By KEITH STRANGE
Joseph C. Ramsey, a 17-year-old South Boston youth, was killed Saturday when he lost control of his 1990 Plymouth Laser on Route 683 one-half mile west of Route 680.
Ramsey was traveling west on the narrow road when he ran off the right side of the highway, overcorrected and ran off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree, according to police reports.
Police say that Ramsey, who was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, was transported to Halifax Regional Hospital, where he died.
Ramsey, who had graduated from Halifax County High School in January, was a member of Faith Community Church.
He had earned scholarships to attend Liberty University in the fall.
Ramsey had earned his first degree black belt from Halifax Tae Kwon Do, and was working toward his second degree.
"It is just a tragedy. He was such a good kid, he was special," said Luther Jackson, his Tae Kwon Do instructor.
The sentiments were echoed by Trooper D.J. Kline, who investigated the accident.
"He had graduated from high school early, and had his whole life ahead of him, this is just a shame," Kline said.
"This has hit all of us hard, at this time in his life, with everything going for him. It's hard not only on his family, but on the whole community," said Rev. Dane Skelton, pastor of Faith Community Church.
Ramsey is the son of Mr. Phillip William Ramsey and Mrs. Shelley Bruce Ramsey.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Faith Community Church.
Ramsey's death is the latest in a rash of tragedies that has stricken Halifax County this year.
As recently as last week, three young girls from a single family were killed in a tragic house fire in the Crystal Hill community.
A February 13 accident on Route 360 claimed the life of two, including a 14-year-old Halifax County youth.
Two young people were killed January 10 when a young girl fell through the ice on a farm pond off of Bessie-Marion Trail.
"It's tragic that Halifax County is losing so many young people in such a short time," said Kline.

A former governor will be in South Boston this week to discuss Patrick County's success in changing their educational profile.
Former Gov. Gerald Baliles and Gerry Cooper of the Patrick County Educational Foundation will discuss their efforts to improve Patrick County's educational profile on March 1 at 3 p.m. in the Hope classroom of the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC).
Members of the Halifax Educational Foundation say that the proposed initiative for Halifax County may hold the key to creating a viable workforce for new industry in Southside.
The Patrick County program addressed the problem of the educational profile of its adult workforce.
"This is very forward-thinking program in terms of addressing the educational challenges that we have before us," said HEF President William Coleman.
"It's a pilot program that although is still in its infancy in Patrick County, seems to be working," he added.
"It was interesting how the Patrick County program came about," said W.W. "Ted" Bennett, former delegate and vice-president of the Halifax Educational Foundation.
"Jerry (Baliles) has a home in Patrick County, and one Saturday morning he invited the board of supervisors up for breakfast.
"After listening to them talk about the lack of education in Patrick County and the number of people without a high school degree, they decided to develop a program to address the problem," Bennett said.
The program in Patrick County has been sucessful enough to warrant possible duplication in Halifax county, according to Bennett.
"It's possible that the program in place now would have to be modified to address the specific needs of Halifax County," Coleman said.
"But it's multi-faceted enough that it could meet the unique needs that we have here," he added.
The Halifax Educational Foundation, which owns the SVHEC, is currently considering a similar program as a way to strengthen Halifax County's opportunities to recruit new industries through demonstrating the immediate availability of an educated, highly trained and highly motivated workforce.
"Industries use a community's educational profile to determine if there is a workforce in place to staff a new facility should they choose to locate in the area," said Bennett.
The foundation maintains that improving the number of highly skilled and available workers in Halifax county is the key to securing new industry in the 21st Century economy.
The proposed initiative to be discussed will focus on achieving several goals for the county:
· Increase the number of students who seek higher education and/or workforce training after graduation from the public school system.
"We want to put extra effort into encouraging kids starting at the eighth graded level to begin thinking about college," Bennett said.
·Encourage and enable adults who do not have a high school diploma to complete their GED requirements with possible financial incentives sponsored by various organizations and governmental entities within the county.
"Our goal is to cut the number of people without a high school diploma in half over the next 10 years," Bennett said.
"We have to start improving the image of Halifax County as having an educated and skilled workforce."
"I think that is a very ambitious goal, but it's one that need to be undertaken, because the illiteracy rate here is an epidemic," Coleman said.
· Pursue various workforce initiatives to benefit the county.
"One thing that we're looking at is putting an expanded family literacy program in place.
"We have one sponsored by the adult education program at the SVHEC now, and in the past six weeks it's gone from zero enrollment to 80 families taking classes," Bennett said.
One of the biggest potential problems facing Halifax County education is the dropout rate.
"If you call the school, they will tell you that we have a four percent dropout rate, but we have a 40 percent illiteracy rate in the county, and those numbers don't add up." Bennett said.
"We need to spend some money and figure out what's happening, because until you get a picture of how serious the problem is, you can't do anything to fix it," he maintains.
Bennett said that the public is encouraged to attend the meeting, which will be informational and discussion oriented.
"Without community support for this program, it will be hard to implement in an effective way.
"If we can turn our educational levels around, we will be more attractive for high paying jobs in Halifax County," he said.
Bennett said that for the proposed program to be successful, both public and private funds will be needed.
"We're looking at tobacco commission money, local funds from K-12 education, federal and state money, and private funds from within the community."

