Fighting back tears, 42-year-old Donnie Wayne Bowman testified repeatedly that he was not guilty of anything but trying to kill himself when he held off dozens of local and state law enforcement officers with a .12 gauge shotgun early one morning last December.
"I kept hollering, 'I do not wish to harm you, only myself.' I never pointed a gun at anybody," Bowman, who is charged with attempted capital murder and felony weapons violations among other offenses,testified in his defense during his preliminary hearing in Halifax County General District Court Monday.
In a rambling statement interspersed with choked tears and glares directed towards Commonwealth Attorney John Greenbacker and various law enforcement officers testifying for the prosecution, Bowman maintained that he did not want to hurt anyone but himself the morning of Dec. 8 when he held tact team members and local law enforcement officers at bay for five long hours.
But South Boston Police Officer Brian Lovelace told a different story.
Lovelace testified that when he approached Bowman's 1974 model Lincoln, which was stopped on the eastbound side of Route 58 in Riverdale, Bowman stuck the muzzle of a .12 gauge shotgun out of the driver's side door just inches away from his chest.
Shouting expletives, Bowman ordered him and fellow South Boston officer Fletcher Daniel, who was on the other side of the vehicle, to get away from the car, Lovelace testified.
"Officer Fletcher (the first officer on the scene) told me the driver was acting strange," Lovelace testified.
"I came up on the driver's side door and Bowman was leaning over the seat, He came up and told me to get the -- away from this car and ratcheted shotgun and pointed it directly at my chest. I pulled my service weapon and he continued to threaten me," Lovelace continued.
Lovelace said he and Fletcher backed away from the vehicle and waited for additional officers to arrive.
"He (Bowman) was screaming obcenities, He said, 'The only way I'm coming out is with the shotgun in your (meaning Lovelace's) mouth.' He told the officers to do what they had to do," Lovelace said, explaining Bowman's apparent desire to die at the hands of the police.
The standoff that began shortly after 1 a.m. continued for several hours until it was punctuated by the explosive sound of Bowman firing the shotgun through the roof of the car.
Less than an hour later, Lovelace testified, Bowman fired again - this time through the lower portion of the driver's side door, which directly faced South Boston officer Timothy Van Aernem's patrol car parked approximately 30 to 40 yards away across the road.
At this point, law enforcement officers from South Boston, the Halifax County Sheriff's Department Tact Team, area state troopers, and members of the State Police Tact Team armed with .12 gauge shotguns and .45 caliber handguns opened fire.
A blast from one of the police shotguns shattered the heavily tinted rear window of Bowman's vehicle and one round penetrated a door.
According to testimony, Halifax County Sheriff's Department Tact Team leader Lt. S.M. Cassada managed to engage Bowman in conversation and eventually persuaded him to end the confrontation, get out of the car and handcuff himself.
"He (Cassada) kept hollering at the officers to stop firing, that it doesn't have to go like this. He was the only one that cared," Bowman testified, repeating that at no time was he "hollering" obscenities, and that he did not wish to harm anyone but himself. "I was sitting on the side of the road out of gas. I was going to blow my head off."
Bowman testified he had purchased the shotgun and ammunition two weeks prior to the incident in Riverdale and had never fired the gun before that morning.
According to Bowman, he fired the first shot through the roof of his vehicle as a "practice shot" to determine the weapon's kick before turning it on himself. He said his second shot that went through the door was an accident, that the gun discharged when he leaned over the seat to retrieve more shells.
"I'm not guilty of anything but trying to kill myself," he maintained.
But while Bowman insisted that he was depressed over his recent divorce and intended to harm only himself, Greenbacker argued that Bowman was not being completely honest about his motives.
"His motive was not to be taken alive and to escape," Greenbacker said, referring to felony assault warrants for Bowman stemming from a previous incident in West Virginia. "You knew there was a felony warrant for your arrest so you were prepared not to be taken alive by any officer to be returned to West Virginia."
Along with the charges filed in connection with the Dec. 8 incident, South Boston Police also arrested Bowman on malicious wounding charges related to an earlier incident that allegedly occured in Calhoun County, West Virginia.
Greenbacker also questioned Bowman's story that he had been drinking and driving around aimlessly for several weeks staying in various hotels, and that the reason he was in the South Boston at the time was that he was enroute to a cemetery in Stuart, Virginia.
Greenbacker challenged Bowman's story saying, "You came from West Virginia, through North Carolina, and back up to Virginia. Why such a circuitous route?"
But while Bowman repeatedly asserted that he never yelled obscenities and had at no time pointed his weapon at any of the officers during the incident, General District Court Judge Joel C. Cunningham didn't find the explanation convincing, either. Nor was the judge swayed by defense council Buddy Ward's argument supporting Bowman's story that his actions did not prove i ntent to harm any of the officers.
Ward also contended that Bowman was being overcharged, as he was facing three misdemeanor charges - failure to obey a conservator of the peace, brandishing a firearm, and obstruction of justice - in addition to felony charges - attempted capital murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm after being convicted of a felony - but Greenbacker argued that the charges were not unreasonable given "the magnitude of the series of events" that transpired.
Cunningham ruled there was sufficient evidence to certify the felony charges to a circuit court grand jury. The Halifax County Grand Jury will convene March 8 to consider the charges before possible indictment.
While Cunningham dismissed the misdemeanor charge of failure to obey a conservator of the law, he found Bowman guilty of the other misdemeanors and sentenced him to 12 months on each of the two charges, and a total of $1,000 in fines. Bowman has appealed these convictions and they will go to circuit court at a later date.
Although he appeared humble and contrite on the stand during his testimony during which he repeatedly swore that he had at no time used profanity or threatened any of the officers during the Dec. 8 incident, Bowman displayed different demeanor when he confronted Lovelace in the hall on his way back to the jail following processing.
"You lied! You know you lied," he shouted at the Lovelace as he passed within inches of the officer. "I never pointed that -- gun at you!"
His face twisted an angry grimace, Bowman slammed his hands against a door and the crash of a metal canister ashtray he kicked in the stairwell on his way to the jail echoed in his wake.

