School Superintendent Dennis Witt pulled out a toy "Bob
The Builder" doll as he concluded his pitch for a proposed
$50 million school capital improvements project to the Halifax
County Board of Supervisors.
He touched the doll's body and out came the character's well-known
quote, "Can we fix it? Yes, we can!!"
Witt said the county can fix schools in need of renovation and
additions.
All that is needed, he pointed out, is an okay from the Board
of Supervisors.
However, the okay did not come from the Board of Supervisors Monday
night.
The Halifax County School Board, meeting in a joint session with
the Board of Supervisors, asked the governing body to develop
a plan for funding the proposed $50 million program, either as
one big project or as a two-phased project of approximately $25
million each.
In addition, the School Board deferred to the preference of the
Board of Supervisors as to whether the fate of the proposed capital
improvements project will be subjected to the approval of county
voters in a referendum or be undertaken at the discretion of the
Board of Supervisors.
What the Board of Supervisors agreed to do is to discuss the proposed
school improvements plan at its February 7 planning retreat.
Supervisors indicated they may wish to meet with the School Board
again after that date to further discuss the proposal.
The capital improvements outlined by Witt in Monday night's presentation
to the Board of Supervisors included the following facility renovation
proposals:
· South of Dan K-3, 380 students/Cluster Springs 4-6, capacity
330 students - $8.0 million;
· Turbeville K-6, capacity 284 students - $5.8 million;
· Halifax K-2, capacity 285 students - $6.7 million;
· Sinai 3-6, capacity 425 students - $2.8 million
· Meadville K-6, capacity 284 students - $3.2 million;
· C.H. Friend, 3-6, capacity 425 students - $7.6 million;
· Washington-Coleman, K-2, capacity 285 students - $5.5
million;
· Halifax County Middle School - $10.7 million.
Witt pointed out there is room for some variations in the proposed
projects with little impact to the price tags.
For instance, one alternative to consider is building a new 600
to 700-student capacity elementary school in South Boston to accommodate
students from both Washington-Coleman and C.H. Friend at a cost
comparable to the combined cost of renovating both facilities.
Another possible alternative could be to renovate Sinai Elementary
School and add on to that school to create one school of 600 to
700 students that would accommodate students from both Halifax
Elementary and Sinai.
And, there is the question of whether or not to renovate and add
on to the existing Turbeville Elementary School building or construct
a new facility.
The School Board and Witt pointed out that the proposed school
capital improvements are badly needed with the elementary schools
needing the most immediate attention.
"They weren't built for the programs we desire to have today
for our children," Witt pointed out.
The school superintendent pointed out that if the project is undertaken
as a two-phase effort of $25 million each, the debt installment
would be about $2.5 million.
He also noted that if the project was immediately approved the
first debt service installment would not come until the 2004-2005
school year budget.
Witt also pointed out that the county has eight years remaining
in which it can reap the benefits of a lower composite index figure
which results in increased state revenues and that at least some
of those dollars could be applied to the proposed project.
Supervisor J.E. Edmunds asked Witt if the county could qualify
for any tax credits with regard to the projects at Halifax Elementary
School and Turbeville Elementary School as the two schools are
viewed as historical sites.
"That is a possibility," Witt said.
"We will certainly look into that."
Witt told the Board of Supervisors the success of the proposed
$50 million project will depend upon teamwork between the School
Board, school system officials and the Board of Supervisors.
"If we don't get together, we're not going anywhere,"
Witt pointed out.
"We've got to be a team and pushing in the same direction
if we're going to progress and move forward. We're ready to sit
down and talk about any issue you want to talk about."
Supervisor R.D. Vaughan asked Witt if the School Board has prioritized
any of the proposed projects.
"I think it is something that we need to talk about,"
Witt replied.
"We've kicked it around but there has been no vote to say
this is number one, this is number two, and this is number three,
four and five."
Vaughan then asked the School Board if it had any idea which project
or projects should come first.
"Everybody needs these renovations," replied School
Board Chairman Patricia Nelson.
"The schools are old. I don't think there is going to be
an easy answer for the Board to determine the higher priorities.
But, if we have to do that, we will.
