By Doug Loftis
Stabbing and slashing until they both went down to the floor and "didn't make any more moves" were part of Friday's courtroom testimony describing the horrific deaths of two Halifax County residents over 11 years ago.
Raymond Kalun Pin, the 41-year-old former Chinese restaurant operator who was finally arrested on December 13, 2000, has been bound over to the grand jury.
If convicted of capital murder, Pin could be sentenced to death for the 1989 slayings of Frank Sydnor and Valencia Laverne Bouldin.
Pin's photo and description appeared on the nationally-televised program, "America's Most Wanted," just prior to his arrest December 13, 2000, in Lancaster, Pa. After seeing and hearing about Pin, a 13-year-old boy spotted Pin working in a Lancaster restaurant and turned him in.
In Friday's preliminary hearing before Halifax General District Court Judge Joel Cunningham, FBI agent Thomas Gote provided the most incriminating testimony against Pin.
Gote, testified that Pin gave him a statement describing what had happened inside Sydnor's house where, almost a month later, two badly decomposed bodies were discovered on November 23, 1989.
When questioned inside the restaurant in Lancaster, Gote testified Pin initially identified himself as Chang, gave a fake Social Security number and lied about his age. Pin, said Gote, was inconsistent in his answers to those and other questions, in particular, his date of birth. "He would hesitate," said Gote.
But Pin may have literally shown his hand when he agreed to remove his shirt that revealed the identifying dragon tatoos he has on both arms.
Photos of Pin bore his likeness, said Gote, but Pin's scarred hands, allegedly sustained during the deadly fight with Sydnor, and known tatoos on his arms were even more convincing.
After brief questioning, Pin was taken from the restaurant to police headquarters in Lancaster where he was fingerprinted. Seeing that those prints matched with those of Raymond Pin, "he admitted he was, in fact, Raymond Pin," said Gote.
Pin, said Gote, told the FBI that he had "been waiting 11 years for us!"
The FBI agent testified that he read Pin his rights and had Pin repeat his earlier statement before accepting it.
According to Gote, Pin told him how he had been playing cards with Sydnor at Sydnor's house. "He was losing," Gote said of Pin, who claimed that Sydnor was "keeping cards" or cheating.
Gote testified that Pin told him how he had demanded that Sydnor give back his money or he would kill him.
Sydnor and Pin allegedly began to argue and scuffle before Pin allegedly went outside to his van, got a knife and placed it in his waistband. When he walked back into Sydnor's house, according to Pin's statement, the fight was renewed and Pin allegedly stabbed Sydnor "numerous times."
Still fighting, the two allegedly fell to the floor as Valencia Bouldin, Sydnor's 19-year-old stepdaughter, entered the room. According to Pin's statement, Sydnor had yelled "get the gun" to Bouldin, who ran back into the bedroom and attempted to lock the door.
In his statement, Pin claimed he forced his way into the bedroom and began struggling with Valencia Bouldin. Afraid that she was going to shoot him, Pin stated that he stabbed her. Frank Sydnor, according to Pin's own statement, managed to get up from the floor, enter the bedroom and join in the struggle.
Gote said Pin told him that he lost control and began "swinging wildly" and "slashing" Sydnor and Bouldin with his knife. Before leaving Sydnor's house, Pin stated that he took money, a revolver and keys from the victims.
Former Halifax County Sheriff's Deputy William Oakes, one of the first investigators to enter Sydnor's house, described "walls covered in blood."
Before entering the house, Oakes said it was evident from the odor and flies in the windows that there were decomposed bodies inside. Investigators found clothing stuffed beneath the door leading into the bedroom where the two bodies were found.
Providing more testimony was South Boston garage owner and operator Mac Ragans who testified that Raymond Pin, on November 10, 1989, had hired him to tow a van from the yard of Sydnor's house around midnight. Pin had "bandages on both hands," Ragan recalled.
Dr. William MacCarty, a South Boston orthopedic surgeon, testified that he examined Pin in the emergency room of Halifax Regional Hospital on October 26, 1989, and recommended that Pin be transferred to Duke University Medical Center for treatment of a head injury. Pin, said MacCarty, had severe injuries to both hands which appeared to have occurred, perhaps, a day before he sought treatment in the emergency room.
