Friday, January 16, 2004

Hogan Blasts 'Shift' In K-12 Funding
Delegate Concerned That Changes In Education Formula Could Threaten Rural Funding

By Keith Strange | GV Staff Writer

What is being described as a "major shift" in state policy regarding K-12 funding could potentially be a sticking point in the General Assembly this session, Del. Clarke Hogan (R-60) said yesterday.

In the proposed $59 billion budget submitted to the General Assembly this week, Governor Mark R. Warner proposes deducting local and federal education funding before applying the county's composite index, effectively signaling a change in the way the state computes each locality's money for K-12 education.

"That is essentially a tremendous state policy change that's being accomplished through one paragraph in the budget," the delegate said. "I can't support a budget that includes that language.

"It amounts to a de facto change in the composite index," he charged. "If it comes up for a vote on the floor, I've told the people in appropriations that I won't support it.

"This paragraph is going to be a major point of contention this session," Hogan predicted.

The language in question deducts local and federal money, technology expenditures and funding for K-3 class size reductions before applying the county's 23.8 percent composite index.

"We (Halifax County) pay 23 cents and the state pays 76 cents of every education dollar spent in Halifax County," Hogan said. "This says we're (the state) going to take out the federal money and pay 76 percent of what's left."

Contacted yesterday, Gov. Warner's spokesperson Ellen Qualls disputed Hogan's claim, suggesting the delegate wanted to have his cake and eat it, too.

"It was going to cost the state's taxpayers $400 million more dollars across the state to include the federal and local money in the baseline," she charged. "He's (Warner) increased K-12 education funding by $774 million and people are complaining.

"Could he have increased it more by including the federal money in the composite index calculation as part of the base? Yes. But then the tax increases in his reform plan would be higher and Delegate Hogan would need to suport them to get the extra money," Qualls said.

"I can understand Clarke's (Hogan) intellectual argument," she added. "But he's trying to have it both ways. He wants more money for education, but he questions tax increases to get it.

"The governor has increased public education for Halifax County by $1,180,756 in the two-year budget," she said. "Everyone wants to fund education more, even the House Republicans. We have to come up with something everyone can live with."

Using Warner's preliminary figures, removing federal and state funding from the baseline calculations will cost the county $1,733,760 in state and local income, $370,334 in technology funds and $102,745 in K-3 funding, for a loss of composite index funding totalling $2,226,839.

If the governor's full tax proposal is passed, however, Halifax County will see the increase in total education funding, Qualls said.

According to Warner's figures, in FY 2004, Halifax County received a total of $30,438,806 in state education dollars.

The governor's plan, introduced Wednesday, would see total education revenue of $31,586,739 in Halifax County next year.

Much of that money comes from adjustments made while re-benchmarking technical funds like teacher salaries, sales tax and enrollment funds.

Re-benchmarking is re-adjusting population levels and other basic standards to determine the baseline for funding.

The technical adjustments for Halifax County call for an increase of $2,982,537 in 2005.

Hogan said yesterday that Halifax County citizens could see a dramatic increase in tax payments with little to show for it.

"The impact is I'd have to raise taxes a whole lot to get (Halifax County) a little more," he said.

Halifax County School Superintendent Dennis Witt pointed out that he was worried about the precedent Warner's proposal set.

"This is a major shift in how we apply the composite index," Witt said.
"It sets a precedent for the funding formula for state funds for public education to be changed in the budget process, and that's a dangerous precedent to set," he added. "If it can be done this year, it can be done next year."

Hogan suggested that the figures will very likely make passing a budget in the General Assembly more difficult.

"Because the governor built the tax increases into his budget, it in effect covers this (the reductions)," he said. "We would get a little more money if the increases pass as they are, but that's not going to happen.

"As we dig into (the budget), we find moves like this and it makes it hard to have an honest conversation about the budget," Hogan added. "I have to go back and check every fact (in the budget) to see if it's some ruse.

Halifax Seeks Enterprise Zone
Espy Hopeful Designation Will Complement Revitalization Efforts

Halifax Town Manager Carl Espy is hoping that legislation filed in the General Assembly will pave the way for certain areas within the town to be designated an enterprise zone.

He outlined his plan to members of the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority during their meeting yesterday, saying he was hopeful the group would support the plan.

"This sets the stage for the type of meaningful dialogue and collaborative action the Halifax Town Council is seeking with the IDA, county and South Boston to ensure the success of our community's overall economic
development strategy," the town manager said.

