The Halifax County School Board got its first look at a proposed record $43.2 million 2000-2001 school budget in a Wednesday night work session.
Of primary interest to the board were the reduction of state revenue in the budget and the continuing effort to structure competitive salaries in order to recruit qualified teachers for the county.
Superintendent Dennis Witt said that the county is "in a unique position this year."
The unfreezing of the composite index after a five-year moratorium will result in a bad-to-okay outlook for the local budget. Much depends on the final budget adopted by the General Assembly.
The preliminary budget shows a reduction in the state revenue contribution from $27,265,358 to $24,475,473, a decrease of $3.8 million.
Bill Covington, director of finance for Halifax County Public Schools, explained that the composite index was a measure of a locality's ability to pay its share of the budget, based on taxable income, property values and sales tax totals.
"The current index reflects the increases of the past five years since the City of South Boston reverted to town status," Covington noted.
Two of the primary concerns of the School Board are the salary structure of teachers already in the system, and recruitment of qualified candidates for the approximately six positions called for in the new budget. "We need to look at what our neighbors are doing and remain competitive," said School Board Vice Chairman D.H. McDowell Jr.
This year's budget calls for an average salary increase of 2.4 per cent for all employees. The group health insurance will have an increase for participating employees from $160 to $170, each month for ten months.
Physical and occupational therapy services, required by law for special education students, will increase approximately $60,000.
In considering these increases, the board entered into discussion of marketing the county for qualified teaching candidates.
Witt mentioned several incentives, including the "low cost of living, rural atmosphere, pupil-to- teacher ratio and lack of traffic."
Several board members, among them Glenn Ratliff (ED7), were concerned with improvements in Internet technology in existing classrooms.
Witt responded, "Our goal is to have every school in the county on line by the end of this school year.
"We would like to add an additional math lab at the high school. The present one has been successful. Those students participating have shown dramatic progress."
Other topics covered included the purchase of 10 replacement buses.
Deputy Superintendent Dr. Bobby R. Hall mentioned that the purchase of refurbished buses would be an effective alternative, costing one-fifth the price of a new vehicle.
"The fleet currently stands at approximately 120 buses with 10 spares," Hall noted. A refurbished bus can be purchased that will last an additional five years, he said.
The school board will meet again in March after the state legislature has finalized the education allotment for the fiscal year.

On Wall Street it's known as pump and dump.
On Main Street, it's more like pump and jump.
Investors have a way of bidding an issue up in order to sell out as it begins to spiral downward.
Hence, pump and dump.
Visit a gas station these days, pump your tank full, look at the price and you'll probably jump, but not for joy. Thus, pump and jump.
Who's responsible? What's happening? Where will it stop? When will it stop? Why is it happening?
Finding a gallon of regular gas under $1.30 around South Boston this week wasn't easy. And if you think that's bad, take a ride.
A Norfolk resident visiting here yesterday said that regular gas near the coast was selling for $1.34 a gallon. As he headed west and passed through South Hill, he said that he saw the price at some pumps as high as $1.67.
"We make three and a half cents (a gallon) on regular," Bridgeview Servicenter owner and operator Jeff Henderson said yesterday, not long after a supply tanker unloaded over 8,000 gallons into one of the station's underground storage tanks.
"If it wasn't for our service work, we couldn't be in the service station business," said Henderson whose family has operated the station on U.S. 360 near the John Randolph Bridge for almost half a century. Jeff can't speak from experience about the early days, but one of his workers, Jake Simms, can.
Simms came to Bridgeview 47 years ago when gas was selling for less than 30 cents a gallon, but remembers when the price soared to $1.70 in the early 1970s during the Jimmy Carter years. Even worse, the supply was limited, and at one time during the crisis, customers could only buy $3 worth.
"Even Governor Tuck!" Simms added. The late Virginia governor rolled into the station and Simms pumped all of three bucks worth into the Cadillac's tank". That's all we could let him have."
Things are different today though. "That's when gas was short. Gas ain't short now," said Simms.
For weeks now, the price at the pumps seems to go up and up and up. Where will it peak?
Henderson sees it rising further, but believes that competition by summer should cause downward pressure on prices. As for affecting sales, he can't see where volume has dropped.
"We sell just about as much as we always have."
And do some customers still buy a dollar's worth?
Surprisingly, some do. Many more will purchase $2 worth of gas, especially during the middle of the week. "Keeps 'em going a little," said Henderson.
One customer comes almost daily and purchases $2 of gas. On most visits, he makes the purchase with a $20 bill, station worker Tina Reese said.
Station owners such as Henderson have no more warning of fuel price increases than do customers. A phone call from his supplier, U.S. Oil/Cox Oil and Gas of South Boston, can change the price on a moment's notice. And, lately, that change has been occurring on Thursdays.
"If it's going up or going down, it's going to happen on Thursday," said Henderson.
Yesterday passed without another increase.