Pin, who was extradited from Pennsylvania to Halifax on January 11, is being represented by court-appointed attorneys Robert Morrison and Joe Teefey. In bright orange jail attire, with hands and feet shackled, Pin sat quietly and made no response when Judge Cunningham certified the charge of murder against him for the death of Frank Sydnor.
Pin has not been charged with Valencia Bouldin's death but, according to Commonwealth's Attorney John E. Greenbacker Jr., that charge is forthcoming. Greenbacker told reporters that he will seek capital murder against Pin on grounds that two persons had been killed in the course of a robbery.
Pin is being held in jail without bond.

Some Halifax County residents, including William Coleman, Ray Newcomb and Kitty Wilmouth, left after a public meeting held on Thursday still adamant in their opposition to continued application of Class B biosolids on farm land in western Halifax County.
Other county residents, primarily farmers such as Bill Milam and Ned Strange, stand by the land application of Class B biosolids, otherwise known as treated sludge, as a safe and economical method of fertilization.
Both groups expressed their positions at the public meeting called by the Virginia Department of Health at Laurel Grove Volunteer Fire Department in Pittsylvania County.
The meeting was called in order to receive public comments on a request by Agri-South Biosolid Services of Greensboro to add approximately 600 new acres of county land to the existing approximate 2,000 acres for the potential application of Class B biosolids.
Charles Swanson P.E., a treatment technology engineer with the Virginia Department of Health opened the meeting with an overview of the issue.
Swanson stated that one permit per county is issued, with area farmers who wish to have the biosolids applied signing separate agreements with Agri-South, agreements that are not legal or binding.
Agri-South officials at the meeting concurred, stating that land owners can back out of the agreement at any time.
Swanson also pointed out that independent analysis of the material is required before being spread, with a buffer of 100 feet between the material and property lines if laid on top, and within 50 feet if cultivated into the soil.
According to the state Board of Health, the term biosolids means a sewage sludge that has received an established treatment for required pathogen control, is treated or managed to reduce vector attraction to a satisfactory level, and contains acceptable levels of pollutants.
Those acceptable levels make it acceptable for land application, marketing or distribution.
Newcomb, an Alton area resident, experienced first-hand the odor from sludge applied to neighboring land about five years ago. He and Turbeville area business owner Kitty Wilmouth were also concerned about long-term effects of land-applied sludge, and its effect on the watershed.
"The Birch Creek community had problems with septic tank run-off into the water," said Newcomb at the meeting.
Newcomb wanted to know how the water supply could be protected against contamination from biosolids runoff, and why so much of the use of the sludge was confined to the southwest area of Halifax County.
Issues and Answers
Barry Dunkley, director of the Danville Water and Wastewater Department, and Bob Branch, soil scientist and nutrient management specialist, spoke to Newcomb's concerns.
The biosolids used in Halifax County fields are generated in Danville, according to Dunkley.
The reason given by Dunkley for the concentration of biosolids in the Turbeville/Alton area was one of simple economics, with those areas nearest to the treatment plant where the sludge is produced.
"The further away you transport the material, the less economical it becomes," explained Dunkley.
Dunkley also made reference to the odor problems associated with the application that county residents, such as Newcomb, experienced several years ago, stating that they tried a new process in treating the biosolids, and that every test they performed before the material left the plant met their specifications.
"They met every criteria before being spread," said Dunkley, assuring that if there were any large problems with odor in the future, that he would personally come out to investigate.
Dunkley assisted Swanson in explaining the Department of Health's position on biosolids application.
"What we (the state) are saying in doing this is that we (the state) would issue a permit for biosolids application if you comply with the regulations," said Dunkley.
"We'll (the state) permit it unless there can be something shown that there's a reason not to, because all of the research to date has said this is a viable way to do it - it's an acceptable process for land application for biosolids.
"The state must make the decision to apply sludge and inspect each individual field to see if it is suitable for treatment," added Branch.