A 47-year-old South Boston man was sentenced Friday in Halifax County Circuit Court to a total of 75 years in prison for five cocaine-related convictions.
Leon Martin was sentenced to 15 years in prison each for four charges of cocaine distribution and one charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
Judge Leslie M. Osborn suspended all but 32 years of Martin's total sentence, conditioned on his good behavior for 50 years.
The court additionally ordered Martin to be placed on probation for two years following his release.
Anthonio Artist Lawson, a 25-year-old Alton man, was sentenced Friday to five years in prison for involuntary manslaughter, and to a $250 fine for misdemeanor eluding police.
Judge Leslie M. Osborn suspended Lawson's entire sentence, conditioned on his good behavior for five years.
Lawson's charges stemmed from an accident near Cluster Springs last March.
Lawson was the driver of a vehicle that wrecked in the S&J Grocery parking lot while attempting to elude police.
The accident claimed the life of Lawson's brother, Daniel Edward Lawson.
Judge Leslie M. Osborn additionally ordered Lawson to be placed on probation through Halifax-Pittsylvania Court Services (HPCS) for 12 months, to perform 200 hours of community service and to maintain employment.
The court also suspended Lawson's operator's license for six months.
· Brent Sheron Betts, 23, of South Boston, was sentenced Friday to five years in prison for abuse and neglect of children and two years in prison for eluding police, as well as pay a $500 fine.
The court also ordered Betts to pay a $250 fine each for two additional convictions, including misdemeanor reckless driving and misdemeanor driving on a revoked driver's license.
Judge Osborn suspended all but one year and two months in prison for Betts' abuse conviction, conditioned on his good behavior for two years.
The court additionally ordered Betts to serve a one-year period of probation through HPCS and perform 100 hours of community service.
· Gregory Scott New, 41, of South Boston, was sentenced Friday to five years in prison for enhanced larceny.
Judge Osborn suspended all but one year and six months of New's sentence, conditioned on his good behavior for five years.
The court ordered New to serve his sentence concurrently with a one year term which resulted from another conviction.
Judge Osborn additionally ordered New to be placed on probation for one year through (HPCS), perform 25 hours of community service and undergo drug treatment as necessary.
· Christopher David New, 36, of South Boston, was sentenced Friday to five years in prison for the grand larceny of a boat.
Judge Osborn suspended all but 120 days of New's sentence, ordering New to be placed on probation for two years through HPCS and to perform 50 hours of community service.
The court additionally ordered New to undergo substance abuse counseling as necessary and take all medication as required.
· Wayne Preston Coles, 32, of Scottsburg, was sentenced Friday to five years in prison and three years in prison for convictions of driving after being declared an habitual offender.
Judge Osborn suspended all but 12 months of Coles' sentence for each conviction, to run concurrently for a total of 12 months in jail.
The suspended time is conditioned upon Coles' good behavior for five years.
The court additionally authorized work release for Coles after six months in jail, for him to maintain full time employment upon his release and for him to perform 50 hours of community service and undergo random drug and alcohol tests.
Coles will be on probation through HPCS for one year following Coles' first six months in jail.
· James Edward Stovall Jr., 48, of Nathalie, was sentenced Friday to three years in prison for felony DUI.
Judge Osborn suspended all but 90 days in jail, conditioned on Stovall's good behavior for five years.
The court additionally ordered Stovall be placed on probation through HPCS for one year effective immediately, perform 50 hours of community service, pay a $200 fine, and undergo substance abuse screening.
Stovall was ordered by the court to abstain from drugs and alcohol.
The court authorized work release for Stovall, ordered him to maintain full time employment and suspended his operator's license indefinitely.
· Christopher Ray Davidson, 37, of Danville, was sentenced Friday to three years in prison for a third offense of DUI.
Judge Osborn suspended all but 30 days of Davidson's sentence, conditioned on his good behavior for five years, authorizing work release on the weekends.
The court additionally ordered Davidson be placed on probation through HPCS for two years, perform 100 hours of community service, undergo substance abuse testing as needed and abstain from drugs and alcohol.
Davidson was ordered to maintain full-time employment and had his operator's license suspended indefinitely by the court.
· Mark Anthony Kirby, 20, of Alton, was sentenced Friday to two years in prison for eluding police.
Judge Osborn suspended all but 10 days in jail, conditioned on Kirby's good behavior for five years.
The court additionally ordered Kirby to be placed on probation for six months and perform 50 hours of community service through HPCS.
Kirby was ordered to maintain full-time employment by the court, which also authorized him to serve his sentence on weekends.
· Joseph Sydnor Jr., 40, of Nathalie, was sentenced Friday to two years in prison for making a false statement for public assistance/perjury.
Judge Osborn suspended all but 90 days in jail, conditioned on Sydnor's good behavior for 10 years, with Sydnor receiving credit for time served.
The court additionally ordered Sydnor to be placed on probation through HPCS for one year upon his release, perform 50 hours of community service, undergo substance abuse counseling and treatment as needed and maintain full-time employment.
· Jeffrey Keith Daniel, 33, of Vernon Hill, was convicted Friday of a probation violation.
The court revoked, reimposed and resuspended all but 18 months of Daniel's previously suspended prison sentence.