House Bill 599, filed Tuesday and currently being considered in the Committee on Commerce and Labor, would add 10 new zones the governor can designate across the state and requires that five of these zones be located in localities that have no current enterprise zones.

"The Town of Halifax is one locality that would benefit from the proposed legislation," he said.

Enterprise zones are designated areas of the community that provide incentives to businesses locating within the zone.

They offer state incentives including tax credits and job grants for businesses located within the zone.

The area Espy is seeking to have included in the zone encompasses most of the business areas within town limits.

"It would be one zone in the town that would include downtown, the areas zoned for commercial and manufacturing on the rail corridor, the U.S. 501 corridor and the 501 north corridor to Banister Lake," he said.

Espy said he's hopeful the creation of the zone would complement the town's revitalization efforts.

"It would include a Craddock Terry Business Incubator, a county initiative within the zone, and could include a technical zone overlay downtown and the Southern Gateway redevelopment plan at the U.S. 501 entrance to the town.

"We're looking for businesses to locate within the county seat to compliment our residential, rural village atmosphere," he said.

SCC Names Board

In response to a public challenge late last year from Supervisor-elect Doug Bowman, Southside Concerned Citizens Chairman Jack Dunavant released the organization's board of directors membership in a prepared statement yesterday.

"SCC is and always has been a very issue-driven organization," said Dunavant.

"Some people feel more passionately about one issue that another, so they become more or less active depending on the issue at hand.

"Today our board of directors is made up of the following people: Jack Dunavant, chairman; Tom Hundley, vice chairman; Wallace Nunn, treasurer; Sarah Epps, secretary, Bob Cage, John Crews, Jesse Crews, Hap Hagood and Joe Simonson."

SCC was asked to release its board of directors membership following its challenge last fall to Halifax Regional Hospital's administration to release the names of its board of directors.

In November, SCC, in a letter to the media, had challenged Halifax Regional Hospital's contributions to civic organizations ($400,000 to the Continuing Education Center and $250,000 pledged to The Prizery), administrative bonuses, building purchases and political contributions.

At the time, Halifax Health System CEO Chris Lumsden adamantly denied the hospital had made political contributions, that building purchases were sound business decisions, that the hospital's core values included contributions to the community and that he was evaluated annually but that the bonus is not based on the performance of Halifax Regional.

SCC
The following is SCC's letter issued Tuesday in its entirety:

"Southside Concerned Citizens is a nonprofit, all volunteer, 501 C-3 corporation which was formed in the early 1980s in Chatham, Va.

It was created in response to the threat of uranium mining along the shores of
the Banister River. Halifax attorney James Edmunds joined SCC in 1981 when he became concerned about the effects uranium mining would have on our area downstream from the proposed mining site.

Soon after joining SCC, Mr. Edmunds went about recruiting other Halifax County residents and a year later, in 1982, SCC's operations were moved to Halifax. Two current SCC board members, Bob Cage and Jack Dunavant, were recruited by Mr. Edmunds.

The mission of SCC is to protect the environment and quality of life in Southern Virginia. We do this by educating our members and the general public about issues that threaten our region.

Southern Virginia is blessed with many rivers and interconnecting streams, fertile land and clean air. These treasures must be protected for future generations, and today that is being accomplished by a very dedicated group volunteering time, talents and resources known as SCC.

Everyone is an environmentalist! We all want clean air and clean water and environmentally SCC represents all of the thousands of people across Southern Virginia.

SCC's storied past includes its participation in numerous public meetings from Martinsville, over to Virginia Beach, up to Fairfax County and many points in between. We have also attended numerous meetings in North Carolina, Maryland and Washington, D. C.

Since the early 1980s when SCC fought long and hard across the state of Va. and in the General Assembly to ward off uranium mining, we have successfully waged battles against a proposed nuclear waste dump in Halifax Co., a low level nuclear storage site, a medical waste facility and fought for best available technology for power plant stack emissions in our area.

In the late 1990s SCC spearheaded the effort to protect Southside Virginia from an influx of foul smelling and polluting industrial hog farms that after years of problems in North Carolina were looking for a new place to set up shop.

We traveled to eastern North Carolina and found people who were virtual prisoners in their own homes because the stench from nearby hog facilities prevented them from going outside. Many experienced health problems related to the high concentrations of contaminants in the air and water.