The Public Nudity Community Standards Ordinance hearing slated Monday night was put on hold until next month.
The public hearing, which was scheduled during the meeting of the Board of Supervisors, must be re-advertised in order to meet statutory requirements, county administrator Dan Sleeper informed the Board at the opening of the Monday night session.
Supervisors also unanimously approved a measure to make buying regular dog tags easier for the public, authorizing the sales at South Boston town finance office, by veterinarians, and at other locations on a case by case basis.
However, county treasurer Linda Foster said yesterday at least three clinics contacted since the Monday night session had declined to participate in the program.
The authorization by supervisors was to issue the regular $3 dog tags only, and the issuer would receive a 20-cent fee per tag from the county.
Foster told supervisors that citizens have asked for more than one location. However, kennel tags will remain at the county office at Mary Bethune Complex.
"If it will help the public, it is good," said Supervisor Tom West.
Supervisors forwarded a proposal from the Halifax County Rescue Squad to the Finance Committee for review and recommendation to the Board.
The Squad did not make a presentation at the Monday night meeting but instead forwarded their proposal to the Board.
In a February 1 letter to supervisors, Jamie D. Long, EMS supervisor, forwarded an Emergency Medical Services proposed agreement for review.
The agreement seeks to form a partnership between the Rescue Squad and the local government in order to provide "exemplary emergency medical services" to county citizens.
"A partnership that would benefit the community by maintaining a strong and viable volunteer rescue squad system that is supplemented by career personnel," wrote Long. "
The agreement proposes the county administrator "would supervise the career staff of Halifax County Rescue Squad at little to no cost for the County."
While career personnel would ultimately be responsible to the county administrator, the agreement provides delegation to the EMS supervisor authority over career personnel while they are on duty at the volunteer station. Also, day to day operation of the Department and routine supervision of career personnel would rest with the EMS supervisor or his designee.
"The Board of Supervisors has the opportunity to craft this fragile entity to meet future demands," suggested the agreement proposal letter.
The EMS letter continued, "We are not asking for you to manage us, we're asking for you to lead us! You will find that this agreement offers clear framework for a future partnership. It may not be all inclusive, but it can be modified to meet your demands..."
In other business, supervisors unanimously approved $25,000 to prepare the gym area at Mary Bethune Complex for use by the General District Court during remodeling of court offices and facilities at Halifax Courthouse.
---Supervisors approved a schedule and guidelines for the budget. Guidelines for the budget include: salaries as may be dictated by the state; no more than a 2 percent increase in all line items except salaries and fringe benefits; overall budget for the second year of the Biennium shall not exceed 2.5 percent. The calendar included budget recommendations on February 1; budget requests to department, Feb. 2; submittal of budget request, Feb. 26; finance committee begins work in March and will revise draft budget document March-May. Joint meeting of supervisors with school board on budget in March; advertise full draft budget in April, adoption of school board budget by May 1; budgeting hearing no later than June 21; budget adoption no later than June 30,1999.
---Supervisors notified county received $410,141.00 for school construction fund. This was approved in October and county had anticipated $403,695.00 according to Sleeper. Supervisors approved corrected appropriation to $410,141.00 and ordered funds placed in the school construction fund.
---Supervisors also made a special appropriation from the Grants Fund to return monies for the Victim/Witness Grant for the end of the year ending June 30, 1997. Coordinators for the grant were changed that year and the balance of funds left had not been forwarded back. The total is $813.30.
...Supervisors will meet with South Boston officials at Wellspring on Wednesday, February 15, at 7 p.m. to discuss water/sewer issues. Officials hope to meet with Town of Halifax and South Boston officials to discuss water/sewer in the future.
---Supervisors approved public hearings for February 23 by the planning commission and March 1 for the Board on a conditional use permit by George and Brenda Stevens who want to open a diesel repair and state inspection station on 1.0 acre on the south side of Route 659 (River Road), 0.5 mile east of Pittsylvania County line.
---Supervisors authorized a contract with Dewberry & Davis for engineering services for solid waste services at $100,600 to cover a year and a half of work. The county had been operating on an hourly basis with another firm. "We put it all together and chose Dewberry and Davis," said the county administrator yesterday.
---Supervisors were notified the county was in noncompliance at the sanitary landfill by DEQ noting compaction and cover, a minor leachate outbreak on the northwestern side of the active fill area entering state waters and blowing trash.
---Supervisors approved Gene Faucette for the at-large position with the Industrial Development Authority and A.B. Jones Jr. to the Economic Development Council from District 5.
---Supervisors approved a request for public hearings at the March Board of Supervisors' meeting and at the April meeting regarding a Community Development Block Grant application for the Continuing Education Center in South Boston. The application deadline is April 21.
---Supervisors supported American Legion Post 6 Rocky Mount, Post 8 South Boston and Post 325 , Danville in joint submitting of bid for year 2001, 2002 or 2003 American Legion World Series. The tournament would be played in Danville at W.C. Daniel Memorial Park.
---Supervisors approved a tobacco resolution regarding the Master Settlement Agreement negotiated with tobacco companies with Virginia to receive approximately $2 billion. The resolution urges the General Assembly and Governor to allocate a significant portion under the plan for the benefit of tobacco growers in the state. However, supervisors declined to ask that funds be allocated to the A.L. Philpott Commission and asked that they be turned over to a special fund to be administered by the Department of Agriculture.