Halifax County Planning Commission members will recommend Blue Chip Racing Resort's application for a conditional use permit to supervisors.
The commissioners' decision followed a Tuesday night public hearing on the application.
The 2000 operating permit is for Virginia International Raceway.
During the Tuesday night session, commissioners also recommended approval of a request by Catherine Fitts to modify a conditional use permit to change a facility from restaurant to craft shop.
Fitts' shop is located in Election District 5 on James D. Hagood Highway near Route 344.
Commissions also received a request from Paul Tucker to rezone a one-acre parcel of land on Rock Barn Road from M-2 (industrial) back to A-1 (agricultural).
Tucker previously had the land zoned M-2 in order to run a slaughter house, explained Halifax County Assistant Administrator Jerry Lovelace. Now, Tucker wants to return the land to its A-1 zoning. Commissioners are recommending to supervisors that public hearings be authorized.
During the reorganizational meeting, commissioners elected Hunter C. Ford as chairman. Clark Graves was elected vice-chairman.
Commissioners also heard a report on residential building permits for both site-built houses and manufactured housing.
In the last five years only 18.6 percent of single family houses were site-built houses, according to the report. Manufactured housing averaged 348.4 dwellings per year during the last five years.
The number of stick-built homes in 1995 was 103, decreasing to 76 in 1966 and to 64 in 1997. In 1998 site-built houses increased to 77 and in 1999 to 79. The five-year total for site-built homes was 399.
Manufactured homes hit 355 in 1995 followed by a slight decrease to 322 in 1996. Manufactured housing hit a high in 1997 of 407 units followed by a drop to 333 in 1998 and to 325 in 1999, for a five-year total of 1,742.
Permit values for stick-built or site-built homes in 1999 was $6,669,607. Manufactured homes reached $10,216,808 in the same period.

Fifth District congressional candidate Allen Hale met with regional Democratic leaders here Tuesday during a seminar sponsored by the Fifth District Democratic Committee.
Hale, a Nelson County land surveyor, is one of two candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for the 5th District congressional seat held by Virgil Goode of Rocky Mount.
Goode, formerly a Democrat, is seeking re-election as an independent. The congressman announced his support of presidential candidate George Bush earlier this week.
Hale described himself as conservative on fiscal matters and one who supports campaign financial reform.
Addressing the double economic blow Southside is facing, Hale said, "We need innovative ways to tackle challenges resulting from pressure on traditional industries in the Fifth District, such as tobacco and textiles."
The candidate said that his business experience with Internet technology will benefit him in creating jobs in the district.
South Hill farmer John Boyd, who is also seeking the Democratic congressional nomination in the Fifth District, was represented at the Tuesday seminar by his mother. Boyd was having dinner with President Clinton in Washington, D.C., that evening, according to his mother.
Hale, 57, was born in Charlottesville. A graduate of the University of Virginia, Hale entered the Foreign Service in 1969 and served in Vietnam, El Salvador and Washington, D.C., before moving to rural Virginia.
The congressional candidate said that his background and experience provide a strong basis for understanding and serving the needs of the people of the Fifth District.
For the past 25 years, Hale has owned and operated Old Dominion Map Company, a land surveying and cartographic business founded by his father, John S. Hale.
In 1991, Hale purchased Buteo Books, a catalog book-selling business specializing in ornithology.
The Tuesday seminar in South Boston was scheduled for regional Democratic leaders to discuss district and state delegate selection.
The local Halifax County Democratic caucus will select delegates to the 5th District convention on April 15. The 5th District convention is scheduled May 20 in Rustburg.