"Studies have been done on biosolids application and ground water quality. When proper management is done, there are no problems. Problems occur when over applications are made.
"With this program, you have boundaries and restrictions on the application of Class B biosolids.
"There are no restrictions on Class A," said Branch.
Class A biosolids are fertilizers commonly used for yards and available in normal venues for gardening.
Swanson further explained that it was illegal for Class B to be applied to normal lawns, and that land under Class B biosolids application had to be zoned for agricultural use, away from housing developments.
In addition, farmers are legally prohibited from grazing their cattle for at least 30 days on land where the sludge is applied, added Branch.
The application of biosolids has benefited at least two county land owners who attended the meeting.
Both Ned Strange and Billy Milam commented on the positive economic impact of its use on their farmland.
According to Milam, who raises beef cattle, hay and tobacco, biosolids application is economically feasible, with lime used to mitigate the odors.
Strange, who had used various fertilizers in the past, including chicken litter, knew there was an odor to be considered, but stated it didn't last long.
"I've never seen such grass in my life," said Strange.
Several people commented on the reason for the meeting itself, feeling that since they cannot legally halt biosolids application, their concerns and objections are of little value.
"This seems to be a done deal," one attendee commented.
"What is the purpose of these public meetings if citizens are not consulted," said Halifax County resident William Coleman.
Coleman quoted a 1990 report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which noted that biosolids may include organic solids, nutrients, disease-causing pathogenic organisms, bacteria, viruses, and toxic organic chemicals from industrial waste.
"The National Food Processing Association says it does not endorse use of sewage sludge on cropland," said Coleman.
"In looking at this whole problem, I think we all support farmers, particularly the small family farmer trying to stay on his farm and pay his taxes," said Halifax resident Jack Dunavant.
"I understand this is a way to keep his fertilizer costs down - I support it 100 percent for that reason.
"However, it's not so much what you do, but the way you should do it. If we can be reassured that the problems that have occurred in the past won't re-occur, the issue would go away."
According to Swanson, the public meeting was to be kept active for 10 more days, in order to receive citizen comments.
Swanson gave his e-mail address as cswanson@vdh.state.va.us

A 51-year-old South Boston woman, Linda Short Clark, was convicted on Friday of two counts of grand larceny/embezzlement of Doug's Antiques and Reproductions after a bench trial in Halifax County Circuit Court.
Linda Clark, who was not related to Doug Clark, had a business arrangement with him. She was allowed to display and sell personal antiques in the showroom in return for performing general secretarial duties.
Linda Clark admitted that she had misappropriated as much as $10,000 in funds from Doug Clark's business.
Doug Clark, who died in 1998 after a protracted battle with cancer, had his insurance cancelled due to nonpayment of premiums.
According to the prosecution, at least one check written to cover those insurance premiums went instead to the defendant, something Clark did not realize until his insurance was cancelled.
The prosecution related how Clark, from January 1, 1996 to June 1, 1998, wrote company checks directly to herself to cover her personal expenses, making false entries in the company's check register to conceal her actions from Clark.
Linda Clark was not a paid employee of Doug Clark's business, according to further prosecution evidence.
Judge William L. Wellons ordered a presentence report due for the March term of court.
Clark will remain free on bond until that time, under court-ordered supervision by Halifax-Pittsylvania Court Services.
Other Docket Items
Marquis Antwan Penick, 19, of South Boston, entered an Alford plea on Friday to the assault and battery of sheriff's deputy David Irby.
Under terms of the Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but realizes prosecution evidence would make the finding of guilt almost a certainty.
According to prosecution evidence, the charges stemmed from Penick's behavior at the August 20, 2000, murder trial of his friend, Marquis White.
After the guilty verdict was announced, Penick stormed from the courtroom in an agitated state.
Presiding Judge Leslie M. Osborn assigned Irby to the doors at the rear of the courtroom and ordered that Penick not be allowed back in.
Penick struggled with Irby while attempting to re-enter the courtroom, prompting Irby to use pepper spray to control him.