Dignity in death.
One man's ashes are held unclaimed at the Halifax County Sheriff's Office.
The problem is a delicate one first raised with supervisors by Sheriff Jeff Oakes earlier this month.
Today, the board's Finance Committee will hear a request from Brooks Funeral Home seeking guidance when county residents die without anyone to claim their remains.
It is an issue the funeral home faced twice last year, according to Kathy Brown, owner/manager of Brooks Funeral Home.
In the past, Brown said that she and the sheriff took care of the cases.
"But it was a long, drawn-out process because there is no set criteria to follow," she explained. "And each case was different."
There is $150 available through the county to bury those without funds, according to Joe Morgan, county administrator.
"And, usually, there is a Social Security death benefit," he added.
The problem is one that Morgan, who has been working in county administration since 1977, has not encountered before.
"We want to see why it is a problem here," Morgan said yesterday.
The county administrator said that he was not ready to recommend any action until he had more information.
Research is already underway, Morgan said yesterday.
Checking the state code to determine legal requirements, checking Social Security death benefits and how they are accessed, determining how other localities handle the matter and determining whether any funeral trade association takes a position on the issue are being investigated.
"Obviously, we want any human remains to be handled with dignity, while at the same time using the customary resources that other communities use," Morgan said.
"We just want an established process to follow," explained Brown. "So, if or when it happens again, it can be taken care of with no problems. I just believe anyone, whatever their circumstance, deserves a decent burial."

The Halifax County High School Comet varsity boys' basketball team capped an outstanding 16-5 season by placing five players on the All- Western Valley District team announced Friday.
Seniors Anthony Owen and Shamoni Faulkner were first team selections, while fellow senior Sterling Williams was selected to the second team.
Junior Andrew Witko and senior Lymon Gregory were honorable mention selections.
Joining Owen and Faulkner on the first team were Antonio Fitzgerald and Brad Deshazor from regular season champion G.W. Danville, J.J. Redick of tournament champion Cave Spring, Cedric Jones of E.C. Glass and Dejuan Johnson of Patrick Henry.
Redick and Fitzgerald were named co-players of the year.
Two members of the Comet varsity girls' basketball team were also named to the All-Western Valley District Team on Friday.
Sophomore Kiki Sydnor was named to the second team, while senior Felicia Sprattley was an honorable mention selection.
Regular season and tournament champion G.W. Danville placed three players on the first team, Raynisha Johnson, Kris Morrison and Kristen Brown.
Lindsay Reynolds of Cave Spring, Candis Grishaw of E.C. Glass and Maya Chapman of Patrick Henry round out the first team.
Raynisha Johnson of G.W. Danville was named player of the year.
Western Valley District 2002 Basketball All-District Selections
Boys
First Team
J.J. Redick (Cave Spring)
Antonio Fitzgerald (G.W. Danville)
Anthony Owen (Halifax)
Brad Deshazor (G.W. Danville)
Shamoni Faulkner (Halifax)
Cedric Jones (E.C. Glass)
Dejuan Johnson (Patrick Henry)
Second Team
Sean Preston (Franklin County)
Brian Henderson (G.W. Danville)
Tom Hagan (Cave Spring)
Keith Brown (G.W. Danville)
Sterling Williams (Halifax)
Patrick Preston (Franklin County)
Honorable Mention
Cornelius Penn (Patrick Henry)
Melvin Smith (Patrick Henry)
Andrew Witko (Halifax)
Lymon Gregory (Halifax)
Pierre Stines (G.W. Danville)
Andrew Davison (Cave Spring)
Alphonso Ferguson (E.C. Glass)
Players of the Year:
J.J. Redick (Cave Spring) and Antonio Fitzgerald (G.W.)