Authorities are continuing to search today for a man who eluded police Tuesday after ditching a stolen car.
Investigator B.K. Lovelace said a 1998 Mercury, belonging to Wanda Carter, of Moore Street in South Boston, was taken around 7:30 a.m. after Carter had started the vehicle and went inside the house while the car warmed up.
Carter told the police that when she went back outside, the vehicle was gone.
At around 9:30 a.m., the car was spotted on Heath Road (Route 722) near Clover as it ran into an embankment.
Lt. Rick Loftis spotted the vehicle again at 1:47 p.m. on Guill Town Road (Route 720) as it turned on to Green Level Road.
Lovelace said the suspect pulled the car in to a private driveway and jumped out, leaving the vehicle to roll into an embankment.
The suspect then fled on foot into the woods in a westerly direction, said Lovelace.
Trooper Gene Perkins of the Virginia State Police was called to the area with a tracking dog.
The suspect remained at large when the search was called off at about 6 p.m.
The search was resumed again by Officer Sherwood Forlines of Camp 23, who provided a tracking dog, after the suspect was spotted at a railroad crossing on Heath Road.
Forlines' search was discontinued at 9 p.m. with the suspect still at large.
The suspect is described as a black man five feet seven inches, slender, weighing about 150-160 pounds and wearing a dark blue jacket and a black stocking cap.
Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to contact the South Boston Police Department at 575-4271 or Crime Stoppers at 575-TIPS (8477).
· Jamie Carl Mandrell, 18, of Waltman Trail in Vernon Hill, was arrested by sheriff's deputies, February 18, on a disorderly conduct charge.
Mandrell allegedly committed the offense on the day of the arrest.
A hearing for Mandrell is scheduled for February 28 in Halifax County General District Court.

In other reports,
An 18-year-old was injured Tuesday evening in a two-car crash on Sinai Road.
Trooper G.M. Gilliam said a 1989 Nissan, driven by David L. Wingfield, of Danville, slowed down to make a left turn and was hit in the rear by a 1995 Pontiac driven by Bridget Ellen McDowell, 18, of Vernon Hill.
The trooper said a passenger in the Nissan, Jennifer Wingfield, was injured in the 7:10 p.m. crash.
Gilliam estimated $600 in damages to each vehicle and charged McDowell with reckless driving.

An 18-year-old Halifax youth was arrested Monday by the South Boston Police Department and charged with shooting his sister.
Brian Kenneth Pumphrey, of Crawford Road, was arrested on four charges of breaking and entering, malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and shooting into an occupied dwelling that occurred on the evening of the arrest, said Investigator B.K. Lovelace.
According to Lovelace, Pumphrey approached the residence of Don Williams, 23, of Berry Hill Road in South Boston, to speak with his sister, Chiqueta Pumphrey, 20, concerning a dispute earlier in the day between Williams and their mother, Sarah Pumphrey.
Lovelace said Pumphrey kicked in the door after he was refused entrance into the dwelling and shots were fired from a .380 semi-automatic hand gun, which wounded Chiqueta in the shoulder and forearm, said Lovelace.
After the 9 p.m. shooting, Pumphrey followed his sister to Halifax Regional Hospital to check on her and he was identified to the hospital staff as the shooter.
Pumphrey left the hospital on foot and was spotted at 10 p.m. on Tanglewylde Drive by Officer Chris Carswell.
After the arrest of Pumphrey, Williams was also arrested by South Boston police on charges of assault and battery and using abusive language stemming from the alleged dispute with Sarah Pumphrey.
An investigation of a 17-year-old, in the company of Pumphrey when the shooting occurred, is on-going.
Pumphrey was later identified in a separate incident by camera film of a school bus fight, which occurred Monday afternoon among four youths.
Pumphrey allegedly boarded the bus and assaulted a student during the fight.
When the bus driver pulled off of Wilborn Avenue, Pumphrey got off the bus and got into a car.
James Wagner, director of transportation of the Halifax County public schools pursued a warrant after the school bus incident, which led to the additional charges against Pumphrey by the Halifax County Sheriff's Department of trespassing and assault and battery.
Pumphrey is scheduled to appear in Halifax County General District Court on March 1.