Judge Wellons revoked Penick's prior bond due to his violation of pre-trial probation conditions and remanded him to custody pending a presentence report in the March term of court.
· Jerry Broad Osborne, 53, of Halifax, was convicted on Friday of inflicting bodily injury on correctional officer C. L. Tidwell of the Blue Ridge Regional Jail in April 1999.
In a separate trial continued from June 6, 2000, Osborne was additionally convicted of the possession of a firearm after having been convicted of a felony.
Judge Wellons ordered Osborne's prior bond revoked, and that he be remanded to custody pending a presentence report in the March term of court.
· A 17-year-old South Boston youth was convicted on Friday of two counts of the possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute.
Judge Wellons ordered the youth to remain under supervision of Halifax-Pittsylvania Court Services until a presentence report due in the March term of court.
· Derrick Devon Logan, 24, of Roxboro, had his previously suspended penitentiary sentence revoked on Friday for violation of probation conditions.
Judge Wellons resuspended all but two years and six months of Logan's re-imposed sentence, and ordered an additional two years of probation for Logan upon his release.
· Donald Earl Crihfield Jr., 36, of Ringgold, was convicted on Friday of misdemeanor DUI and misdemeanor improper parking in the highway.
Judge Wellons sentenced Crihfield to a 12-month jail sentence, with all suspended, conditional on Crihfield's good behavior for 12 months.
The court additionally ordered Crihfield to pay a $300 fine, with $100 suspended on the DUI charge, to pay a $25 fine for the improper parking charge, and to perform 50 hours of community service.
Crihfield's operator's license was suspended by the court for 12 months, restricted to driving to and from work and VASAP meetings.

Publishing "the oldest list of delinquent (county) taxpayers" is expected to surface as a Finance Committee recommendation to supervisors during tonight's board session.
The board will meet at 7 p.m. in the Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax.
At 8 p.m., supervisors also will hear a public hearing regarding disposition of property related to the Banister River Dam and Reservoir.
The Finance Committee was given the 1998-1999 delinquent tax lists in the fall. After two years, the real estate is eligible for sale.
Approximately $350,000 in 1998 delinquent taxes "were on the books," according to Halifax County Administrator Joe Morgan. " Some will have been paid, so it's under that (now)," Morgan said Friday.
In 1999, the administrator said that $11.5 million was levied and $11.2 million collected.
Typically, 2 percent or less of levied taxes remain uncollected during an average year, according to Morgan. He said that Halifax County falls within that range.
"We have an obligation to collect," said the county administrator.
However, county officials also acknowledge that some of the money "on the books" is uncollected because assessments are unclear or ownership is unknown.
In other business, supervisors are expected to tackle the controversial Halifax County War Memorial design issue, as well as the memorial's funding.
There will be an opportunity for citizen comment.
Supervisor R.E. "Dickie" Abbott, chairman of the Grounds Committee, said the shape of the memorial's roof and the color of the memorial itself remain stumbling blocks.
Tonight, Abbott's committee is expected to recommend that the county hire an architect to consult with the Building and Grounds Committee on a final memorial design decision.
A little over $100,000 has been donated for the memorial, with current design estimates set at approximately $150,000.
The Halifax County War Memorial Commission proposed the monument to honor county citizens killed in service to their country during war.
The Halifax Woman's Club joined the effort, raising funds and purchasing the lot at the corner of Main Street and Mountain Road in Halifax for the memorial site. The lot was given to the county for that purpose.
During tonight's session, supervisors also are expected to consider a resolution supporting The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission's position on securing Master Settlement Fund payments and creating a permanent trust fund.
Also on the supervisors' agenda:
· Blue Chip Racing Resorts is seeking approval of its 11-event schedule for 2001, which includes the Ferrari Challenge, April 27-29; 3rd US Buatti Grand Prix, May 5-6; Sports Car Club of America, May 12-13; VIR Gold Cup Historic (homecoming) June 8-10; WERA Cycle Jam Nationals, June 14-17; Formula USA Super Bike, July 29-July 1; HSR (Historic Sportscar Racing), July 6-8; Championship Cup Series "CCS," Aug. 4-5; SCCA National, Aug. 11-12; American Motorcycle Association, Sept. 28-30; Sports Vintage Racing Association, Oct. 27-28.