Western Valley District 2002 Basketball All-District Selections
GirIs
First Team
Lindsay Reynolds (Cave Spring)
Candis Grishaw (E.C. Glass)
Raynisha Johnson (G.W. Danville)
Kris Morrison (G.W. Danville)
Kristen Brown (G.W. Danville)
Maya Chapman (Patrick Henry)
Second Team
Maria Migliarese (Cave Spring)
Vanessa Cannon (E.C. Glass)
Meghan Austin (E.C. Glass)
Cindy McGraw (E.C. Glass)
Tamillia Tolliver Franklin County)
Kiki Sydnor (Halifax)
Honorable Mention
Malinda Carpenter (E.C. Glass)
Lauren Davis (Franklin County)
Whitney Angle (Franklin County)
Tanesha Wilson (G.W. Danville)
Felicia Sprattley (Halifax)
Rosa Kuilan (Patrick Henry)
Sierra Cooper (G.W. Danville)
Player of the Year:
Raynisha Johnson (G.W. Danville)

Joseph Cole Ramsey

Joseph Cole Ramsey, 17, of 2700 Fernwick Drive, South Boston died February 23 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Ramsey was born in Pine Bluff, AR, on June 14, 1984, the son of Phillip William Ramsey and Shelley Bruce Ramsey. He was a senior at Halifax County High School, was a member of Faith Community Church, had earned his first degree Black Belt at Halifax Tae Kwon Do Studio and was working on his second degree, was an umpire with Dixie Youth Baseball, and was a member of the Young Republicans at Halifax County High School. He was to enter Liberty University in the Fall.
Survivors of Mr. Ramsey include his parents; two brothers, Curt David Ramsey and Wyatt Snead Ramsey, both of South Boston; his maternal grandparents, Sue Bruce of Amherst, Ohio, and Ray and Jenny Bruce of Charleston, SC; his paternal grandmother, Thelma Ramsey of Knoxville, TN; his great-grandmother, Carrie Bruce of Bellavista, AR; his God parents, Bill and Linda Snead of South Boston and Rusty and Ginger Webster of Jefferson City, TN.
Memorial services for Mr. Ramsey will be held February 26, at 7:00 p.m. at Faith Community Church, South Boston with the Rev. Dane Skelton conducting the service with the assistance of the Revs. Rusty Webster and Jim Cofield.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax Tae Kwon Do Studio, 71 Main Street, Halifax, 24558, or the Joseph C. Ramsey Scholarship Fund, c/o Bank of America, 606 Broad Street, South Boston, 24592

Marie Beatrice Palmer

Marie Beatrice Palmer of Hampton, formerly of South Boston, died February 18. She was born June 4, 1915, in Halifax County to the late Grant Lee Palmer and Ella Covington Palmer.
Survivors include one son, Earl Palmer of Hampton; one sister, Eva Logan of Hampton; two grandsons, Romero Palmer of South Boston and Alphonso Palmer of Hampton; two great-granddaughters, Marquita Palmer and Tristian Palmer, both of Hampton.
Funeral services for Mrs. Palmer will be held today, February 25 at 11 a.m. at the Chapel of Cooke Brothers Funeral Home, Newport News. Burial will take place at Pleasant Shade Cemetery in Hampton.

Lacey Elizabeth Wright
Jessica Darlene Wright
Christina Inez Wright

Lacey Elizabeth Wright, 14, Jessica Darlene Wright, 13, and Christina Inez Wright, 11 of Hunting Creek Road, Nathalie died February 20 at their home.
They were the daughters of Angela Wright Cash of the home, and Richard Allen Wright of Iowa Park, Texas.
Survivors include their mother and stepfather, Angela and Marvin Cash; father, Richard Allen Wright; one sister, Catherine Lynn Hessinger of MS; one brother, Wayne Allen Wright of Nathalie; their maternal grandparents, Wayne and Elizabeth Richardson of Fayetteville, NC; paternal grandparents, Roy and Darlene Wright of Iowa Park; a great-aunt, Lorene Dyer of South Boston; and their step-grandparents, Dean and Virginia Womack of Crystal Hill.
Funeral services were held February 24 at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Robert Heim conducting. Burial followed at Oakland Cemetery in Scottsburg.