"All of these things need to be done at some point,"
she added, " sooner better than later."
"The bottom line for the school system," Witt chimed
in, "is equal opportunity for all children."
School Board member Carl Furches told the Board of Supervisors,
"It's in your hands. Either vote to give us some money and
decide how best to pay for it or go to referendum.
"It's a case of which way do you want to go," he added.
"I think referendum is the best way."
Witt also pointed out a positive aspect of putting the matter
in front of the voters.
"It shows that you are willing and think enough of it to
put it before the people of Halifax County," Witt said.
Edmunds pointed to the positive impact that recent renovations
to Scottsburg Elementary School, a school in his district, has
had on people.
"Morale is up and people are happy," he said.
Renovations and additions to Scottsburg Elementary School, Clays
Mill Elementary School and Sydnor Jennings Elementary School,
were completed last year as a first phase of capital improvements.
Board of Supervisors Chairman D.E. Martin pointed out there are
several school related topics that need to be discussed, one of
which is the role of the school system in economic development.
Fitzgerald said he believes the county's schools are at the heart
of the county's economic future.
"The key to economic development is going to be tied to education,"
said Fitzgerald.
"To what extent and how we get there is key."
"It's time to be bold enough to step up and do something,"
added Witt.
"I think it's key to this county growing," Fitzgerald
added."
Witt and the School Board underwent questioning by Supervisors
on several fronts.
Fitzgerald asked Witt about future enrollment projections.
Witt pointed out that based upon kindergarten and first-grade
enrollments, the school system's enrollment appears to be relatively
stable for the next several years.
"Projected enrollments from Murphy Center in Charlottesville
have us slightly declining," Witt said.
"We are at around 5,900 now. If you look at the next 10 or
15 years we may go as low as 5,700 or possibly 5,600. But, if
we get some economic growth, we could grow."
Supervisor R.E. "Dickie" Abbott, referring to comments
made by Witt and the School Board that many of the schools are
crowded, especially the middle school, asked why the situation
has worsened despite a drop of enrollment over the past several
years.
"Special Education accounts for a lot of it," noted
Furches.
"You've got normal-sized classrooms but with Special Ed you
can sometimes put only 10 students to a classroom. What you end
up doing is having to use two and a half or three rooms for a
small number of Special Ed as opposed to one "normal"
classroom. That is what cuts your size down."
Abbott, noting that it seems like Halifax County has a lot of
handicapped children requiring Special Education services, asked
if all of the children were really in need of services.
"I think we have identified something like one out of every
five kids in Halifax County having some kind of handicap,"
Furches pointed out.
Witt said that the school system is also offering more Special
Education services and providing more programs and opportunities
as there are increasing mandates from the state requiring all
students to be competent.
School Board member G.C. Ratliff added that he feels the school
system is doing a good job educating Halifax County's students.
"The students are challenged more than they have ever been,"
said Ratliff.
Other School Board members supported Ratliff, citing increases
in the school system's Standards of Learning test scores and the
increasing number of schools that are receiving state accreditation
as a result of SOL scores.
Abbott said he feels the county is losing students on the northern
end of the county to Campbell County schools because there is
no neighborhood school in close proximity to those students.
He also noted that the county should have a combination middle
school-high school in the northern part of the county.
Witt told Abbott that the decision made by the Board of Supervisors
in the mid 1950's to have one central high school has saved the
county a lot of money.
"Having one high school in the county has saved the county
millions of dollars," Witt said.
"It has also allowed the county to have opportunities and
programs for students that it would not have been able to afford
if we had two high schools."
Witt and the School Board were also questioned about such things
as school discipline.
"Our discipline code is directly tied to the State Code of
Virginia," said Ratliff.
"Is the state code too lenient in some ways? Yes, in my opinion,
it is. But a lot of it is out of our hands."
Witt told Martin that a lot of the perception is subjective in
nature.
"The proof is in the pudding," said Witt.
"We invite all of you to walk down our halls, look at our
classrooms and see what you see."
"I see three projects that we need to fight for,"
South Boston Town Councilman Tom Raab said Monday night. "Riverstone,
the outlet mall and the 360 improvements."