Blue Chip Racing Resorts also is seeking to modify its conditional use permit to allow limited spectator camping on Friday and Saturday nights at publicly promoted spectator events.
The request is for tent, travel trailer, camper and RV camping for spectators, in addition to currently permitted VIR Club members, event participants and employees.
The county's planning commission scheduled a public hearing for the VIR request for its Feb. 27 meeting and recommended that supervisors authorize a hearing for their March meeting.
· Residents of the Lakeshore community want to have VDOT take Lakeshore Drive and Occoneechee Trail into the state's road system. Lakeshore resident Douglas Powell wrote the county administrator last month seeking a meeting with county and VDOT officials to assure that all required state road standards are met by residents prior to the July 1 deadline for VDOT acceptance. Residents are seeking a meeting this month or in March.
South Boston Motor Speedway continues to investigate the possibilities of developing a beach club around its pond area and is expected to present information to the board. The South Boston Speedway is also seeking permission to establish its own Emergency Medical Services using two ambulances.
Supervisors will hold their annual planning retreat Thursday and Friday at Supervisor James Edmunds' cabin in Turbeville.

The South Boston Council committees face a full agenda for their 5:45 p.m. meeting tonight at the new South Boston Police Department building at 640 Hamilton Avenue.
The change in venue gives council members and the general public an opportunity to witness first-hand the renovations done to accommodate the expanded police station.
Finance Committee Agenda
Final adjustments to the Fiscal Year 2001-2002 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) will be considered at Monday's meeting.
Also on the agenda are status reports on the Infiltration and Inflow and Landfill Construction projects, as well as a review of the General Fund allocations within the CIP.
A public hearing on the 2001-2002 CIP is scheduled for council's monthly meeting next Monday.
Four other items round out the Finance Committee agenda, including the following:
· Hazard mitigation grant project status - Hilden Mill acquisition.
· Three-year delinquent real estate tax list.
· Water and sewer availability fees discussion.
· Monthly financial statement.
Current Issues Committee
The Current Issues Committee will consider seven issues at Monday's meeting, including the following:
· Master agreement between the towns of Halifax and South Boston for emergency water services.
· A request from the owner of TOMZ Inc. 303 Main Street, seeking approval to install a heat pump on an exterior wall that would encroach over the public right-of-way.
· VDOT Safety Improvement project to rubberize the railroad crossing on Main Street.
· Department of Game and Inland Fisheries - urban deer issues.
· Southside Planning District Commission resolution regarding Tobacco Indemnification funds.
· Status of project with ReUse Technologies to recover land around Hamilton Boulevard ball fields.
· Update of Section 2-1 of the Town Code to reflect State Code language concerning holidays.
Both the Current Issues and Finance committees are scheduled to enter into Executive Session pursuant to the Code of Virginia 2.1-344(A)(1) and (3) to discuss a personnel matter and the acquisition of real property.

By Joe Chandler
It hurts more and more each time.
After three quarters here Friday night, the Halifax County High School Blue Comets were deadlocked with Albemarle.
But the Comets couldn't put things together in the fourth quarter and Albemarle, hitting a bevy of free throws down the stretch, emerged with a 51-39 win.
It was the second time this season and the eighth consecutive time that the Comets have lost to the Patriots who took over second place in the Western District with the win.
Third-year Halifax County High School basketball coach Garrett Dillard has not beaten Albemarle since taking over the reigns of the Comets
Friday's loss added more sting to the pain that Comets coach Garret Dillard feels when it comes to his team being so close - yet so far away - from beating Albemarle.
"When I went to shake those guys hands it bothered me that those guys were celebrating on our floor," Dillard said after his team fell to 1-2 in Western District play and 8-8 overall.
"It hurt me. I don't know about the guys, but it hurt me deeply. There are some things that you don't let happen and that's one of them, people coming on your floor, beating you and rubbing it in on you."
