Monday, January 19, 2004

Court Upholds Hudson Execution
Justice Lacy: Hudson Committed Three Deliberate, Execution-Style Murders That Were Cold-Blooded, Pitiless (And) Senseless Slayings

Friday's action by the state Supreme Court paved the way for the Commonwealth to move forward with the execution of convicted murderer James Bryant Hudson.

Following an automatic review of the trial court's decision, Justice Elizabeth Lacy handed down a ruling that found no evidence the death sentence "was imposed under the influence of passion, prejudice or any other arbitrary factor," or that the sentence is "excessive or disproportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases, considering both the crime and the defendant."

Halifax County Commonwealth's Attorney Kim White said yesterday that she planned to move forward with setting a new date for the execution.

"I plan to petition Judge (Leslie) Osborn for a new execution date when we return to court Tuesday," she said.

Defense attorney Buddy Ward declined yesterday to comment on the court's ruling.

Hudson was convicted last May in Halifax County Circuit Court of the July 3, 2002 murders of Walter Stanley Cole, Thomas Wesley Cole and his wife Patsy on Virgie Cole Road.

The result of a plea agreement with the Commonwealth, Hudson pleaded guilty to the capital murder of Stanley and Wesley Cole, the first degree murder of Patsy Cole and two counts of the use of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Osborn set Hudson's execution date for October 8, 2003, but the Supreme Court review of the case effectively halted the carrying out of the sentence.
At trial, Hudson refused to allow his attorney, Public Defender Buddy Ward, to present any evidence and waived his right to appeal the court's decision.
During the review of the case, Hudson's counsel argued that the death penalty was excessive because there was no evidence of prolonged suffering by the victims.

"We disagree," Lacy wrote in the court's decision. "Hudson committed unprovoked offenses using 'Number 00 Buck' pellets to inflict the maximum damage on three defenseless victims, showing his disregard for human life.
"As the trial court noted in this case, Hudson committed three deliberate, execution-style murders that were 'cold-blooded, pitiless (and) senseless slayings," Lacy continued.

The Prizery, Solid Waste Authority Top Agenda
Supervisors To Meet With Town Councils Tonight

The Prizery Project financing, and a report - including draft documents - studying the feasibility of a tri-county joint solid waste collection and disposal operation top the supervisors, South Boston and Town of Halifax councils' agenda Tuesday night.

The joint session begins at 6 p.m. at Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax.
Also on the agenda, a proposed task force to review out-of-town utility rates, and a potential 0.3-acre park site donation by Mr. and Mrs. Seymour Barnes.

The Board of Supervisors has indicated its support of $900,000 for The Prizery and South Boston support of $600,000, which is needed to raise additional matching funds of $1,500,000 for the project.

Supervisors are expected to consider the resolution approving the project support agreement Tuesday night.

County and town officials will be advised of an offer by Mr. and Mrs. Seymour Barnes to donate a 0.3-acre park site off a cul-de-sac at the end of Hedderly Street near the Route 501/Route 360 intersection in Halifax.

The park proposal was described by Halifax Town Manager Carl Espy last week as "basically a neighborhood park for senior citizens and children."

Public Service Authority

Halifax County and town officials are exploring creation of a Southside Public Service Authority with Charlotte and Mecklenburg counties.

The organizing committee, which included officials from the three counties, met January 8 at Boydton where a draft document to establish the Authority was reviewed by attorney Russell Slayton.

Halifax County Administrator Joe Morgan also presented copies of proposals received for engineering and financial advising services. He was authorized to invite several firms to make presentations to the organizing committee at its January 27.

The Board of Equalization hearings schedule will also be presented.
In the Board session following the joint town/county meeting, supervisors are expected to award a contract for construction of a shelter at the Paul Edmunds Jr. Memorial Park.