Supervisors continue to wrestle with the confined hog feeding issue after receiving recommendations from the Halifax County Planning Commission earlier this week.
A report from the Agriculture Development Committee, which also received the planning commission report, is expected next.
Supervisors will ultimately develop the final document as the county addresses setbacks and regulations for confined animal feeding operations.
Dr. Mike Williams, director of Animal and Poultry Waste Management Center at North Carolina State, will make a presentation Wednesday, February 24, at 7 p.m. in the conference room at Mary Bethune.
The informational session will mark the first time supervisors have met with Dr. Williams, according to county administrator Dan Sleeper. The county administrator said Williams was absent during supervisors NC State tour last year. "He is the guy we have been trying to reach all along," said Sleeper yesterday.
During their Monday night session supervisors heard calls to speed the process along establishing confined animal setbacks and regulations ...and also to move slowly and "get it right."
Supervisors sent the confined animal feeding issue to the planning commission and to the Agricultural Development Committee last June for study.
The planning commission recommended strengthening most setbacks from structures in the county ordinance but fell short of Southside Concerned Citizens' recommendations.
Supervisor Tom West told the Board the agriculture committee would meet later this month. "I think the ag committee wants to get it behind us," said West.
But Supervisor Dickie Abbott wanted "zones in some way."
The supervisor was advised by assistant county administrator Jerry Lovelace that the planning commission had wanted to look at zones but did not feel it had enough time.
Lovelace also said the commission felt data available from the comprehensive plan study, which is under contract, would be helpful in zoning studies.
Supervisor Abbott renewed his call to "go at it really gently and not rush ...or you'll mess up."
Southside Concerned Citizens chairman Jack Dunavant called the planning commissions' changes not enough to protect the people in the county.
He called for the commissions' proposed setbacks to be strengthened, noting Charlotte County had strengthened theirs. The SCC chairman called for a combination of the Charlotte County/Mecklenburg County setbacks for Halifax County.
On zoning, Dunavant said the county did not have to establish A-2 zones, but could do it piecemeal. "You know you don't want to put it next to a golf course or church," said the SCC chairman.
Dunavant noted that in Virginia Beach, which has confined hog production operations, hog operations are in the Pungo area and do not cross Indian River Road.
Dunavant also asked supervisors to support three House bills, HB 1924 imposing a statewide moratorium on hog operations until July 1,2001; HB 1923, Right to Farm Act, which excludes confined animal feeding operations with more than 300 animal units; HB 2448, Confined animal feeding operations. Requires owners of such operations that are required to obtain coverage under a general permit issued by the State Water Control Board to provide evidence of financial responsibility for closing the operation's liquid manure collections and storage system.
However, supervisors tabled action, saying they needed to see bills to know what they were endorsing. Dunavant returned with copies of the bills later in the meeting, but the board took no action.
Earlier, Supervisor West had recommended supervisors study the bills and make recommendations individually, but Supervisor Garland Ricketts noted individual action would not carry the weight an endorsement by the Board as a whole would carry.
Tucker Watkins, chairman of South Central Agriculturists For the Environment, said there are real concerns but said "the ordinance must be fair."
Supervisors also passed a resolution for Halifax County Agriculture requesting the Industrial Development Authority and the Economic Development Council "to focus attention and efforts to make a top priority for recruiting new agricultural related industries which would broaden the agricultural base and economics of our present agricultural industry."
Supervisors also asked IDA and the EDC to work together on this goal "and a report should be given quarterly to the Board of Supervisors on progress being made."

