bennett.
"If you do that and cost it out and the Board of Supervisors falls short, then you might as well close Virgilina because we will have lost anyway."
Martin told the school board that while he didn't have a fiscal plan that he could pull out of his back pocket he said the Board of Supervisors will work with the school board to develop a comprehensive plan for education in Halifax County and bolster the outlying areas of the county.
"Let's see if we can come up with an educational plan that will benefit each community school," Martin said, "and not be detrimental to any school because of demographics or building maintenance issues."
The Virgilina issue raged on for the better part of two hours Monday night.
Although the school board had held a public hearing last month, Youngk and other Virgilina citizens were given generous opportunities to reiterate again Monday night various points made at last month's public hearing.
However, some of the Virgilina residents rudely interrupted school board members during the designated time allowed for school board members to speak, sometimes cutting them off in midsentence.
Furches, who has been one of their staunch supporters since the beginning, was one of the school board members who had to sidestep the interruptions.
At the end of the meeting, the Virgilina residents went home with smiles on their faces.
"The vote gives the entire county the chance to take what was obvious and make it into a win for everybody," said Virgilina resident Ralph Tuck.
"We are going to be meeting with Mr. Witt in the next few days to work on strategy to make this a win-win situation for everybody."

By KEITH STRANGE
"There are absolutely people getting off of drunk driving charges or not being charged because we can't get this issue resolved," said Chief Jim Hall of the South Boston Police Department.
As it stands at the moment, law enforcement officials in Halifax County have no resource to draw blood for the purpose of DUI testing.
"The whole issue is having respect for people's time, and applying some common sense to what is a simple procedure," said Gaylord Ray, former emergency services director at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Ray also served on the Governors Advisory Council on Emergency Services under governors Wilder and Baliles, and is the former state EMS Medical Director.
The entire issue stems from keeping nurses away from the hospital to spend the day in court testifying about the procedure, according to Ray.
"They sometimes had to take the entire day off and never got to testify," he said.
But when they did testify the real trouble began.
"It came to a point that the nurses were being badgered on the stand over a simple procedure."
Mike Freshour, assistant public defender, said that is not the case.
"I've never seen anyone badgered on the stand.
"The judge would put a stop to any badgering that took place," he said.
While Ray was still emergency room director, the decision was made.
"If you can't keep the nurses out of court, (the hospital) is going to stop doing the tests."
Ray is quick to point out that the same problem was occurring in Mathews County.
"But we put a stop to it with two sheets of paper.
"Judges Fowlkes and DeHardit accepted the proposal ( in Mathews County) in 1985 to allow trained EMTs to draw the blood. They issued a court order, and that was the end of it," he said.
The former EMS director said that many people have acknowledged that there is a problem getting blood alcohol (BAC) results, and there should be an easy fix to the problem.
"I talked to John (Greenbacker) several years ago to find a way for the hospital to keep doing the tests and keep the nurses from coming to court," he said.
Ray says that it is a procedural problem that is at the heart of the issue.
"(The nurses) simply draw the blood and hand the vial back over to the officer," he said.
"Then they have to go spend a day in court and be badgered on the stand," Ray continued.
Commonwealth's Attorney John Greenbacker agrees.
"The nurses don't want to have to sit in a courtroom all day long just to be subjected to a certain level of abuse for just doing their job," he said.
But he says that the ultimate blame should rest with the General Assembly.
"That's where the problem really lies, with the legislation as it is written," he said.
Ray said that when he first arrived in Halifax County there was a cooperation problem, "But we worked it out temporarily with the Commonwealth's Attorney."
"Then the nurses started being abused on the stand, and after some discussion with Greenbacker, we stopped the tests."
Ray says that the relationship between the hospital and the Commonwealth Attorney's office is amicable.
"John (Greenbacker) has tried to be helpful, but the nurses were uniformly subpoenaed and felt demeaned on the stand," he said.
Ray said that in February of 1999 he tried to get the procedure in place that would be acceptable to both parties and avoid the need for nurses to have to testify.
He said that the program was essentially to train EMTs and certain police officers to be able to perform the tests.
"I would have given them certificates that fulfilled the criteria of the law," he said.