Halifax County High School's basketball season boiled down to what coach Garrett Dillard called a "one game deal."
Dillard's words referring to Wednesday night's Western District Tournament semifinal game against Albemarle in Charlottesville proved to be prophetic - in the worst sense.
Halifax County High School's bid for a berth in the Northwest Region Tournament was shattered by a 63-50 loss to Albemarle.
The loss, the Comets sixth consecutive loss to the Patriots over the past two seasons, brought a disappointing end to the Comets' season.
"It's disappointing to go out this way," said Dillard whose team finished with an overall 8-12 mark.
"But, I'm sure we're going to find something positive out of it and let these guys know how close we were to making it to the regionals and making things happen from there."
The game marked an overall disappointing performance for the Comets who needed only to defeat the Patriots and a win by GW over E.C. Glass to get into the regional tournament.
Only in brief spurts did the Comets reach the intensity and effort level they had displayed in some of its more recent games.
That, coupled with the Comets' miring themselves into deep foul trouble early and turnovers at inopportune times, made for a long night.
The frustration and disappointment was obviously evident on the face of the Comets' senior guard Fred Price.
Price, one of the Comets' big guns, was held to one field goal and just four points for the night, all in the fourth period.
"It hurts a whole lot," Price remarked.
"I didn't want the season to be over this quick."
As far as the team's effort and intensity were concerned, all Price would say was "with some people it was there and with some it wasn't."
Halifax County's foul trouble played a key role in the outcome.
Albemarle scored more than a third of its 63 points, 26 of them to be exact, at the foul line.
While the Comets were whistled for 25 fouls it was the "big men," Cardell Mosley, Jennings, and William Haugh, that were in the most trouble.
Jennings and Mosley had three fouls each at the half. Haugh, who often subbed for the pair, was hit with two fouls in the third period and fouled out in the opening minute of the final stanza.
Mosley picked up his fourth foul early in the third period and he and Jennings scaled back defensively trying to protect themselves. Both finished with four fouls.
Teddy Bradley also found himself in foul trouble and, like Haugh, fouled out of the contest.
With the Comets' big men neutralized with foul problems, Albemarle's big men, Ian Johnson and Ryan Pehanick, took control of the boards.
"If it had been the guards getting into foul trouble, we had a dozen guards we could have used," Dillard pointed out.
"But, it was our three big guys. It took away some of our size. It took away some of our offensive ability. It took away some of our speed. We just didn't have anything to throw back at them (Albemarle).
"It (having Mosley, Jennings and Haugh in foul trouble) hurt us right much because they (Albemarle) were getting a lot of rebounds," added Dillard.
"And, their big guys were either scoring inside or getting fouled and making their free throws."
The Comets led only once in the game, that coming when William Jennings, who led the Comets with 19 points in the game, hit the opening shot of the ball game.
After Halifax fell behind by four points, Jennings hit back-to-back baskets that deadlocked the game at 10-10 with 1:28 left in the first period.
Price missed a pair of free throws on the next Comets possession that would have broken the deadlock and the Comets missed out on another scoring opportunity when a turnover allowed the Patriots' Marcus Wilson to score with two seconds left in the quarter to give Albemarle a 12-10 lead.
The Comets trailed the Patriots by a deuce after the first 30 seconds of the second period.
From that point, the Comets quickly started piling up the fouls.
Albemarle outscored the Comets 12-4 in the second stanza with the Comets getting only one field goal in the period, that from Dante Ballou.
The Patriots didn't do a lot better, hitting only a pair of field goals. But, they hit eight of the 13 shots from the charity stripe enroute to building a 25-14 halftime lead.
The end of the first period, Dillard said, marked the turning point.
"We had the game at 10-10 and had the ball," Dillard pointed out.
"That's what we wanted. We had them and they went up 12-10 and we started fouling. From that point, we were basically just trying to stay in it."
Halifax County made runs to cut Albemarle's double digit lead to single digits twice in both the third period and fourth period.
The first occasion came at the start of the second half when Terez Garland, who scored eight points in the period, six on a pair of three-pointers, hit two free throws to cut the Patriots' lead to 25-16.
Then, after the Comets fell back to a 12-point deficit, a basket by Jennings and a three-pointer by Garland allowed the Comets to cut the Albemarle lead to eight points at 31-23 with 4:33 left in the third period.
The Comets got the ball back on a Patriot turnover after Garland scored, creating a chance to cut the Patriots' lead to six points.
But the Comets turned the ball over and Albemarle got two quick buckets from Wilson to run its lead back to 12 points at 35-23.
Halifax cut the Albemarle lead to nine points when Jennings hit a basket and followed that by making the front end of a one and one opportunity with 4:42 to play in the game to make the score 46-37.
The run unraveled with three Comets turnovers that led to six unanswered Patriots points which gave the Patriots a 54-37 lead with 3:22 left.
"When you're playing in a hurry you're going to make mistakes," Dillard pointed out, "especially if you're not good at playing from behind.
"We haven't won many games this year when we've had to come from behind to win."
Halifax made one more bid, that coming when Jameen Jackson hit a three pointer with 1:07 to play to make it 56-46 game.
Garland followed up with a basket with 47 seconds left to pull the Comets to within nine points at 57-48.
But, the Patriots hit six out of their eight free throws down the stretch to ice the game.
HALIFAX COUNTY
NAME FG FT F TP
Roach 0 0-0 1 0
Milam 1 0-0 1 2
Williams 0 0-0 1 0
Baird 0 1-2 0 1
Jackson 1 0-0 1 3
Jennings 8 3-6 4 19
Bradley 1 0-0 5 2
Price 1 2-4 4 4
Garland 3 2-2 0 10
Ballou 1 0-0 0 2
Mosley 3 1-2 4 7
Haugh 0 0-0 5 0
Faulkner 0 0-0 0 0
Totals 19 9-16 26 50
ALBEMARLE
NAME FG FT F TP
Hardy 0 6-10 1 6
Hoelscher 1 1-3 1 3
Wilson, M. 6 2-4 4 14
Durrett 1 3-6 1 5
Wilson, E. 0 0-0 0 0
Sauer 0 4-4 2 4
Pehanick 7 5-6 3 19
Johnson 3 4-6 1 10
Potvin 0 1-1 0 1
Totals 18 26-40 13 63
Three Point Field Goals: Garland (HC) 2, Jackson (HC) 1.