We found that industrial hog farms not only pollute but are notoriously cruel to animals, which often are kept alive by the daily use of steroids and antibiotics.
These factory hog farms have also proven to reduce nearby property values by as much as 90%. SCC attracted as many as 1000 supporters to a public hearing on this one issue.

More recently, SCC has worked to promote community schools. We feel that communities benefit when they have their own identity and a school is a very big part of a small community. South Carolina has recently passed a law mandating that small schools not be closed.

All of us in Halifax County and across Southern Virginia need to keep in mind that, because of our rural nature, we have little political clout in Richmond and Washington. We are ever vulnerable to all the things that nobody else wants.

SCC is and always has been a very issue driven organization. Some people feel more passionately about one issue than another so they become more or less active depending on the issue at hand. Today our board of directors is made up of the following people: Jack Dunavant, chairman; Tom Hundley, vice chairman; Wallace Nunn, treasurer; Sarah Epps, secretary, Bob Cage, John Crews, Jesse Crews, Hap Hagood & Joe Simonson.

Some of our past directors from this area have been: John Aldworth, Hope Bagwell, William Coleman, John Greenbacker, Jerry Lovelace, Carrington Powell, Gatha Richardson, Beth Robertson, Tom Stutts, Cora Tucker (dec), Frank Wallwork, and Charles Ware.

As we have stated, SCC is all about educating people and for that reason that we have a list of advisors from all over the state and nation who give us invaluable advice and support on issues as they arise. Our advisors are: Joy Able, (N. Va.), George Bagwell, David Bailey (Richmond), Ward Burton, Read Charlton (Charlotte Co.), William Coleman, Rick Dove (N C), Carl Espy, Leslie Ferguson, Bill Fitzgerald, Gary Grant (N C), Dr. Grant Goddell (UVa), Shirley Jackson, Linda Hagenau, Joe Johnson (NC), Scotty Johnson (Arizona), Larry Kannaird (Charlotte Co.), Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (New York), Lisa Long, Karen Maute (Danville), Willie Nelson (country singer), Lottie Nunn, Melva Okun (UNC), Joe Ponton (Charlotte Co.), Lorriane & John Potter (Campbell Co), Karen Priest (NC), Jeff Puryear, Carlysle Ramsey, Polly Ratcliff, Gatha Richardson, Dr. Susan Schiffman (Duke), Jan Schlictman (Boston, Mass.), Kay Slaughter (So. Env. Law Ctr.), Derle Walker (NC), Don Webb (NC), Jane Willis, and Al Zimmerman. We also have a number of advisors who are employed by Halifax Regional Hospital whose names we will not reveal as they fear retribution by the hospital administration.

We rely heavily on our advisors as they make it possible for us to respond to issues very quickly. Sadly we lost two of our most trusted members and advisors last year: Jimmy Edmunds and Biggy Hunt.

The membership of SCC ebbs and flows with the issues. When there is a very contentious issue like uranium mining or corporate hog factories SCC's membership swells to many hundreds. Our mailing list has remained steady at several hundred households.

In addition to our directors and advisors SCC is affiliated with many other regional and national groups: ARSI (Alliance for a Responsible Swine Industry), Roanoke River Basin Association, Sierra Club, Clean Water Network, Va. Forest Watch, Animal Welfare Institute, Humane Farming Association, Free Range Pork Council, Water Keeper Alliance, Defenders of Wildlife, Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, Citizens for Clean Industry, Clean Water Fund for North Carolina, Concerned Citizens of Tillery, Conservation Council of North Carolina, Deer River Coalition Inc., Neuse River Foundation, New River Foundation, North Carolina Environmental Defense Fund, North Carolina Sierra Club, Pamlico-Tar River Foundation, and Southern Environmental Law Center.

SCC would like to emphasize that in the course of educating the public about issues affecting our region we rely heavily on our local newspapers. Because all of our letters to the editor require a signature by our chairman, please keep in mind that all of our information comes from the board of directors after consultation with our advisors; that is to say: the views voiced by SCC and signed by our chairman come from the SCC board and those views have full board approval.

In summary, SCC is a very proactive watchdog group staffed by unpaid volunteers whose goal is to protect the environment and quality of life in southern Virginia.

SCC accepts no corporate money and relies on the support of good everyday working people to accomplish its goals. All of the people of Southside Virginia can take comfort in the fact that Southside Concerned Citizens will remain diligent in its efforts to protect our quality of life.