"Judge Cunningham said that the procedure looked okay, but the defense attorneys didn't accept it.
"So, on January 1, 2000, the hospital officially stopped performing BAC tests for law enforcement personnel," Ray said.
There was a period in Halifax County where there were three people who were trained and certified to draw blood for BAC testing.
"Shawn Sweeney, former police chief for the Town of Halifax, was one of the three people I trained," Ray said.
"The first case he got, he was called to court either four or five times," he added.
Ray said that Halifax County Rescue Squad heard about what was happening to the nurses on the witness stand and refused to even consider drawing blood for BAC testing.
"What is aggravating about this is that in Mathews County, this was settled so easily, and here its been dragging on for over three years and can't get settled," he said.
The former ER director claims that the whole reason for the problem with BAC tests is "defense attorneys are highly paid to try to find a loophole to get the defendants off. But their objections have become ridiculous."
Freshour, who said that he wasn't speaking for the public defenders commission, disagrees.
"The Virginia code lays out specific steps that have to be taken as to how the tests should be administered, and requirements as to who administers them," the assistant public defender said.
According to the statute, the only people able to draw blood for testing are physicians, registered professional nurses, laboratory technicians, or a nurse or technician designated by order of the court.
(see insert for a copy of the statute)
He said that the job of the defense attorney by nature demands scrupulous attention to detail.
"Our job is to make sure that our clients receive a fair trial.
"It's not about making the system easy, it's about people's lives.
"If the government is going to take away someone's liberty, our job is to make sure that they do it fairly within the parameters of the law and the constitution," he said.
There are various opinions on how to remedy the problem.
"There has to be a way to establish that the proper procedures were followed without requiring testimony from hospital personnel," Greenbacker said.
"Other jurisdictions have dealt with the problem, and in most instances it's been taken care of by having the officers observing the drawing of blood, and testifying for the procedure, and producing the disposable implements used to take the blood draw," he added.
"In my personal opinion, having an officer testify as to the procedure and bring the implements in to court should establish substantial compliance with the state statute,"
"But in our General District court, they aren't."
Ray has a different view.
"My personal opinion is to come up with a protocol and have the EMTs or nurses draw the blood without having to testify in court," he said.
"If this was taking out a pituitary gland, it would be different. But this is a simple procedure.
"It's become ludicrous."
Both Chief Jim Hall and Captain Jim Binner of the South Boston Police Department say that they know of people who are not being charged with DUI because of the issue.
"There are absolutely people getting off drunk driving charges because we can't get this resolved," they said.
Freshour said that he isn't so sure.
"I don't know of anyone getting off or not being charged (with drunk driving) in Halifax County," he said.
"But," he added, "I'm not out there everyday."
Hall said that there is a two hour window that the legislation allows after the arrest of an individual for BAC testing.
"We can get the blood tests done, but we have to drive the defendants to Danville to get them, and we have done that," Hall said.
They said that in those cases, the people drawing the blood come to court in Halifax to testify.
"I know that in a lot of jurisdictions the court takes judicial notices of the people drawing the blood and they don't have to come to court," Hall added.
Sergeant Jeff Lane of the Virginia State Police said that his department has had problems getting BAC testing from time to time.
"There are not a lot of places where you can get blood drawn at 2 a.m.," he said.
"Some of the time our guys are having to go out of the area to get the tests done," Lane added.
Ray said that the problem had far-reaching implications.
"It's not only an embarrassment, there is a safety issue, because we can't get these people off of the street.
"They are destroying the reputation of the hospital to get these people off," he said.
Ray claims that the whole issue revolves around having respect for people's time, "and applying some common sense to a simple procedure."
"It's not fair to the police officers who are out there trying to keep us safe and to have to let these people off.
"We have to have a system in place to keep things running smoothly with regard to drawing blood," he stressed.
Freshour disagrees.
"Everyone wants to see criminals punished, but it needs to be done fairly, within the confines of our constitution, not necessarily expeditiously," he said.
Judge Cunningham was out of the office and unavailable for comment.