Raab was present as members of the Current Issues Committee of
the South Boston Town Council agreed to list Phase III of the
Riverstone Business and Technology Park, improvements to the Tultex
building and sewer improvements to the Route 360 area as their
priorities for use of Tobacco Commission funds this year.
The action came as the two standing committees of council met
for their regular monthly work session at council chambers on
Yancey Street.
Listing the priorities comes in response to a request by Supervisor
Ronnie Vaughan and Doug Bowman of the South Boston IDA, who suggested
the groups pick three projects "that we would go to war for"
during their joint meeting last week.
"The Tobacco Commission is looking at where they can invest
money that can result in jobs," Town Manager Ted Daniel said.
Although the projects proposed county-wide total $7.5 million,
the county is expected to receive only $3.9 million in tobacco
funds, according to Scott Morris, executive director of the Halifax
County IDA.
"The issue comes back as to exactly how much money is actually
going to be invested in Halifax," Daniel said, noting that
the final figures have not been determined.
If approved, funds for the Riverstone project will total $3 million.
"That's what gives them the construction of some of the infrastructure
and work on the eCorridor," the town manager said.
The second priority identified by committee members is a $1 million
request by the town for the creation of an outlet mall and small
business incubator in the former Tultex building.
Purchased late last year by the town, the building is expected
to be used to house a business support and expansion center and
a Made In Southside outlet center featuring locally-manufactured
merchandise.
Daniel told the committee that work was underway in the application
process for the Tultex funds.
"We've put together a very comprehensive package on the Tultex
building," Daniel said. "With that, the (Southside)
planning district committee had written a very comprehensive application
for us."
Daniel reminded the committee that the town had already invested
$390,000 in the project to purchase the 4.8 acre parcel, and appropriated
another $1 million out of next year's fiscal budget for improvements
to the building.
"We have to keep in mind that we've already put our money
into the project," he said.
The final project the committee agreed to support is a proposal
for $1.5 million to fund sewer improvements to the Route 360 north/airport
area.
Mayor Glenn Abernathy pointed out that the town essentially gave
up their tobacco funds last year for the Riverstone project.
"I'd hate to see us not support the Riverstone project, but
I would like the county to understand that we gave up our funds
last year for the project," the mayor said. "I don't
want to get into any major turf battle over this thing, but I'd
like to see our project have the first priority."
The mayor conceded that funding Riverstone and the town's request
for an outlet mall in the former Tultex building would be acceptable,
but "if we only get $3 million, I'd like to see us get some
of it."
Members of the committee agreed, and with agreement from other
council members present, approved the priorities by consensus.
Other business before the Current Issues Committee was a special
use permit application by Harmon Saunders of the South Boston
Development Company for the erection of a manufactured home in
the Sunnybrook subdivision.
Councilman Eric Roberts, who also sits on the South Boston Planning
Commission, told the committee that the commission recommended
approval of the application.
"They're going to meet all the standards that we set forward,
and this home will almost exactly match the other homes on the
street," Roberts said. "We don't have a problem with
it."
The committee agreed to put the application on the agenda for
their February meeting and advertise for a public hearing at that
time.
Finance Committee
Following the Current Issues Committee, members of the town's
Finance Committee convened and addressed the capital improvements
proposed for FY 2003-2008.
In FY 2003-2004, proposed improvements for community development
and planning and engineering projects include $15,000 for design
of the town's web site, $34,200 for parking in the historic Tobacco
District, $1 million for the Imperial Outlet Mall in the former
Tultex district and $20,000 for improvements to North Main Street.
Other purchases include $25,000 for the purchase of laptop computers
for Town Council, $75,000 for the completion of the Geographic
Information System and $15,000 for office relocation.
This is in addition to routine equipment and vehicle replacement
by the town and street improvements.
The proposed capital projects for next fiscal year total $2,558,472.
Members of the Finance Committee agreed to schedule the capital
projects for a February public hearing during their next meeting.
During his regular report to the committee, Town Finance Director
Vandie Saunders told the committee Monday night that the town's
General Fund balance was $4,249,588.