A Milton, N.C. man pleaded guilty to 11 drug related charges dating back to October 1996 in Halifax County Circuit Court Tuesday.
Tonie Dericko Richmond, 45, pleaded guilty before Halifax County Circuit Court Judge William L. Wellons and was convicted of eight counts of possession of cocaine with intent to manufacture, sell, give or distribute and three counts of conspiracy to manufacture, sell, give or distribute cocaine.
A firearms charge lodged against Richmond was dropped.
Richmond will remain free on bond until he is sentenced in July.
A South Boston man facing drug charges opted for a plea bargain Tuesday in Halifax County Circuit Court rather than taking his case before a jury.
Ernest Percel Medley, 37, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of cocaine with intent to manufacture, sell, give or distribute and was remanded to the Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority in Halifax.
Medley will be sentenced during the March court term.

Two persons were injured Friday afternoon when two pickup trucks collided on Wilborn Avenue at the intersection of Beechmont Drive.
The injured victims in the 2:24 p.m. mishap were the drivers of the two vehicles, 71-year-old Fletcher H. Taylor of Nathalie and 57-year-old Scott Brann Ray of South Boston.
According to a report filed by South Boston Police Officer Tim VanAernam, the pickup truck driven by Taylor ran into the rear of the truck driven by Ray.
An estimated $2,000 damage was done to the 1993 model foreign made pickup truck driven by Taylor and an estimated $1,000 damage was done to the 1986 model pickup truck driven by Ray.
Officer VanAernam charged Taylor with following too close.
No injuries were reported when two vans collided Friday at 3:56 p.m. on Hamilton Boulevard at the entrance to the Hupps Mill Plaza Shopping Center.
That accident involved a vehicle driven by 25-year-old Shawn M. Dix of Danville and a vehicle driven by 40-year-old Marsha M. Barker of South Boston.
According to Officer VanAernam's report, Dix was in the left lane and slowing for another vehicle that was turning into the shopping center. Barker was in the right lane passing the two vehicles that were in the left lane when Dix pulled over into the right lane and struck the Barker vehicle.
Damage to the 1992 model foreign made van driven by Barker was estimated at $1,000. An estimated $500 damage was done to the 1996 model van driven by Dix.
Dix was charged with failure to yield the right of way to a passing vehicle.

A South Boston truck driver suffered minor injuries Saturday night when he lost control of his rig and struck a tree after trying to avoid an animal in the roadway, according to reports from the Virginia State Police.
Tebe Cleveland Horton, 52, was driving a tractor trailer on U.S. 360 around 10 p.m. when he reportedly saw an animal in the roadway approximately half a mile west of Route 344.
State Police reports indicated that Horton veered off the right side of the roadway in an attempt to avoid the animal and then veered back across and off the road to the left striking a tree.
The impact caused an estimated $8,000 to the 1996 Freightliner owned by Fallen Trucking Company out of South Boston.
Investigating State Trooper D.O. Cooper II charged Horton with reckless driving.
No one was injured in a two-car collision yesterday morning on route 679 one mile east of Route 671.
Reports indicated that shortly after 9 a.m. Tuesday, Gary Harris Barksdale, 47, of South Boston pulled out of private drive and collided with Wesley M. Perkins, 66, of Halifax, who was traveling west on Route 679.
The collision caused an estimated $2,000 damage to Perkins' 1990 Chevrolet two-door and $400 to Barksdale's 1984 Honda.
Investigating State Trooper M.S. Roark Jr. charged Barksdale with failure to yield.