Halifax/South Boston Regional Narcotic Enforcement Task Force announced yesterday that on January 14 at approximately 4:30 p.m. James Earl Hodge, 19, of Mountain Road, Halifax was arrested and charged with the murder of Douglas Witcher and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Hodge is currently being held in the Halifax Regional Jail without bond.
The task force also arrested a 16-year-old male juvenile.
The juvenile was charged with the murder of Douglas Witcher and is currently being held in the W.W. Moore Juvenile Detention Center in Danville.
The charges are the result of an investigation that began on June 25, 2001 when Douglas Edward Witcher, 22, of Henry's Trail in Nathalie was killed as a result of a drive-by shooting at a residence on Beulah Road.
Another victim of the drive-by, Luther Powell, 20, of Nunley Bridge Road, Nathalie was shot four times.
Powell was treated at the Halifax Regional Hospital and released.
The investigation revealed that the motive for the murder was the theft of a pit bull puppy.
Last summer, as a result of the numerous shootings, the South Boston Police Department, Halifax County Sheriff's Office, Virginia State Police, and Halifax/South Boston Regional Narcotic Enforcement Task Force organized a special task force dedicated to solving these crimes and ending the violence in the community.
After a six month investigation, the officers of the task force began the arrest phase in the Witcher investigation by arresting James Hodge for the murder.
Subsequent to Hodge's arrest, officers searched a residence on Mountain Road in the Birchland Park community and seized weapons, drug paraphernalia, a large amount of crack cocaine and a small amount of cash.
Simultaneously, officers searched an additional residence on Melon Road in the Paces community and seized weapons, crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia.
To date, arrests have been made in four of the five drive-by shootings.
The success of these investigations is a result of the diligence of the Officers of the South Boston Police Department, Deputies of the Halifax County Sheriff's Office and the Virginia State Police.
The task force would like to thank all citizens who assisted and called in with information pertaining to the investigation.
The investigation is continuing and additional arrests are expected.
Additional charges are expected on Hodge and the juvenile.