Flamecrusher USA Locating In Former Tultex Building
Motorsports Clothing Manufacturer Will Create 40 New Jobs For The County

The former Tultex building will once again be home to a clothing manufacturer and Halifax County will see around 40 new jobs thanks to the announcement of a new industry locating in the area.

Flamecrusher USA will locate a manufacturing facility in South Boston, and company officials plan to begin operations February 16, according to industrial development officials.

The company will manufacture high performance, fire-retardant clothing catered primarily to the motorsports industry.

"It's exciting to see textile-based jobs back in the former Tultex facility," South Boston Mayor Glen Abernathy said. "We purchased the building in hopes of creating opportunities like this."

The location of the new business in the county adds to the growing number of motorsports companies considering Halifax County, according to economic development officials.

"We are actively seeking and encouraging motorsports-related companies to locate in Halifax County," said William Fitzgerald, chairman of the Halifax County Board of Supervisors. "We gladly welcome Flamecrusher USA and commit to supporting their needs."

The company's CEO, Grant Ellwood, said he was appreciative of the support the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority, South Boston, and county officials had shown.

"This is an opportunity for us to expand our operations and get closer to our customers," Ellwood said. "Here, we can be near two unique racetracks and access a ready workforce."

The company markets their products via resellers throughout the U.S. and through direct sales to race teams.

Flamecrusher will join G&W Motorsports, Sasco Motorsports and Fallen Racing as locally-based motorsports companies.

Both Virginia International Raceway and the South Boston Speedway are seeking opportunities for additional racing related development, IDA officials said.

Dr. Carlyle Ramsey, chairman of the Halifax IDA, said the community would welcome more motorsports-related companies to the area.

"We are an ideal location for Daytona Prototype teams, racing products distribution, motorsports product manufacturers and anyone wanting to be near motorsports," he said. "The combination of our two tracks, great market access, motorsports incentives, research capacity being added at VIR, existing buildings and Raceplex Industrial are compelling reasons for companies to consider Halifax County."

Delegate Clarke Hogan (R-60), said locating motorsports companies in Southside was a part of Governor Mark Warner's initiative.

"This project fits nicely into the governor's motorsports initiative," he said. "Motorsports is a focus for the Commonwealth and this county. There are companies all across the U.S. and world, for that matter, that need to know we want them here."

Mt. Zion Overwhelms Comets
Halifax County High School Sees Six-Game Winnning Streak End With 110-80 Loss To Nationally Ranked Warriors

By JOE CHANDLER | G-V Staff Writer

Halifax County High School basketball coach Garrett Dillard knew Mt. Zion had a very athletic and very talented basketball team.

After the much bigger and more athletic Mt. Zion team had unleashed its aerial acrobatics and rolled up an easy 110-80 win over the Comets, Dillard said the Warriors were better than he had envisioned.

"I knew they were good," Dillard said of the Warriors who ran their record to 15-0 on the season.

"They were much better than I thought they were.

"It wasn't so much better, it was just how high they jump," Dillard continued.
"That alone gave them 60-70 points. It's not like you've got a chance to block a shot once they go up and dunk it. Once they go up, you might as well stay on the floor because they're going to bring it home.

"I'm proud of our kids," added Dillard.

"I don't think there is any public high school team I've seen that will play these guys within 30 points."

Mt. Zion coach Antonio Fozard gave the Comets credit for their effort.
"I think they did a good job," said Fozard.

"They are well coached. Their guys came out and played hard knowing what they were up against.

"They came out and gave it all they had," Fozard continued.

"They shot the ball, which they are known for shooting the ball out on the perimeter, and they drove the ball. Most teams, knowing they (the opposing team) has a big guy down low, are not going to drive the ball. But they had the heart to drive the ball down low."

The Warriors, ranked second in the nation in a handful of prep school basketball polls including those of The Sporting News and ESPN, unofficially canned 15 slam dunks in a contest that, for the most part, was played above the rim of the basket.

Not only did Mt. Zion do the job above the rim, the Warriors knocked down six three-pointers from the perimeter and hit the eight-to 12-foot jumpers with regularity.