Halifax Co. 10 4 15 21-50
Albemarle 12 13 17 21-63

The Halifax County High School varsity girls cagers' season ended on a down note Wednesday night with a 62-23 loss to GW in the semifinals of the Western District Tournament.
"We really didn't play that badly," said Comets coach Allen Lawter whose team finished 2-17 overall.
"They (GW) are a very good ball club," Lawter added.
"They're so quick and athletic. One time they got eight shots at the basket just by jumping over top of us."
The Comets had seven players in the scoring column with Branda Best leading the way with five points.
Lateisha Chambers and LaVonda Fitzgerald both scored four points.
Shonda Welch and Ciji Moore both chipped in three points.
Ashley Epperson and Joni Foster scored two points each.
GW, which improved to 21-1 for the season, used its stingy full-court pressure defense to fuel a 10-0 run to start the game.
And, the Lady Eagles never lost the lead.
The Comets trailed 16-5 when Welch connected for a three-pointer at the end of the period to pull the Comets to within eight points at 16-8.
That, Lawter hoped,, would give the Comets a burst of momentum.
But, GW bounced right back with an 11-0 run and rang up a 20 point lead on the Comets halfway through the second stanza.
Halifax County came up with nine points in the second period, five of them from Best and two points each from Chambers and Fitzgerald to make the halftime score 35-17.
GW built its advantage even further in the third period, outscoring the Comets 18-4 to take a 53-21 lead.
The Comets were held to just one field goal in the period, that coming from Fitzgerald.
Chambers had a pair of free throws to account for the other two Comets points.
Halifax County didn't do much better in the scoring department in the final stanza, hitting just one field goal, that coming from Joni Foster.
GW outscored Halifax County 9-2 in the final eight minutes to account for the 62-23 final score.
HALIFAX COUNTY
NAME FG FT F TP
Best 2 0-0 2 5
Townes 0 0-0 1 0
Epperson 1 0-0 0 2
Logan 0 0-0 3 0
Crews 0 0-0 1 0
Fitzgerald 2 0-0 2 4
Welch 1 0-0 3 3
Foster 1 0-0 0 2
Brooks 0 0-0 0 0
Greene 0 0-0 0 0
Chambers 1 2-2 3 4
Moore 1 1-2 1 3
Womack 0 0-0 0 0
Totals 9 3-4 16 23
GW
NAME FG FT F TP
Miller 4 0-0 0 8
Morrison, K. 5 5-6 1 16
Williams 1 0-2 0 2
Johnson 4 0-2 1 8
Yancey 6 2-2 1 14
Burton 4 1-4 0 9
Venable 1 0-0 0 2
Brown 1 0-0 1 2
Morrison, T. 0 0-0 0 0
Wilson 0 0-0 0 0
Thomas 0 1-2 0 1
Totals 26 9-18 4 62
Three Point Field Goals: Welch (HC) 1, Best (HC) 1, K. Morrison (GW) 1.