South Boston Town Council has approved a special use permit for Southside Community Services Board (SCSB) to operate Gateway-Halifax Apartments on Berry Hill Road as part of a negotiated settlement in a lawsuit brought against the town by SCSB last year.
Councilmen also approved a special use permit for Halifax Regional Hospital to build a $3-million, 5,500 square foot, three-story addition to house a full-time MRI/ mammography unit.
The permit was approved with the condition that if any changes are made to the site plan the hospital would apply for an amended permit.
Both actions came after public hearings during which no one spoke against either permit.
Jules Modlinski, executive director of the SCSB,
"It's our intent to abide by the agreement," said Dr. Jules Modlinski, who told council that the SCSB supported the approval and that he appreciated their willingness to sit down and negotiate.
Charles Phillips, a Berry Hill Road resident, spoke in favor of the permit, asking that the apartments be monitored to ensure compliance.
The key element of the permit is the condition providing for 24-hour supervision at Gateway in the form of a resident manager, who would maintain his/her residence at the site.
That resident manager is required to maintain regular office hours at the Gateway site from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on SCSB work days and at all times be available by phone to receive calls concerning Gateway apartments or its residents.
As part of the negotiated settlement of the SCSB lawsuit, legal counsel for both the town and SCSB will file the required documents to dismiss the lawsuit.
Hospital Permit Approved
Chris Lumsden, CEO of Halifax Regional Hospital and Halifax Regional Health System, spoke on behalf of the project, meant to expand MRI and mammography services.
The two story facility will encompass a total square footage of 5,500 to 5,580 square feet and will be added to the southwest corner of the hospital.
Lumsden said the radiology unit at the hospital would be expanded by 2,500 square feet after relocation and that a new fixed based MRI unit will be housed within that unit.
"Currently, there is a six to eight week wait for mammography exams, and for MRIs, a one week wait," said Lumsden.
"We anticipate the number of MRI exams with a fixed base unit will exceed 2,000 for the first year of operation."
Lumsden also said he anticpated one additional mammography technician and two to three additional MRI technologists would be needed after expansion of those services.
He estimated the completion date for the project would be sometime this summer.
Town Code Amendments
Councilmen also approved amendments to the town's zoning ordinance allowing bus stations in B-2 General Business Districts and M-1 Manufacturing Districts, and designating required parking requirements for such facilities.
The amendments would allow bus stations "for the transfer of passengers and sale of tickets but not including vehicle maintenance and driver domicile facilities in a B-2 General Business District."
Vehicle maintenance and driver domicile facilities would be permitted along with passenger transfer and ticketing in a M-1 General Industrial Îistrict.
Greyhound officials have indicated their interest in relocating the bus stop, currently located on John Randolph Blvd., to another as yet undetermined site in town.
Sign Amendments
An amendment increasing the size of signs in a T-1 Transitional District was also approved by councilmen after a public hearing in which Dr. Mark Morris spoke in favor.
Morris, owner of the Halifax Eye Care Center, who recently moved his clinic to Webster Street, is requesting a 57-square-foot sign for his new building.
A wall sign of that size was not permitted under the old zoning ordinance.
Amendments call for an aggregate area of all permanent signs located on a lot not exceeding one square foot for each linear foot of lot frontage along the street, in no case more than 100 square feet.
Wall signs are limited to 60 square feet, with freestanding signs permitted with the requirement that they be ground mounted.
In the case of a hospital, the maximum area of signs would not exceed two square feet for each linear foot of lot frontage, in no case more than 300 square feet.
Other Items
· Councilmen authorized Town Financial Officer Vandie Saunders to continue collection efforts of the three-year delinquent real estate tax list.
They also authorized Saunders to start collecting delinquent real estate taxes on an annual basis.
· South Boston Police Chief Jim Hall introduced four new police department employees Monday.
Police officers Ray Lilly, Michael McGregor and Aaron Fisher, as well as Robert Tune, the town's new animal control officer, were introduced to council.
· Councilmen discussed the ongoing dispute involving Dixie Inc. on Monday.
Council's discussion came after two separate public meetings in which Dixie Inc. board members and coaches and parents of players involved in the Dixie Inc. baseball programs aired their positions before council.

Halifax County Middle School Lions boys basketball coach Mike Hailey has been waiting all season to see his team get its shooting on track.
He finally got to see it Monday night.
The Lions, putting on its best shooting exhibition of the season to date, put together a big first quarter and third quarter enroute to an easy 61-28 win over Park View here Monday night.
"Shooting-wise, tonight was the best game we've played," Hailey said after his team recorded its tenth win of the season in as many games and maintained its spot at the top of the conference standings.
"We've been beating people all year long with our defense and kind of squeeking them out against the better opponents but tonight we really shot the ball well.
"In the third quarter, I think we were 10-14 and missed two layups in those four misses," added Hailey.
"I'd say that's a pretty good breakout."
The good shooting night resulted in 11 of Halifax County's 14 players getting into the scoring column.
Marcus Coleman led the way with a game-high 12 points and was followed by Jeremy Jeffress with 11 points and Daniel Crosby with 10 points.
Derek Brooks and Willie Stephens each had six points and Jermall Bumpass and Mark Meadows both scored four points in the contest.
Halifax County's good shooting was also shown through the five three-point baskets it had in the contest.
Two of the three-pointers came from Jeffress. Coleman, Bumpass and Shawn Anderson had one each.
While Halifax had a good shooting night, its stifling defense also played a key role in the outcome.
The Lions' pressure defense created problems for Park View which suffered through a myriad of turnovers and miscues against the Halifax pressure.
"We don't have that many ball handlers right now, said Park View coach Ivan Parker.
"I think my guys have improved but we need to work on our pressure drives and getting the ball across the court.
"They (Halifax) started out having two good first quarters and, after that, we got into the hole and couldn't get ourselves back out."
Halifax opened the game with an 8-0 run in the first two and a half minutes of the contest with two baskets from Coleman and a basket each from Jeffress and Meadows.
Park View's Tyson Dunston broke the run with a basket at the 4:30 mark but Halifax responded with a 12-0 spurt that lifted the Lions to a 23-2 lead with 1:04 left in the quarter.
Two baskets by Meadows and a basket each from Jeffress, Coleman, Crosby and Stephens comprised the run.
From there, Halifax raised the lid from its 19-point 23-4 first quarter lead with back-to-back baskets from Crosby and Stephens in the first minute of the second quarter to move out to a 27-4 lead.
Halifax went on to outscore Park View 11-5 in the second six minutes of play to chalk up a 34-11 lead at halftime.
The Lions got back on the mark with their shooting in the third quarter.
Two baskets by Coleman and a bucket from Stephens in the opening minute and a half of the second half vaulted Halifax to a 42-11 lead.
Park View baskets from Randall Rivers and Taj Lesane brought the visitors to within 27 points at 42-15.
Park View trailed by 30 points at 45-15 when officials nailed the Park View coach with a technical foul.
The Lions' Derek Brooks sank the two free throws and canned a shot on the ensuing possession to put Halifax up by 34 points at 49-15.
Halifax upped its 51-19 lead at the end of the third quarter to a game-high 36 points when Anderson connected for a three-pointer with 1:41 left that put the Lions up 58-22.
Park View got a pair of three-pointers from Leonard Coleman in the final 1:27 of the game but it was far too little too late as Halifax emerged with the 61-28 win.
The visitors were led in scoring by Lesane and Coleman who scored sveen points each.
Dunston followed with six points and Randall Rivers, Marlin Smith, Tivvs Johnson and Michael Creamer each added two points to the total.