Of this amount, $3,282,361 was available cash on hand.
The landfill fund was $517,785, and has been set aside to be used
on working toward the landfill closing in 2007.
The cemetery fund balance, which is used for the maintenance of
the town's cemeteries, is $425,601.
The water and sewer fund balance is -$887,404 Saunders reported.
"For several years, the rates should have been raised,"
the finance director said.
He said the town lost quite a bit of money when annexation took
place, primarily due to the reduced rates for the newly annexed
areas. When the town did address the rates in 2000, it was already
in the hole.
"Since then, we've had plant closure after plant closure,"
Saunders said.
Saunders also proposed to the committee that the town refinance
the 1994 Va. Water Resources Authority and the 1995 Rural Development
Bond loans.
"It's an ongoing process-finding ways to save money,"
Saunders said. He added that if the refinancing was approved,
the town could save approximately $40,000 over the next several
years.
The proposal was put on the agenda for the February meeting.
The finance director presented the committee with the delinquent
real estate list for 1999, but asked the committee for permission
to pursue collection of all delinquent taxes from 2001 back.
"I'm presenting this to you because I have to," Saunders
told the committee. "What I'd like to see you do is ask me
to bring you the list from 2001 for me to take care of."
The committee agreed, and Saunders will present the list to council
at their next meeting.
Dominion Energy has purchased 111 acres of land south of Roxboro
in order to build a $625 million natural gas-fired power plant,
according to North Carolina officials.
The proposed plant will use approximately eight million gallons
of water per day from the Dan River if permits allow for the interstate
transfer of water.
In conjunction with the needs of the power plant, Roxboro and
Person County are seeking to draw up to 30 million gallons of
raw water a day from the Dan River, with the most significant
amount dedicated for use by the proposed power plant.
Hunter Applewhite, a spokesman for the energy giant, confirmed
yesterday that the company exercised the option to buy the property
in late December for about $2 million.
Applewhite added he would have to consult with the project manager
to more accurately gauge the impact a withdrawal of that magnitude
would have on communities throughout the Dan River and Roanoke
River Basins.
The land was purchased in three different tracts, 82.89 acres,
23.17 acres and 5.81 acres, according to Dolores Carver in the
Person County Deed Office, at a price of $2.3 million.
Glen Newsome of the Person County Economic Development Office,
said Dominion Energy closed at the end of December.
"We're currently awaiting an air permit from the State of
North Carolina," added Newsome.
Newsome indicated that there were 26 different permits alone for
this one project, and that most have been approved.
"We anticipate approval of the air permit around March,"
said Newsome.
"We're moving ahead with the project," he added.
Dominion Energy is a subsidiary of Richmond-based Dominion Resources,
and is one of the nation's largest producers of electric power
and natural gas.
In addition to the power plant, it also plans to build an accompanying
$55 million natural gas pipeline.
Oh baby, it's cold outside.
And just how cold is it?
The thermometer provides one measure of the discomforts of the
weather but most area residents are discovering that the winter
of 2003 can be more painful in other ways.
The pocketbook!
Whether you heat with fuel oil, propane, electricity or wood,
"It's all expensive," said John Martin who delivers
propane for Foster Fuels.
Propane gas prices are hovering around $1.49 per gallon. Fuel
oil is selling for approximately $1.44 gallon.
What makes it so painful are soaring increases brought on, suppliers
say, by cold weather, increased demand and, unrest in the Middle
East.
In September, propane was selling for approximately $1.19 gallon.
By December, the price had risen to $1.29 and, this week, it hit
$1.44 gallon.
Those smart enough to fill up in the summer before the heating
season arrived, paid as little as $1.12 gallon for propane.
The story is much the same for fuel oil. Today's prices range
from $1.35 to almost $1.50 gallon.
Back in the summer, fuel oil could be bought for approximately
$1.00 gallon which, compared to today's price, amounts to a 50
percent increase!
Some small fuel oil and propane suppliers around Virginia are
reportedly running out of fuel. Local fuel retailers spoken with
yesterday say that supply has not been a problem yet but, a break
in cold temperatures is needed.
Cold weather has all but depleted one supplier of seasoned hardwood.