The Warriors used their height and defense to spark an early run in which former Northern Durham High School standout Roy Bright pulled the trigger.
Bright, said to be headed for Cincinnati, slam dunked the Warriors first two shots in the first 42 seconds of the game to kick off his team-high 20-point night.

"We had to set the tone in the beginning of the game by playing defense," Fozard said.

From there, Mt. Zion raced to a 15-0 lead in the first four minutes and put the contest out of the Comets' reach early.

The Comets got on the scoreboard for the first time with 3:35 left in the first quarter with two free throws from Craig McCargo.

McCargo, who played an outstanding contest against the Warriors and their highly touted Division I college prospects, scored a game-high 28 points.
"Twenty-eight points against these guys, when you're trying to set yourself apart as a Division I basketball player, is the type of thing you have to do," said Dillard said.

McCargo was also part of a late first quarter spurt that allowed the Comets to pull to within nine points at 17-8 with 2:48 left in the quarter.

Trailing 17-2 after Bright slammed home his third dunk in the first four and a half minutes, McCargo answered with a layup, Quintin Brown hit a layup after a steal and Chase Weddle canned an eight-foot jumper to cut the Comets' deficit to less than 10 points.

That was as close as the Comets would get.

Mt. Zion finished the first quarter with a flurry and took a 30-12 lead at the end of the first eight-minute period.

Halifax County trailed 56-34 at halftime. If there was any hope that the Comets would make a contest of it in the second half, Mt. Zion erased that notion quickly.

The Warriors scored three baskets in the first minute of the second half to pull out to a 62-34 lead.

Mt. Zion inched itself out to a 40-point lead at 100-60 with 3:35 left in the game and led 105-63 after Bright sank a 25-foot three-point basket with 2:35 left.

The Warriors pulled back after that, leaving the boards pretty much open for the Comets reserves who saw a lot of playing time in the final four to five minutes of the contest.

With its shooting and rebounding being almost uncontested, the Comets scored a dozen points in the final 1:58 to bring the game back to its final 30-point margin.

While the Comets were outmatched and outclassed in this one, Dillard pointed out that he was in no way disappointed.

In fact, he said he was proud of the way his team had performed in the face of Mt. Zion.

"We had two quarters where we scored over 20 points and scored 30 points in the fourth quarter," Dillard pointed out.

"We put up 80 points tonight. Craig McCargo had 28 points, Quintin Brown had seven assists and we had 18 steals.

"You have to look at the positives in a game like this," Dillard added while noting he felt overall that everybody played the best they could play in terms of goals the team had set.

"We had only eight turnovers. I know they (Mt. Zion) didn't press and that type of thing but, in a game like this, a game that's up and down the floor, you could be having 15-20 turnovers.

"We try to have three guys in double figures, we try to shoot 70 percent or better from the free throw line, try to force 20 turnovers and try to score 60-65 points," Dillard continued.

"We did all of those tonight and that's what we have to be satisfied with."
Dillard said he was particularly pleased with the way the reserves played in the final minutes, going hard after steals and rebounds and putting points on the scoreboard.

"The kids could have just as easily been like 'hey, forget it, the game's over,' but we have 14 really super kids and good basketball players," the Comets coach said.

"It's good to see that those guys that get in late enjoy it. They made the best of it. They played a little more physical than the first group."

Mt. Zion had six players in double figures with Bright's 20- points leading the team with Brandon Rush, the brother of Los Angeles Lakers player Kareem Rush, and Mohamed Tangara, who is said to be headed to Arizona, following with 16 points each.

The Comets will face Mt. Zion in Durham, N.C. on January 29 in a return contest.

Halifax County will return to the hardwood Tuesday night when it plays host to Patrick Henry.

Tipoff time at Halifax County High School is 7:30 p.m.