Halifax County's effort in educational funding doesn't meet its local fiscal capacity according to a Virginia Education Association report.
The report, "Virginia's Educational Disparities," for the year 1996-97, shows that while the county's fiscal capacity of $46,584 ranked 94th among the state's 132 school systems, the local effort, based on the local composite index established by the state, ranked 104th overall.
At the time, the Halifax County school system was ranked 40th overall in end of the year average daily membership with 6,315 pupils attending the county's schools.
Halifax County also was noted for having the highest high school dropout rate in the state with a dropout rate of 8.39 percent. The City of Danville had the state's third highest high school dropout rate with a 7.52 percent figure.
Pittsylvania County ranked eighth in the state in dropout rate with 6.15 percent, and Mecklenburg County had the 11th highest dropout rate in the state with a figure of 5.43 percent.
While Halifax County's rank was low when its fiscal capacity and local funding effort were compared, the county is in pretty much the same position as several surrounding localities. For instance, Mecklenburg County ranked 92nd in local fiscal capacity but ranked 127th in its funding effort. Pittsylvania County was ranked 115th in fiscal capacity but its effort rank was 128th.
By contrast, a couple of neighboring localities showed an educational funding effort that surpassed their fiscal capacity rating. Charlotte County was ranked 117th in fiscal capacity yet was ranked 85th in its effort. Campbell County was ranked 104th in fiscal capacity but was ranked 62nd in effort and Lunenburg County, which was ranked 129th in fiscal capacity, had an effort rank of 107th.
The VEA release showed the state's average salary figure for classroom teachers at $35,536. Halifax County's average salary for classroom teachers was well below that with a figure of $29,907 which put the locality 116th in the state in average salary of classroom teachers.
Mecklenburg County, which had an average salary of $28,602, was ranked 127th in the state, Lunenburg County, which had an average salary of $29,684, ranked 118th. Campbell County, which had an average salary figure of $30,457, was ranked 101st in the state.
Charlotte County's average classroom teacher salary of $31,388 was 80th in the state and Pittsylvania County's average classroom teacher salary of $33,119 was 47th best in the state. The average classroom teacher salary for the Danville schools of $34,473 was 32nd best in the state.
When it came to the cost of operation per pupil in terms of average daily membership, Halifax County ranked 72nd with a total per pupil cost of $5,492. In terms of local funds spent per pupil, the county ranked 111th in the state with an average of $1,413 per pupil.
Mecklenburg County ranked 122nd in the state in total cost of per pupil operation with $4,962 but ranked 124th in local funds spent per pupil with $1,148. {Pittsylvania County ranked 130th in both total cost per pupil ($4,763) and in local funds spent per pupil ($986).
Charlotte County was ranked 95th in total per pupil cost with $5,278 but was 122nd in local funds spent per pupil with a figure of $1,167. Lunenburg County was ranked 93rd in the state in cost of operation per pupil with a figure of $5,285 but ranked 131st when it came to local cost which was said to be $975 per pupil.
Halifax County showed up well in terms of the percentage of high school graduates who continued their education beyond high school. The local figure of 79 percent was 55th best in the state.