Thought for the day:
"If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power would be justified in silencing mankind."
John Stuart Mill, English Philosopher (1806-1873)

Mt. Zion Up Next For Comets
HCHS Scored A 72-66 Win Over B-Y Here Wednesday To Run Its Win Streak To Six Games In A Row

By JOE CHANDLER | G-V Staff Writer

Halifax County will face a tough assignment here tonight when it puts its six-game winning streak on the line against Mt. Zion, one of the country's top prep teams.

Mt. Zion, which started the season as the nation's number two team in The Sporting News' preseason poll, has a handful of blue-chip players that are heading to NCAA Division I schools next season.

Among that group is former Northern Durham standout Roy Bright who set several records when Northern Durham played here in the annual BB&T Bank Holiday Classic Basketball Tournament a couple of years ago.

Along with Bright, who is said to be headed to Cincinnati, the Warriors also feature Tasheed Carr who slated to go to Iowa State, Albert Webber who is headed to Alabama, Mohamed Tangara who is expected to go to Arizona and Glen Dandridge who is expected to play at Missouri.

Also on the squad is Brandon Rush, the brother of Los Angeles Lakers player Kareem Rush.

"They (Mt. Zion) will be tough, but the good thing is we will go into the ballgame with a six-game win streak and two wins this week," said Comets coach Garrett Dillard.

"We can go in there with some confidence. We're going in there feeling we can play loose and have a good time, run the ball and see what happens.

"We're not there to give them (Mt. Zion) a win," added Dillard.

"We're there to give them a basketball game and compete with them and see what happens. We'll do what we have to do to try to keep the streak going."

The Comets will enter tonight's game fresh off of a 72-66 win here Wednesday night over Bartlett-Yancey of Yanceyville, N.C.

Wednesday night's win upped the Comets' record to 9-4 overall and extended the Comets' winning streak to six games in a row.

While the Comets did not play as well overall Wednesday night as they did in Tuesday night's road win over Carlisle School (see separate story in sports section), the Comets showed they had the ability to persevere through a tough nip-and-tuck game and do the right things down the stretch to close out a close contest.

The Comets made only one big run in the game, putting together a 10-3 run in the final three minutes and 42 seconds of the game to come from behind and secure the win.

"We play on those spurts," said Dillard.

"We have to remind the guys that you don't always get them in the first quarter but, when you do get a spurt, make sure you get the lead and keep the lead."

The Comets hit five of six free throw attempts in the final 1:09 of the game to secure the win.

Derrick Sprattley canned both free of his free throws, Sharmane Holeman stepped up to knock down both free throws on a one-and-one opportunity at the charity stripe and Quintin Brown hit the front end of a one-and-one opportunity with 10 seconds to play to put the game out of reach.

"That's a sign of total focus," Dillard pointed out.

"I probably couldn't find one time this year where Sprattley hit two free throws back-to-back but down the stretch, with the game on the line, he did it.

Sharmane did the same thing with two free throws back-to-back. When you do that, you give yourself a chance to win."

The way the Comets stuck it out and finished the game off was so pleasing to Dillard that he ranked it as the team's third-best win, right behind the recent Western Valley District win over E.C. Glass and the win over Person High in the championship game of the BB&T Bank Holiday Classic tournament.

"Because of back-to-back games and because at any point we could have folded and let these guys (Bartlett-Yancey) win, this will probably be the third-best win we've had this year," said Dillard.

"Carlisle, Gretna and Laurel Park are great wins but this was an overall better basketball team and they did some good stuff. We're very satisfied."

The Comets had three players in double figures and nine players in the scoring column.

Craig McCargo led the Comets with 25 points, led the team in rebounds with seven boards and tallied seven of the team's nine assists.

Quintin Brown followed with 12 points and Jeremy Jeffress scored 11 points.
Holeman followed with nine points, Sprattley, who led the team against Carlisle the night before, chipped in six points and Derek Brooks, who led the team in blocked shots with three, added four points.

Blake Robertson and James Wyatt scored two points each and Chase Weddle scored one point.

The Comets raced to an early 7-1 lead only to see the Buccaneers put together a 12-0 run to regain the lead.

A layup by Holeman at the horn gave the Comets a 22-20 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Comets got off to a good start in the second quarter with a trey from Brooks with 6:07 left in the half putting Halifax up 30-24.

Bartlett-Yancey got back into contention, tying the game at the midway point of the quarter and grabbing a 38-36 lead at the half.