Obituaries

Iris Lee Glass Allen

Iris Lee Glass Allen, 78, of 1317 South Avenue, South Boston, died January 12 at her home.

Mrs. Allen was born in Halifax County on September 27, 1925, the daughter of the late George B. Glass and Louise Cumby Glass and was married to the late William Jennings Allen. She was a member of First Baptist Church and worked as an aide at First Baptist Church Weekday School.

A memorial service was held at the church on January 15 with the Rev. Dr. Tim Cannon and Rev. Ralph Harrell officiating.

Survivors of Mrs. Allen include one daughter, Suzan Allen of South Boston; one son, William Thomas Allen II of Marietta, Ga.; one sister, Katheryn Glass Davis of South Boston; two brothers, James E. Glass of South Hill and John B. Glass of Whiteville, N.C.; one grandson, William Joseph Allen; and one granddaughter, Ashley Elizabeth Allen. Mrs. Allen was also preceded in death by one brother, George C. Glass.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider First Baptist Church Weekday School, 815 N. Main Street, South Boston or Halifax Regional Hospice, 2204 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, 24592.

Dr. Leon Ernest Coleman

Dr. Leon Ernest Coleman, 74, of 632 North Main Street, Halifax died January 14 at his home.

Dr. Coleman was born in Halifax County on May 29, 1929, the son of the late Rev. Lee Ernest Coleman and Annie Walker Coleman, and was married to Lottie Tucker Coleman. He was a Korean War Army Veteran and was a retired principal of Edmondson High School and Skill Center in Baltimore, Md.
Survivors include his wife; four daughters, Vicki Coleman of Charlottesville, Ditra Coleman, Gail Coleman-Terry and Joy Coleman, all of Baltimore; one son, Leon Coleman Jr. of Beverly Hills, Calif.; three grandchildren; one sister, Sallie Coleman Thomas of Washington, D.C.; one son-in-law, Gregory Terry; and one daughter-in-law, Kim Coleman.

Funeral services for Dr. Coleman were held January 17 at 2 p.m. at Banister Hill Baptist Church with the Revs. Sandy Palmer and Mattie Carr officiating. Burial took place in the church cemetery with military rites by American Legion Post 99.

Elnora Shipp Edwards

Elnora Shipp Edwards, 83, of Halifax, died Saturday, January 17, at her home
Mrs. Edwards was born in Charlotte County on May 28, 1920, the daughter of the late William M. Shipp and Nannie Hendrick Shipp and was the wife of the late Elbert Preston Edwards.

She was a retired employee of the Craddock-Terry Shoe Corporation.

Mrs. Edwards is survived by one son, Moncie Gibson and wife Christie of Halifax, one daughter, Lois New and husband Larry of Chesterfield, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by three brothers, Dave, John Henry and Robert, and five sisters, Lena, Ida, Mattie, Mary Beulah and Gracie.

Graveside services will be held today, January 19, at 2 p.m. at Halifax Memorial Garden with the Rev. Rodney Barwick officiating.

Willie Jeff ‘Hogeye’ Henderson, Jr.

Long-time South Boston businessman and civic leader Willie Jeff "Hogeye" Henderson Jr., 79, of South Boston, died Friday, January 16, at The Woodview.

Mr. Henderson was born in Halifax County on November 24, 1924, the son of the late Willie Jeff Henderson Sr. and Lillie Barker Henderson, and was married to Norma Y. Henderson.

Mr. Henderson opened the Bridgeview Exxon facility in 1950.

The business continues today under the direction of his son Willie Jeff Henderson III, while his grandson, Jay Charles Henderson runs Bridgeview Express in Halifax.

Mr. Henderson was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of South Boston.

He was also a member of the Woodmen of the World, a lifetime member and past president of the South Boston Jaycees, and a past member of the South Boston Lions Club.

He was an avid golfer.

Mr. Henderson is survived by his wife, one son, Willie Jeff Henderson III and wife Janet of Crystal Hill, one grandson, Jay Charles Henderson of Crystal Hill, and one granddaughter, Joni Grey Henderson.