Mecklenburg County had the 68th highest figure with 76.9 percent, Charlotte County had the 70th best figure with 76.8 percent and the Danville City school system was 74th best in the state with a figure of 76.4 percent.
In the category of instructional personnel positions per 1,000 students in average daily membership, Halifax County was ranked 26th with 88.2. Mecklenburg County was ranked 33rd with 86.4, Danville was 81st with 77.6, Pittsylvania County was 100th with 75.7, and Charlotte County was 118th with 71.8 positions.
The HEA statistics, based upon information from the 1996-97 "Superintendent's Annual Report For Virginia," showed major disparities among Virginia's 132 school divisions in measures such as teacher salaries, dropout rates, expenditures per pupil and the percentage of high school graduates continuing their education beyond high school.
The study showed:
- The statewide gap in the total cost of operation per pupil in average daily membership is $5,200;
- The statewide gap in the average salaries of teachers is $17,500;
- The statewide gap in the dropout rate is eight percent; and
- The statewide gap in the percent of graduates continuing their education is 53 percent.
"In the year following our last annual report, newer data remind us again that where a child lives in Virginia continues to make an enormous difference in the quality of his or her education," pointed out VEA president Cheri James.
"We support earmarking lottery proceeds for K-12 education outside the funding formula and including a maintenance of effort provision for localities under the 1998-2000 budget proposals," James added.

Lurlean Glass Harper of Route 3, Nathalie died Sunday, January 31, 1999 at Virginia Baptist Hospital in Lynchburg. She was 95 years of age.
Mrs. Harper was born in Halifax County on October 1, 1903 the daughter of Charles Edgar Glass and Fannie Spencer Glass and was married to Glen R. 'Pete' Harper. She was a member of Catawba Baptist Church.
Survivors include a devoted nephew, Bobby P. Knowles of Lynchburg; three other nephews, Malcolm H. Knowles, C. Michael Glass and David L. Glass, all of Lynchburg.
Graveside services for Mrs. Harper were held Tuesday, February 2 at 2 p.m. at Catawba Baptist Church Cemetery with Rev. Sayford Moon conducting the service.

Cosimo Giuffrida of 1717 Irish Street, South Boston died Thursday, January 28, 1999 at Halifax Regional Hospital. He was 89 years of age.
Mr. Giuffrida was born November 1, 1909 in Middletown, CT the son of Joseph and Rosa Giuffrida and was married to Norma Sue Hudson Giuffrida. He was a retired teacher in the New Haven, CT school system and was an Army WWII veteran. He received a Master's Degree in Music and was a professional musician. He was a member of the American Federation of Musicians in Middletown, and the New Haven Federation of Musicians in New Haven.
Funeral services were held at Shady Grove United Methodist Church Tuesday, February 2 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Don Davidson conducting the service. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Survivors of Mr. Giuffrida include his wife of South Boston; two sisters, Josephine Alexander of Modesta, CA and Rosa Rodgers of Portland, CT; one brother, Louis Giuffrida of Monument, CO; and a number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one sister, Jenny Maselli; and five brothers, Frank, Giulia, Bruno, Joseph and John Giuffrida.