Dillard didn't mean that Albemarle did anything out of the ordinary to run the defeat the in his team's face.
He noted, instead, that Albemarle felt it had come away with a fairly good accomplishment in knocking off the Comets here on their home floor.
"They were excited to beat us," Dillard pointed out.
"That's a good sign because they didn't come down here thinking they were going to win - or at least they didn't think it was going to be easy."
The loss to Albemarle put a serious dent into the Comets' bid for second place in the district and an opportunity to gain the home-court edge for its opening round Western District Tournament game.
But Dillard said he wouldn't call the loss to Albemarle a devastating blow.
"We can't let it be," Dillard said.
"If we let it be devastating we'll probably end up 8-12 again, probably go to Albemarle (for the first round district tournament game) and lose and come back home and we'll have to start all over again next year.
The outcome of Friday night's game rested on two fronts - one being that the Comets never mounted a sharp offensive attack - the second being that the Patriots nailed their free throws when they counted the most.
In the background of Dillard's first point - the fact that his team never really attacked offensively - is that the game took on a much slower tempo than the earlier game this season between the two teams in Charlottesville.
And, there wasn't the rain of three-point shots that punctuated the first game between the two teams.
Albemarle, in fact, didn't hit a single three-point basket.
Halifax County, which had 10 three-point baskets in the first meeting, had only five Friday night with Dashawn Baird, who the led the Comets in scoring with 15 points, getting one three-pointer and Carleton Roach, the only other Comets player to hit double figures, canning three of them as part of his 11-point night.
Sterling Williams, who canned seven three-point shots in the first game, four in the final 39 seconds, hit only one Friday night and finished with a meager five points in the game.
The Patriots went to a zone press to take the Comets out of their running transition game and the Comets never really adjusted.
"We never really got into any kind of attacking mode offensively," Dillard said.
"Maybe that was because we spent so much time this past week working on our half-court offense because that has been the problem, trying to make sure we didn't have any stagnant points offensively."
"We were just passing the ball so much we didn't get a lot of shots off."
Free throw shooting also played a key role in the outcome.
The Comets were 4-10 at the charity stripe while Albemarle was 17-23.
Albemarle hit 10 of its 12 free throws in the closing minute of the game when the Comets had to foul in an attempt to get their hands on the basketball.
In that picture, the Patriots converted both free throws in all three of their one and one opportunities in the final minute.
Halifax County, by contrast, missed several key opportunities at the charity stripe.
Trailing by six points with 1:39 left in the game, Roach missed the front end of a one-and one opportunity that could have cut the Patriots' lead to four points.
Twenty four seconds later, with 1:15 left in the game, Baird missed a free throw to complete a three-point play that could have, even with the prior misses by Roach, brought the Comets to within three points.
From that point, the Patriots knocked down 10 free throws to secure the game.
"If we had made those that we had, then it's only a one or two-point ball game rather than their extending the lead to a six or seven-point ball game," Dillard pointed out.
There were seven lead changes in the game, the final coming when the Patriots' Ryan Pehanick, who finished with 14 points, scored the opening basket of the final period.
Baird attempted to answer with a driving layup but the shot rimmed out and the Patriots got the rebound.
Albemarle's 6-9 center, Ian Johnson, who led his team with 16 points, hit two free throws after being fouled on that possession to put Albemarle up 33-29.
A layup by Baird with 5:27 left in the game brought the Comets back to within two points.
However, two Comets turnovers and two baskets by the Patriots gave the visitors a 37-31 lead which the Comets could never overcome.
Halifax County took the lead at the end of the first period with a tip-in by Teddy Bradley and Terez Garland canned the first shot of the second period to give the Comets a 10-6 lead.
The Patriots hit a free throw and Williams answered with a three-pointer that gave the Comets a 13-7 lead with 6:16 left in the half.
Albemarle rallied down the stretch, leaving the Comets with an 18-17 lead at the half.
The Patriots used back-to-back baskets to take the lead midway through the third quarter but the Comets retaliated with back-to-back three-pointers from Roach and Baird to go up 27-23 with 2:40 left in the third period.