He was preceded in death by one sister, Marie Henderson Crowder.

Funeral services were held yesterday, January 18, at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Russell Lee and Dr. Michael Parnell officiating.

Burial followed in Halifax Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers the family sugests memorials to the Beth Car Baptist Church Building Fund, 25 Church Street, Halifax, Va, 24558, First Presbyterian Church, 800 North Main Street, South Boston, Va, 24592, or Halifax Regional Hospice, 2204 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, Va, 24592.

Odell Payne Herndon

Funeral services for Mrs. Odell Payne Herndon will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, January 20, at the Chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Brookneal.

The Rev. Jesse Waller will officiate.

Burial will follow in the Second Buffalo Baptist Church Cemetery in Nathalie.
Mrs. Herndon, of Nathalie, died Friday, January 16, at Halifax Regional Hospital.

She was 86.

Mrs. Herndon was born on July 27, 1917, the daughter of the late Fitzchutt Payne and Sylvia Payne.

She was married to the late Johnny Herndon.

Survivors include three sons, Albert Lee Herndon of Chatham, Frank Herndon Jr. and Sherman Herndon of the residence, six grandchildren, Brenda Logan, Betty Herndon, Patricia Jackson, Zelma Medley, George Herndon, Clarence Herndon and wife Gladys, 12 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, one sister, Evelyn "Nettie" Hubbard of Hurt, Va., one daughter-in-law, Nannie Bell Herndon of South Boston, and three devoted friends, Betty Ann Waller, Mary L. David and Hildred Lawson, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Condolences may be e-mailed to jeffressfh@aol.com.

Gene Autry McKinney

Gene Autry McKinney, 67, of South Boston, died Friday, January 16, at Halifax Regional Hospital.

He was born in Halifax County on June 2, 1936, the son of the late Cowboy McKinney and Mazzie Conner McKinney and was married to Sue Martin McKinney.

He was a veteran of the United States Army and was a truck driver with Roxboro-based Fleig Leasing.

Mr. McKinney is survived by his wife, two step-daughters, Debra Ferguson and husband Van of Halifax and Susan Hall and husband Wesley of South Boston, two granddaughters, Connie F. Wynn and Christy Hall, one grandson, Matthew Hall, and four great-grandchildren, Dylan Wynn, J.B. Wynn, Brian Wynn and Harrison Wynn.

He was preceded in death by one sister, Betty Trent, one half-brother, Dickie Conner, one grandson, Justin Lee Hall, and one granddaughter, Katie Lynn Ferguson.

Funeral services were held Sunday, January 18, at Brooks Funeral Home with the Rev. Dan Ward officiating.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials to Halifax County Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston, Va. 24592 or the Halifax Regional Hospital Hospice, 2204 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, Va. 24592.

Lillian Dodd Oakes

Lillian Dodd Oakes, 83, of Blairs, died Saturday, January 17, at Danville Regional Medical Center.

She was born in Halifax County on February 28, 1920, the daughter of the late Robert Bracy Dodd and Willie Barley Dodd and was the wife of the late Joseph N. Oakes.

She was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

Mrs. Oakes is survived by three daughters, Shelby Jean O. Boyd of Ringgold, Frances O. Tate of Danville and Judy O. Simmons of Alton, six sons, Robert Lee Oakes of Halifax, Leonard B. Oakes and Larry Wayne Oakes, both of Blairs, Maynard Allen Oakes of Ringgold, and Earl Lester Oakes and Dewey Gerald Oakes, both of Dry Fork, two brothers, Charlie Dodd and Robert Dodd, both of Danville, one sister, Mary Snow of Dry Fork, fourteen grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, January 20, at 3 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church Cemetery in Java with the Rev. Carl Berger officiating.
The family will receive friends Monday, January 19, at Scott Funeral Home from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. and at other times at the residence.