The Comets' biggest first half struggle was rebounding as the Comets collected only seven rebounds in the first two quarters.

Bartlett-Yancey scored the first two baskets of the third quarter and took a six-point 42-36 lead.

The Buccaneers held the lead until Robertson slipped inside for basket with 1:52 left in the quarter.

The Comets broke a 54-54 deadlock at the end of the third quarter with a try from Jeffress and a layup from McCargo to go up 59-54 in the first minute of the fourth quarter.

But, the game was far from over as Bartlett-Yancey rallied to the tie the game with four minutes to play.

The game was a one-to three point game the rest of the way until Halifax County mounted its late run.

"We came out and our legs just were not there," Dillard said.

"We just didn't have that same bounce that we normally have. But the kids persevered and, down the stretch, that bounce came back and they did some really good things."

Obituaries

George Litz Armbrister

George Litz Armbrister, 79, of Bluefield died January 11 in Bluefield Regional Medical Center.

Mr. Armbrister was born in McDowell County the son of the late Cloyd M. Armbrister and Kathleen M. Sluss Armbrister.

He was a former band director at Northfork High School and Elkorn School and later was music director for many schools in Tazewell County.

Mr. Armbrister received his degree in music at Concord College where he also was a member of the Concord Commanders. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II serving on the U.S.S. Hancock and was in the Navy Band. He was a member of the Virginia Avenue United Methodist Church, Fincastle Country Club, Elks Lodge, Moose Lodge and the Tazewell County Sportsmans Club.

Survivors of Mr. Armbrister include one sister, Ethel Elizabeth Wright of Nathalie; nieces, Janice Davis and husband, Lee Roy, of Nathalie and Lynette Wright of Daleville.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a brother, Cloyd P. Armbrister; and one sister, Hazel Jordan.

Graveside services will be held tomorrow, January 17 at 1 p.m. at Maple Wood Cemetery in Tazewell with the Rev. Lee Roy Davis officiating.

Friends may call from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Dudley Memorial Mortuary in Bluefield.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Virginia Avenue United Methodist Church, 1901 Virginia Avenue, Bluefield, 24605.

Charles B. Covington, Jr.

Charles B. Covington Jr., 79, of Vero Beach, Fla., formerly of Newport News, died January 13 at Hospice House in Vero Beach.

Mr. Covington was born in Halifax County on June 15, 1924, the son of Charles B. Covington and Myrtle Sneed Covington, and was married to Janet B. Covington. He served in the United States Navy, was a survivor of the S.S. Effington Navy Gun Crew which sunk due to German torpedoes off the coast of Murmansk, Russia in 1942.

He served in the Navy reserve from 1947 until his retirement in 1984. Mr. Covington was employed by Warwick County in 1951 and served as the County Treasurer from 1952 to 1958. He also served as the Treasurer for the City of Newport News from 1958 until his retirement in 1978.

Mr. Covington served as president of the Peninsula Heart Association, president of the Treasurer's Association of Virginia and president of the American Legion Home, Inc. He was also a member of Elks Lodge 315, Bremond Lodge A.F.A.M., a member of the Board of Directors for the Virginia Heart Association and was a member of the Naval Reserve Enlisted Association.

Survivors of Mr. Covington include a son, Charles B. Covington III and wife, Vicki, of Newport News; three daughters, Victoria McKenna and husband, John, of Warminster, Pa., Barbara Covington of Durham, N.C. and Candace Covington of Panama City, Fla.; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; three sisters, Marguerite Moss and husband, C.B., of Houston, Texas, Audrey Wells and husband Louis, of Woodstock, Ga. and Maxine King and husband, Keister, of Virginia Beach.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider a charity of your choice.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time.

Richard M. Duckett

A memorial service will be held for Richard M. Duckett on Saturday, January 17 at 7 p.m. at Twiford's Funeral Chapel in Manteo, N.C. The Rev. Brad Bradshaw will officiate.

Mr. Duckett, 64, of Kill Devil Hills, NC, died January 11 in his home. Born in Oelwein, Iowa, he was married to Marion Brown Duckett.

He served in the U.S. Navy and was a plank owner of the USS Mars. After leaving the Navy, he worked for Unisys Corporation. During his time with Unisys, he lived in Woodbridge, Burnsville, Mn. and Sterling. After retirement
Mr. Duckett and his wife started a business in Clarksville in 1990 called "The Little Retreat." After 10 years there, they retired to Kill Devil Hills.

Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Pattie Duckett of Salem, Debi Duckett of South Boston and Kristi Mueller and her husband, Erich, of Ridgeland, Ms; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his mother, Eva Jenkins Talent; his father, Gerald Duckett; and two sisters, Barbara Joan Foster and Marilyn Duckett.

Visitation will begin 30 minutes prior to the service. Following the services, family and friends will gather in Mr. Duckett's home.

Marguerite Riddle Dunkley

Marguerite Riddle Dunkley, 73, of 913 Randolph Avenue, South Boston died January 14 at her home.

Mrs. Dunkley was born in Richmond on November 23, 1930, the daughter of the late Robert P. Riddle and Sallie Blanks Riddle and was married to Howard Leslie Dunkley. She was a member of First Baptist Church where she was a deacon, Sunday school teacher, worked with the audio-visual library and was a former member of the Order of the Eastern Star.

Survivors include her husband; one grandson, Robert Sterling Seamster and wife, Michelle McIntyre Seamster, of Charlotte, N.C.; one granddaughter, Tamara Seamster Smith and husband, Michael Shane Smith, of Florence, S.C.; one brother, Rudolph Tillman Riddle and wife, Betty, of Richmond; four great-grandchildren, Tanner Sterling Seamster and Lakyn Kennedy Seamster, both of Charlotte, Madison Taylor Smith and Morgan Brooke Smith, both of Florence; one sister-in-law, Ellie Rickman and husband, William; two brothers-in-law, Buster Dunkley and wife, Dot, and Raleigh Dunkley.

Mrs. Dunkley was preceded in death by one daughter, Peggy Leigh Dunkley Seamster; a sister, Marjorie Elizabeth Davis; and one brother, Nathaniel Riddle.

Funeral services will be held today, January 16 at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Tim Cannon officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.

Felicia Logan

Felicia Logan of Bronx, N.Y, formerly of Halifax County, died January 12 at Montefiore Medical Center.

She was the daughter of the late Arthur and Janie Ewell Logan.

Funeral services for Ms. Logan will be Sunday, January 18 at 3 p.m. at Millstone Baptist Church with the Rev. Chester Spruill officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Saturday from 6-7 p.m. at Dunn and Sons Funeral Home in Halifax, and other times at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Adolphus Logan, 6205 L.P. Bailey Highway.

Robert Lee Williams

Robert Lee Williams, 82, of 7145 Dryburg Road, Scottsburg died January 14 at his home.

Mr. Williams was born in Halifax County on January 31, 1921, the son of the late Virginia Snead Williams and James Thomas Williams, and was married to Frances Buchanan Williams.

He was a member of Fork Baptist Church, was a former member of the American Legion Post 8, and served in the U.S. Army. Mr. Williams was a retired farmer and employee of J.P.S.

Funeral services will be held today, January 16 at 2 p.m. at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jason Murray officiating. Burial will follow in Clover Cemetery.

Survivors of Mr. Williams include one son, Tommy Williams and wife, Linda, of Scottsburg; one daughter, Carolyn W. Wilmoth and husband, Kenneth, of Clover; two sisters, Blanche Canada of South Boston and Sally Austin of Scottsburg; two brothers, Frank Williams of Scottsburg and Jim Williams of South Boston; three granddaughters, Darlene and Jeanie Williams and Teresa Wilmoth Seamster; one grandson Ken Wilmoth; two great-grandchildren, Kelly and Heather Seamster; and a special friend, Tristan James 'T.J. Wade, of Charlotte Courthouse. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Patricia Ann Williams; and one son, Robert Page Williams.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax Regional Hospice, 2204 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, 24592, or your local fire department.

Desiree Kaye Propst Satterfield Willis

Desiree Kaye Propst Satterfield Willis, 48, of Sanford, N.C. died January 13.

Born in Halifax County, she was the daughter of Filmore Dodd and Dora Lee Conner Propst of South Boston.

Survivors include her husband, Robert Willis of Sanford; her father; stepmother, Betty Mann Propst; and one brother, Phil Propst, all of South Boston; three daughters, Dora Satterfield Briones and Sandy Satterfield Smith, both of Sanford, and Frankie Satterfield of Halifax; and seven grandchildren.

Funeral services for Mrs. Willis will be held today, January 16 at 2 p.m. at Bridges Cameron Funeral Home in Sanford.