Halifax Co. 8 9 4 2-23
GW 16 19 18 9-62

Serena Hamlett Garland, age 76, of 1107 New Bethel Road, Alton, died February 20, 2000, at The Woodview.
Mrs. Garland was born in Person County, N.C. on July 14, 1923, the daughter of Embra Hamlett and Caroline Hamlett and was married to John Prentice Garland Sr. She was a member of Chestnut Grove Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Edna Fields of Alton and Joyce Garland of Semora, N.C.; one son, John P. Garland Jr. of Durham, N.C.; six grandchildren; three great grandchildren; two sisters, Estella Brandon of Capitol Heights, Md. and Mildred Parker of Long Beach, Calif; three brothers, Weldon Hamlett and Orlander Hamlett, both of Semora and Maryland Hamlett of Baltimore, Md.
Funeral services for Mrs. Garland will be held February 26 at 1 p.m. at Chestnut Grove Baptist Church with Rev. Harold Wenstley officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends this evening at Chestnut Grove Baptist Church from 7:00 until 8:00, and other times at the home.

Mary Faulkner Drumwright, age 93, of Semora, N.C., died February 22, 2000, at her home.
Mrs. Drumwright was born in Person County, NC on April 26, 1906, the daughter of Katie Faulkner and was married to Luther Drumwright. She was a member of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Survivors include eight daughters, Juanita Drumwright and Gwendolyn Leary, both of New York, NY, Virginia Winstead and Katie Harris, both of Baltimore, MD, Florence Burt of Capitol Heights, Md., Helen Reeves of Temple Hill, Md., Yvonne Drumwright and Margaret Drumwright, both of Semora, N.C.; two sons, Leo Drumwright and Harold Drumwright, both of Semora; 29 grandchildren; 29 great grandchildren; one great great granddaughter; and one sister, Florence Majors of Baltimore.
Funeral services for Mrs. Drumwright will be held February 26 at 11 a.m. at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses with Brother Phillip Lewis officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Saturday morning from 10:30 to 11:00 at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Nancy Easley Bell, age 92, of Danville, died February 22, 2000, at Roman Eagle Nursing Home in Danville.
Mrs. Bell was born in Halifax County on January 10, 1908.
Survivors include one daughter, Dolores Evans of Danville; 13 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; and one brother, Charlie Easley of South Boston.
Funeral services for Mrs. Bell will be held February 25 at 1 p.m. at New Zion Baptist Church in Nathalie with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Willie Yancey will officiate.