A spokesperson for Robert Wagstaff, a Bethel community supplier
of wood, said yesterday that their inventory had been "cleaned
out!"
Because of the time curing requires, they don't expect to have
any seasoned firewood for sale before next fall.
Milder temperatures are forecast for the rest of this week but
that could bring troubles in the form of frozen waterlines.
South Boston utility workers were repairing a water main yesterday
on Ash Avenue that was attributed to freezing. Broken water lines
are caused by increased pressure and expansion associated with
freezing and thawing.
Temperatures are expected to reach 50 degrees by the weekend and
the thawing that will occur is likely to produce more broken pipes.
"When it gets to 40 (degrees), they're gonna bust loose!"
said Mark Estes, an employee with the Town of South Boston.
Breaks as deep as four, even six feet, are being reported throughout
the town.
Both water and drain lines are freezing, especially in poorly
insulated houses and those having little, or no heat, in crawl
spaces where lines exist.
And freezing pipes are not limited to old homes.
Estes said that he had seen instances of frozen pipes in new homes
that are well-insulated. Living areas are insulated so well that
practically no heat reaches into crawl space under the house where
pipes are located.
Frozen water lines can usually be prevented by allowing a spigot
to drip since running water freezes slower. Allowed to drip into
a drain line that is exposed to cold, can result in a frozen drain.
For what it's worth, there are just 51 days until spring which
arrives on March 21.
Mother Nature has wreaked havoc on the area with her recent
spate of winter weather.
And, the resulting postponements have created a key five-game
stretch for the Halifax County High School varsity boys basketball
team.
The Comets will return to the hardwood tonight with a 7 p.m. road
game against Carlisle School, a game that will mark the final
tune-up for the Comets before they start a critical four-game
stretch of Western Valley District games.
Halifax County's string of key district contests will begin Friday
with a road game against E.C. Glass in Lynchburg.
That will be followed by a road game against GW in Danville Monday
night, a home game against district leader Patrick Henry on Tuesday
and a road game against Franklin County next Friday.
Halifax County, 7-5 overall, is 2-1 in Western Valley District
play and will need victories Friday and Monday to stay in second
place in the district standings heading into next Tuesday's game
against district leader Patrick Henry.
Thanks to recent bad weather, this stretch of five games is having
to be played out over a short span of time, a span that will determine
what kind of season the Comets will have.
"You just have to be prepared for whatever comes your way,"
said Comets coach Garrett Dillard.
"Hopefully, it (the quick five-game stretch) will be a blessing
in disguise for us. I think we do better when we play as opposed
to having long stretches between games.
"We're not going to complain about it (the numerous games
in the short span of time)," added the Comets coach.
"We're just going to show up and play each ball game one
game at a time and prepare for that game on that particular day."
Tonight's non-district game against Carlisle School is important
because it is the game that will kick off this big five-game stretch.
Because it is the first game in this stretch, it seems important
that the Comets play well tonight.
But, that may not be an absolute necessity.
"We're a different kind of team," said Dillard.
"We're not one of those teams where they get into a rhythm
and they play according to the rhythm they're in.
"We just show up and play individual nights and the way we
play that night is the way we play," added Dillard.
"We're hopefully going to let the Carlisle game get us into
a nice rhythm. But, at the same time, we're not going to look
at that game and say we didn't play well and we're not ready or
we played well and we're ready."
Dillard pointed to the Franklin County and Heritage games here
at home where his team played a sparkling first half and then
ended up having to fight to survive in the second half to get
the win.
"There was nothing before that to show we were going to have
that type of first half," Dillard pointed out.
"Our kids step up and play to the level of the competition
and, hopefully, each night we go out and play we will do that
and we'll be our very best."
Friday night's road game against E.C. Glass is a big one as the
Hilltoppers have not lost a district game since the Comets defeated
them 41-28 here on January 7.
That game is followed by Monday's road game against GW.
Those two road games could well be the two biggest games in this
four-game stretch of district contests.
"They are very, very important basketball games," said
Dillard.
"We've said we need to win our games at home and win some
of them on the road. Those two games are two games we'd love to
get on the road.