Sue Perkins White

Sue Perkins White, 91, of 2102 Lower Liberty Road, Nathalie died February 22 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. White was born on April 25, 1910, the daughter of the late Thomas Perkins and Hattie Ewell Perkins and was married to the late Samuel White. She was a member of Crystal Hill Baptist Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Vernessa White of Nathalie; one son, Richard White of South Boston; one sister, Fannie Perkins of Nathalie; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one daughter-in-law, Madge W. White of South Boston; two sisters-in-law, Mamie White of Crystal Hill and Ellen Perkins of Nathalie. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Martha Norwood.
Funeral services for Mrs. White were held February 24 at 2 p.m. at Crystal Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. Louis S. Leigh officiating. Burial followed in Millstone Baptist Church Cemetery.

Chester Aurthur Powell

Chester Aurthur Powell, 86, of South Boston died February 19 at Woodview Nursing Home.
Mr. Powell was born in Halifax County on July 4, 1915, to the late Bessie Hill Powell and the late Johnnie Powell.
Survivors include three nieces, Edwina Macklin, Ovetta Doughty and Carol Smith, all of Richmond and a devoted cousin, Eunice Easley of South Boston.
Funeral services for Mr. Powell were held February 23 at 3:30 p.m. at New Zion Baptist Church in Nathalie with the Rev. Willie Yancey officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Tom Cook

Tom Cook, 93, of Nathalie died February 18 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
He was born in Halifax County on May 9, 1908, the son of the late Jennie Rice Cook and the late Pledge Cook.
Survivors include two sons, John Cook of Gretna and Thomas Cook of East Orange, NJ; seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Annie Pannell of Pittsburg, PA.
Funeral services for Mr. Cook were held February 23 at 1 p.m. at New Shiloh Baptist Church in Nathalie with the Rev. Sylvester Crawley officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Mabel Virginia Martin

Mabel Virginia Martin, 74, died February 17 at Raritan Bay Medical, Old Bridge Division.
Mrs. Martin was born in Philadelphia, PA.
She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of American Legion Post 485.
Survivors include her husband, Joseph Martin of Spotswood; four sons, Howard Welch of Barnegat Light, John Welch of Woodbridge, Joseph Martin Jr. of Thomasville, NC, and Kenneth Martin of New York City; one daughter, Debra Jarosz of South Amboy; one brother, Lester Saunders of Delray Beach, FL; four sisters, Mildred Kilgore of Tampa, FL, Virginia Vaughn of South Boston, Gloria Oliver and Patricia Jarrett, both of Danville; six grandchildren, Jamie Jarosz, Kelly Jarosz, Christopher Welch, Patrick Welch, Joey Martin and Nicole Martin; and one great-grandchild, Brianna Gonzalez.
Funeral services were held February 23 at 11 a.m. at Boylan Funeral Home. Burial was at Clover Leaf Memorial Park.

Virginia Glass Garber

Virginia Glass Garber, 65, of 11215 River Road, South Boston, died February 22 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Garber was born in Halifax County on December 13, 1936, the daughter of Noel F. Glass and Ruth Blanks Glass and was married to Norman W. Garber. She was a member of Arbor Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband; one daughter, Kathy Garber Burns and husband, Robert of Charlottesville; one son, Keith Michael Garber and wife, Cathy of Phoenixville, PA; five grandchildren, Kristen and Bryan Burns of Charlottesville, Kaylan, Julia and Matthew Garber of Phoenixville; two brothers, Garland Glass of Lynchburg and James Glass of Vernon Hill; and one sister, Jane G. McBride of Nathalie.
Services for Mrs. Garber were held February 24 at 4 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home with the Rev. Bob Watts officiating. Burial was in Halifax Memorial Gardens.

William Dingle

William Dingle, 69, of 729 Lincoln Drive, South Boston, died February 23 at Twin Oaks Nursing Home.
Mr. Dingle was born in Baltimore, MD. on August 18, 1932, the son of the late Eddie Dingle and Melissa Dingle. He was married to Helena Tucker Dingle and was a member of Emanuel Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Survivors include his wife; four sons, Leon Dingle, James Dingle and Alvin Dingle, all of Towson, MD, and Charles Dingle of Durham, NC; three brothers, Joe Dingle and Isaiah Dingle, both of SC, and Harry Dingle of Baltimore; his stepmother, Sue Dingle of SC; one stepdaughter, Norma Jean Meadows of South Boston; 13 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and three step-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mr. Dingle will be held February 27 at 1 p.m. at the Chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home with the Rev. Sandy Palmer officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Garden Cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home.