Barbara Carter Lindholm, age 60, of Buffalo Junction, died February 19, 2000, at her home.
Mrs. Lindholm was a native of Mecklenburg County and was a graduate of Bluestone High School. She worked for the Defense General Supply in Washington, D.C. after graduation. She and her husband, Frederick W. Lindholm Jr., were former owner operators of the Lighthouse Motel and Restaurant as well as the Western Auto in Clarksville. She later worked at the Department of Corrections of which she retired. She was a member of Peace Lutheran Church of Clarksville.
Survivors include her husband; one daughter, Karen R. Lindholm of Clarksville; two sons and daughters-in-law, Fred W. and Terry Lindholm III of Roxboro, N.C. and Vincent M. Lindholm and Dana Gregory of Skipwith; her mother, Vera Bray Carter of Boydton; three sisters, Juanita Ashby of Chase City, Irene Dunn of Boydton and Linda Tingen of Ladysmith; one brother, Jerry M. Carter of Williamsburg; and five grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Tamara and her father, Floyd W. Carter.
A funeral service for Mrs. Lindholm was held February 21 at 11 a.m. at Watkins Cooper Lyon Chapel in Clarksville with burial in Oakhurst Cemetery. Pastor Dennis Hahle officiated.

Claude Brent Duff Jr., age 70, of Madison Heights, died February 22, 2000, at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville.
Mr. Duff was born March 26, 1929 in Amherst County the son of Claude B. Duff Sr. and Eva Hudson Duff and was married to Barbara Linthicum Duff. He was a retired traffic manager at Lynchburg Foundry, was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean Conflict, a member of American Legion Post 274, the Lynchburg Traffic & Transportation Club and the Winton Country Club. He was a member of Amelon United Methodist Church.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Duff is survived by two sons, Mike Duff and his wife, Anne of Madison Heights and Barry Duff and wife Sherry of Forest; two daughters, Nancy Starke of South Boston and Susan Cunningham and husband Jerry of Madison Heights; one sister, Nita Baker of Lynchburg; his mother-in-law, Mitzie Linthicum of Madison Heights; and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Clara Ragland.
Funeral services will be held February 25 at 11 a.m. at Whitten Monelison Chapel by Rev. Thomas G. Lee. Burial will follow in Fort Hill Memorial Park.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Amelon United Methodist Church building fund.

Catherine Seamster Comer, age 56, of 5223 Virgilina Road, Virgilina, died February 22, 2000, at 1314 Olive Branch Church Road, Roxboro, N.C.
Mrs. Comer was born June 26, 1943, in Halifax County the daughter of Ira Seamster and Louise Lacks Seamster. She was a member of the Church of God of Prophecy and a textile worker with Burlington Industries.
Funeral services will be held at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel February 25 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Tommy Robertson officiating. Burial will follow in Clover Cemetery.
Survivors of Mrs. Comer include three sons and two daughters-in-law, Timothy Wayne Powell and Christie B. Powell of Roxboro, Michael Dale Powell and Wanda D. Powell of South Boston and Collie Alton Powell Jr. of Richmond; one brother, Ira Seamster Jr. of South Boston; and seven grandchildren.

Estelle Ferguson Mayberry, age 79, of Lynchburg, died February 24, 2000, at Virginia Baptist Hospital.
Mrs. Mayberry was born September 26, 1920, in Halifax County the daughter of Stroud Ferguson and Nannie Green Ferguson and was married to Bernard McKinley Mayberry. She was a member of Park View United Methodist Church and was a seamstress with N&W Industries and M&M Cleaners before her retirement.
Survivors include one daughter, LaVerne M. Roach and husband, Phillip of Lynchburg; two sisters, Laura F. Johnson of Altavista and Edith F. Lybrand of Greenville, S.C.; five grandchildren, P. Randolph "Randy" Roach Jr. and wife Cindee of Glen Allen, Kimberly R. Doyle and husband Gerald Jr., Timothy B. Roach and wife Margaret, Cynthia R. Ford and husband William III, all of Lynchburg and Robert C. Mayberry of N.C.; and one great-grandson, Andrew W. Doyle. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one son, Robert C. Mayberry, three brothers and three sisters.
A graveside service for Mrs. Mayberry will be held at 2 p.m. February 26 at Spring Hill Cemetery by Rev. Dr. William H. Pollok of Richmond.
The family will receive friends from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. February 25 at Whitten Timberlake Chapel in Lynchburg and other times at her daughter's home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Miller Home, 2134 Westerly Place, Lynchburg or the American Lung Association, Suite #8, 3512 Brambleton Ave., Roanoke 24018.