Beatrice Inez Hazelwood of South Boston died Sunday, January 31, 1999 at Halifax Regional Hospital. She was 40 years of age.
Miss Hazelwood was born July 30, 1958 in Halifax County the daughter of Thomas June Hazelwood and Ida May Conner Hazelwood.
The funeral will be held at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel today, February 3 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Rudolph Jacobs officiating. Burial will take place in Providence Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Nathalie.

Survivors include three sisters, Geraldine Lacks of Red Oak, Edith Bray of South Boston and Carolyn Carrington of Roxboro, NC; and one brother, Otis Hazelwood of Randolph. She was preceded in death by one sister, Betty Turlington.

Lucias K. Ray of Sandston, formerly of Halifax County, died Monday, February 1, 1999. He was 68 years of age.
Mr. Ray was the son of Kermit Lucias Ray and Margaret Gravitt Ray and was married to Barbara Y. Ray.
Survivors include one son, Danny M. Ray and his wife, Debrath of Mechanicsville; one daughter, Bonnie Yates of Chesterfield; three brothers, Ira M. Ray of Buffalo Junction, Scott B. Ray and Douglas M. Ray, both of South Boston; two sisters, Beatrice Ray Sadler of South Boston and Dianne Ray Conner of Burlington, NC; two grandchildren, Rebecca and Michael Ray.

Graveside services for Mr. Ray will be held today, February 3 at 2 p.m. at Halifax Memorial Gardens.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the American Cancer Society.

A.I. 'Sonny' Austin died Thursday, January 28, 1999 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, Lakeland, FL, at the age of 70,
Mr. Austin was born in Halifax County, the son of Jim H. and Nannie M. Austin of Clover. He was the retired President of Eurpac Military Brokerage Firm.
Survivors include his wife, Joan Z. Austin of Lakeland; his sons, John Austin of Tallahassee, FL, Gary Austin and Bryan Austin, both of Atlanta, GA; two brothers, J. R. 'Pete' Austin of Shelbyville, TN and Ralph Austin of Clover; three sisters, Ruby Holdren and Sandra Edwards, both of Richmond, and Barbara Ann Jones of Red Oak; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother, H.A. 'Dude' Austin.
A memorial service will be held locally at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Kidney Foundation or a charity of your choice.

Prunious D. Ballou of 1223 Sinai Road, South Boston died Friday, January 29, 1999 at his home at the age of 77.
Mr. Ballou was born in Halifax County on October 21, 1921 the son of Ed Ballou and Malissa Ballou. He was a World War II Army Veteran.
Survivors include three daughters, Rosa Ballou of Nathalie, Carolyn Ballou and Brenda Ballou, both of South Boston; three sons, Lawrence Ballou, Jerry Ballou and Perry Ballou, all of South Boston; one sister, Lola Wood of South Boston; two brothers, Herbert Ballou and Eugene Ballou, both of South Boston; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mr. Ballou will be held today, February 3 at 2 p.m. at the Chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home in South Boston with Rev. George Hampton Gohanna III officiating. Burial will follow in the Ballou Family Cemetery.

William Caswell Winstead, 78, of 5142 Red Bank Road, Virgilina, died Monday, February 1, 1999 at Person County Memorial Hospital in Roxboro, NC.
Mr. Winstead was retired from American Tobacco Company and a member of the Longherst Junior Order, the Union United Church of Christ, and a WWII Army Veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Ethel Griffin Winstead; two daughters, Linda Fuqua of Timberlake, NC and Patsy Morgan of Durham, NC; one stepson, James Glasscock of Creedmoor, NC; two stepdaughters, Brenda Stigall and Betty Carter, both of Roxboro; two foster daughters, Marie Howard of Timberlake and Tonia Boykin of Meridan, MS; one sister, Beulah W. Phillips of Durham; six grandchildren; six step-grandchildren, and two step-great-grandchildren.
The funeral for Mr. Winstead will be held today, February 3 at 2 p.m. at Brooks & White Funeral Home Chapel in Roxboro with Rev. Bobby Whitfield conducting the service. Burial will follow in Durham at Woodlawn Cemetery.
Olivia Thompson Waller