Gertrude Lacks Clark

Gertrude Lacks, Clark, 91, of 1029 Mosley Ferry Road, Clover, died January 13 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Clark was born in Halifax County on March 24, 1910, the daughter of Thomas U. Lacks and Hattie Whitlow Lacks and was married to Chester W. Clark Sr. She was a member of Clover Baptist Church and was a retired practical nurse with Little Retreat Clinic.
A funeral service will be held today, January 16 at 2 p.m. at Clover Baptist Church with the Rev. Tom Walker officiating. Burial will follow in Clover Cemetery.
Survivors of Mrs. Clark include one son, George T. Clark Sr. of South Boston; one daughter, Beatrice 'Bea' Bomar of Madison Heights; one daughter-in-law, Frances N. Clark of Lynchburg; one sister, Ruby Lacks of Clover; one brother, Roy Lacks of Newport News; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, Chester W. Clark Jr.; three brothers and four sisters.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Clover Baptist Church, Clover Volunteer Fire Department, or Halifax County Rescue Squad.

Franklin Harvey Martin

Franklin Harvey 'Frank' Martin, 67, of 190 North Main Street, Halifax, died January 13 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Martin was born in Halifax County on May 5, 1934, the son of Wesley Harvey Martin and Anna Powell Martin and was married to Jean Thomason Martin. He was a member of Southside Baptist Church and a retired salesman for Lance, Inc.
Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Tammy M. Fallen and her husband Ray of Alton, Tracy L. Shaw and her husband, Brent of Roxboro, N.C. and Karen M. Ailstock and her husband, Stan of Motoaca; and six grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mr. Martin will be held today, January 16 at 2 p.m. at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Don Bryant officiating. Burial will follow in Halifax Memorial Gardens.