"We're still hoping to finish in the top two (in the district
standings), hopefully the top spot, and you probably won't do
that if you lose those two games on the road," added Dillard.
"Hopefully we will get those (wins) and give ourselves a
chance down the stretch to go for the one or two spot."
Babe Ruth Baseball, which had been a fixture on the local baseball
scene through the early 1990's, will return to Halifax County
this spring.
Harrison Conner, who heads the Halifax County South Dixie Youth
program at Cluster Springs, said yesterday that Babe Ruth Baseball
will be offered this spring at a new field being constructed at
the Halifax County South baseball complex at Cluster Springs.
The new entity, Halifax County Babe Ruth, will offer baseball
for youngsters ages 13-15.
Any interested youths between the ages of 13 and 15 living in
South Boston and Halifax County who are interested in participating
in the league are eligible to play.
The Halifax County Babe Ruth league will also include Person County,
N.C.
Signups will be held on Saturday, February 15 and Saturday, February
22 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Cluster Springs Elementary School.
Players signing up to play in the league must be 13, 14 or 15-years-old
as of July 31.
Coaches are also being sought for the league, Conner said. Anyone
interested in coaching in the league is also asked to come to
signups or contact a league official.
Anyone having questions about the new Babe Ruth program and the
upcoming signups may contact Conner at 575-7505, Perry Bagbey
at 585-1401, Teddy Holt at 572-6681 or Mark Lewis at 572-9497.
Conner said the league draft is expected to be held within a week
after the February 22 signups are completed or as soon thereafter
as weather permits.
Team practices are expected to begin in early March and regular-season
play is expected to start sometime around the first of April.
The offering of Babe Ruth Baseball for boys ages 13-15 is another
step being undertaken by officials of the Halifax County South
program to offer a comprehensive baseball program for youngsters
of all ages.
"We are not competing in any way with the Dixie Youth baseball
program," Conner said.
"All we are doing is offering kids a place to play baseball
if they want to come out, play baseball and have a good time.
All we're doing is offering kids another opportunity to play baseball."
Conner pointed out that he feels there is interest in such a program
that Halifax County South is offering.
"We graduate around 25 12-year-olds from our league (Halifax
County South Dixie Youth Baseball) each year," he said.
"Each year there are around 60 12-year-olds that graduate
and some of them are dropping out. We also know there are some
boys who played in the Person County league who have indicated
they want to come back.
"What we're doing is providing another opportunity for kids
to play baseball," he added.
Conner pointed out that Babe Ruth Baseball does provide opportunities
for dual participation.
"A player playing Babe Ruth baseball can play in another
program as long as the player meets his obligation to play in
his team's scheduled Babe Ruth games," Conner pointed out.
There will be opportunities for Babe Ruth all-star play for the
players in the new league.
Conner said Babe Ruth has separate all-star teams for 13-year-olds,
14-year-olds and 15-year-olds as well as an all-star team for
13-15-year-olds, making for a total of four all-star teams.
All-star teams compete in district play with district winners
going on to state play.
After state tournaments come regional tournaments and then a Babe
Ruth World Series.
The field on which the Babe Ruth league will play is located at
the Halifax County South complex.
"We voted in October to have this program and we bought 10
acres of land and have been clearing and grading since then,"
Conner said.
"We've staked out the field, graded it and have put in the
fence posts and we'll start putting up the fencing as soon as
we can. We'll start sewing grass for the outfield as soon as the
weather lets us."
The new field will measure 350 feet to centerfield and 320 feet
down the first base and third base lines.
"It's big enough that we can accommodate any program,"
Conner pointed out.
Conner said that dugouts, press box, and restroom facilities at
the new field will not be completed by the time the season starts.
He noted, however, that restroom and concession facilities at
the Dixie Youth field are just a short distance away.
Conner said the new field will not have lights this year. Lights
for the field are anticipated for the 2004 season.
As a result, games will be scheduled for late afternoons and on
weekends.
"When the time changes we're hoping that it will be light
enough that we will be able to play at least one game before it
gets dark," Conner stated.