Floyd Carlton Fallen

Floyd Carlton 'Goo' Fallen, 64, of 2047 Lowery Road, South Boston, died January 14 at Henrico Doctors Hospital.
Mr. Fallen was born in Halifax County on November 9, 1937. He was married to Dolly Fisher Fallen and was a member of Berry Hill Presbyterian Church. He was owner of Fallen Racing Car #2 and owner/operator of Fallen Trucking, Inc.
A funeral service will be held January 17 at 2 p.m. at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Terry Blevins officiating. Burial will follow in Berry Hill Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
Survivors of Mr. Fallen include his wife; two daughters, Teresa Fallen and her husband, Clay Whitehead of Richmond and Dawn Pedersen and her husband, Duane of South Boston; one son, Roy Mitchell and his wife, Marsha of Wichita, Ks.; two sisters, Florine Bomar and Geraldine Overstreet, both of Clover; two brothers, Ralph Fallen of Nathalie and Jackie Fallen of Halifax; and five grandchildren, Austin and Brooke Thaxton, both of South Boston, Garrett, Alec and Alysa Mitchell, all of Wichita.
The family will receive friends this evening, January 16 between 7:00 and 9:00, at Brooks Funeral Home and other times at the home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Patrick Henry Boys & Girls Plantation or Berry Hill Presbyterian Church.

James Allen Davis

James Allen Davis, 89, of 14211 Mountain Road, Vernon Hill, died January 14 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Davis was born in Halifax County on January 25, 1912, the son of Charlie Henry Davis and Virgie Allen Davis and was married to Beulah Alderson Davis. He was a member of Ingram United Church of Christ and played the banjo with Tight Squeeze Philharmonic Orchestra.
Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Allene Davis Wilborn and husband, Ray of Moneta; one granddaughter, Lori Wilborn Riano of Greensboro, NC.
Graveside services for Mr. Davis will be held January 17 at Highland Burial Park in Danville at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Joseph Willis conducting the service.

Edmond Farmer

Edmond Farmer, 67, of 1809 Friend Avenue, South Boston, died January 13 at Danville Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Farmer was born in Halifax County on June 28, 1934, the son of the late Henry Farmer and Alice Jackson Farmer. He was a member of Peaceful Tabernacle Baptist Church and was a retired employee of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.
Survivors include two brothers, Henry Farmer Jr. and Malcolm Farmer, both of South Boston; one uncle, Paul Farmer of South Boston; and one sister-in-law, Virginia Farmer.
Funeral services for Mr. Farmer will be held January 19 at 2 p.m. at St. Luke Apostolic Holiness Church with Elder Harry Betts officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Garden Cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Farmer, 1809 Spring Avenue.

Joseph Coleman

Joseph Coleman, 83, of 2229 Sandy Beach Road, South Boston, died January 14 at The Meadowview Terrace in Clarksville.
Mr. Coleman was born in Mt. Union, Pa. on August 29, 1918, the son of the late Joseph Coleman Sr. and Bessie Coleman and was married to Pauline Marsh Coleman. He was a member of St. Paschal Catholic Church and was a WWII Army Veteran.
Survivors include his wife; one son, Joseph R. Coleman of South Boston; two sisters, Viola Coleman of Alton and Gladys McEaddy of Md.; and two grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mr. Coleman will be held January 18 at 10 a.m. at St. Paschal Catholic Church with burial to follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the Chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home Thursday evening from 6 until 7.

Dorsey Major Crenshaw

Dorsey Major Crenshaw, 83, of 715 Traver Avenue, South Boston, died January 14 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Crenshaw was born in Halifax County on March 31, 1918, the son of Major Crenshaw and Ruth Osborne Crenshaw and was married to Alice Ratliff Crenshaw. He was a member of Mountain Road Baptist Church and a retired supervisor with JPS.
A funeral service will be held January 17 at 2 p.m. at Mountain Road Baptist Church with the Rev. Andy Patterson officiating. Burial will follow in Halifax Memorial Gardens.
Survivors of Mr. Crenshaw include his wife; one daughter, Dottie Foushee of Roxboro, N.C.; two sons, Gregory Crenshaw of Pinehurst N.C. and Mark Crenshaw of Halifax; five sisters, Kathryn Satterfield of Halifax, Becky Conway, Mary Crenshaw, Millie Rodia and Nancy Duffie, all of South Boston; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Archer, John and Maxwell Crenshaw, and two sisters, Billie and Margaret Crenshaw.
The family will receive friends this evening, January 16 between 6:30 and 9:00 at Brooks Funeral Home and other times at the home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Mountain Road Baptist Church.