Conner will serve as the president of Halifax County Babe Ruth
and Donald Honeycutt will be the secretary-treasurer.
There will be a total of six vice presidents between the Halifax
County South Dixie Youth and Halifax County Babe Ruth programs.
Conner said the head coaches in the Babe Ruth program will draw
up the by-laws for the program and will be eligible to vote at
meetings.
Assistant coaches will be encouraged to attend and participate
in league meetings but will not have a vote.
Virginia Younger Beale, 84, of Nathalie died January 26 at Daybreak-Heritage
Green in Lynchburg.
Mrs. Beale was born in Halifax County on September 17, 1918. She
was married to Clayton James 'C.J.' Beale, and was a member of
First Baptist Church of Republican Grove.
Survivors include three daughters, Mary Anna and husband, James
Evans, of Greenwood, SC, Sandra and husband, Joe Pete Wells of
Dinwiddie, and Debbie and husband, Chuck Cox, of Forest; four
grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one brother and sister-in-law,
J.W. and Elaine Fisher Younger of Nathalie.
Services for Mrs. Beale will be held tomorrow, January 30 at 2
p.m. at First Baptist Church of Republican Grove with the Rev.
Shelton Miles officiating. Burial will take place in the church
cemetery.
The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall of the
church following the service.
Orintha Wendell Brandon, 32, of 1100 Saluda's Lane, Clover died
January 25 in Scottsburg.
He was born in Halifax County on April 28, 1970, the son of the
late Curtis Brandon and Terry Simon Brandon. Mr. Brandon was employed
at Lasco Bathware and was a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church.
Survivors include his mother; two daughters, Tanashia S. Medley
and Shalequa Brandon, both of South Boston; one son, Tymeak R.
Brandon of South Boston; and one brother, Octavian Brandon of
Clover.
Funeral services for Mr. Brandon will be held tomorrow, January
30 at 3 p.m. at Bethlehem Baptist Church with Elder Larry Burrell
officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Edward Lee Jones Jr., 49, of 1182 Coleman Drive, Alton, died January
24 at The Woodview.
Mr. Jones was born in Halifax County on March 12, 1953, the son
of Edward Lee Jones Sr. and Nannie Hamlette Jones. He was a member
of Cross Roads Baptist Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Ashley Jones of South Boston;
one son, Delquan Lee Jones of South Boston; his parents of Alton;
two sisters, Mary Lipscomb of South Boston and Annie Clark of
Alton.
Funeral services for Mr. Jones will be held today, January 29
at 1 p.m. at the Chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home with the Rev.
Harvey Bigelow officiating. Burial will follow in the Cross Roads
Baptist Church Cemetery.
Lawrence Garrett Terry, 51, of Halifax died January 25 at his
home.
Mr. Terry was born in Halifax County on April 28, 1951, the son
of Hobert Terry and Edith Coleman Terry. He was a member of Piney
Grove Baptist Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Cora Bailey of Halifax; one son,
Jason Terry of Halifax; and one granddaughter, Brittany Bailey
of Halifax.\
Funeral services for Mr. Terry will be held tomorrow, January
30 at noon at Piney Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Whitfield
Scott officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
William Junior Womack, 70, of 1224 Union Church Road, South Boston,
died January 26 at his home.
Mr. Womack was born in Halifax County on July 5, 1932, the son
of the late Marshall Womack and Elsie Richardson Womack Hendricks
and was married to Louise Edmonds Womack. He was a member of Mt.
Pleasant CME Church, and was a retired employee of H&H Enterprises.
Survivors include his wife; six daughters, Cheryl Palmer, Carolyn
Bowman, Angela Woody and Brenda Womack, all of South Boston, Sabrina
Wilson of Ft. Knox, KY and Camilla Hubbard of Danville; two sons,
Anthony Womack of Fayetteville, NC and Leon Womack of South Boston;
four sisters, Gracie Womack of NJ, Pearl Trent and Adell Cherry
both of MD, and Dorothy Edmonds of Alexandria; 21 grandchildren;
and seven great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mr. Womack will be held January 31 at 11
a.m. at New Vernon Baptist Church with the Rev. Roger Ford officiating.
Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home.