Johnson, though, rallied the Patriots.
He canned one of two free throw attempts with two minutes left, stole the Comets' inbounds pass and slammed it home for the dunk to make the score 27-26.
Roach scored a layup after taking a court-length pass to put the Comets up by three.
Johnson answered with a bucket from deep in the paint with 1:30 left in the third quarter.
He was fouled on the play and made the free throw to tie the game at 29-29 and send the contest into its final eight minutes with a deadlock.
varsity boys

Ernest Clifton Elliott, 75, of Danville, died February 1 at Brian Center in Yanceyville, N.C..
Mr. Elliott was born February 19, 1925, in South Boston the son of Ernest Wayne Elliott and Carrie Mae Conner Elliott and was married to Jean Allen Elliott. He was working for Barkhouser Motors at his retirement and was a U.S. Army Veteran.
Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Jimmy Wayne Elliott of South Boston and E.C. Elliott Jr. of Danville; one daughter, Lana C. Elliott of Danville; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A funeral service for Mr. Elliott was held February 3 at noon at Temple Baptist Church with the Rev. Roy Newton officiating. Burial followed in Oak Ridge Cemetery in South Boston.

Doris Newton Dalton, 64, of 2189 Cherry Hill Church Road, South Boston, died February 1 at her home.
Mrs. Dalton was born April 26, 1936, in Mecklenburg County the daughter of George Washington Newton and Mabel Campbell Newton and was married to Willie Leon "Pat" Dalton. She was a member of Black Walnut Baptist Church and was employed by JPS.
A funeral service will be held today, February 5 at 2 p.m. at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Melvin Bradshaw officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Survivors of Mrs. Dalton include her husband; two daughters, Connie D. Murray of Virgilina and Cheryl D. Roller of Mt. Laurel; one son, Jack Daniel of Cary, N.C.; two stepdaughters, Vicky Chilton and Patricia Dalton of Pelham, N.C.; four sisters, Mary Daniel of Richmond, Barbara Fanelli of Cary, Kay Blanks and Sylvia Morris of South Boston; one brother, Billy Newton of Durham, N.C.; four grandchildren; five step-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, and one brother, Carl H. Newton Sr.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Halifax County Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston 24592.

George Albert Hicks, 79, of 1162 Pineview Lane, Scottsburg, died February 1 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Hicks was born in Halifax County on December 1, 1921, the son of James Harvey Hicks and Elnora Sims Hicks. He was married to Juanita Coleman Hicks and was a member of Piney Grove Baptist Church where he served as a deacon. He was the first principal of Clays Mill Elementary School and was a World War II Army veteran.
His survivors include his wife; son: Rodney Jerome Hicks of Danville; two step-sons: Ryall C. Williams of Baltimore, MD, Roland M. Jones of Germantown, MD; step-daughter: Joyce A. Boswell of Newport News; six step-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; two sisters: Fannie Buster of Scottsburg and Mattie Drewery of Philadelphia, PA and a brother: John I.D. Hicks of South Hill.
A funeral service will be held Wednesday, February 7 at 2 p.m. at the Piney Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Whitfield Scott officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of the deceased.

Verna Mozell Mullis, 76, of 1064 Cole Lane, Scottsburg, died February 3 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Mullis was born in Mercer Co., WV on June 11, 1924 to Samuel Bell and Annie Carrie Tabor Bell. She was married to Odell Mullis Sr. and was a member of Fork Baptist Church.
Her survivors include her husband; three sons: Richard Mullis and Odell Mullis Jr. of Glenn Allen and Gary Mullis of Scottsburg; three daughters: Harriet Mullis of South Boston, Julia Gravitt and Iva Guill of Scottsburg; 11 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held Tuesday, February 6 at 11 a.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jason Murray officiating. Burial will take place in Oakland Cemetery, Scottsburg.
The family will receive friends tonight from 7-8:30 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home.

Clarence (Bully) Edward Crews, 73, of 1055 Joe Crews Trail, Nathalie, died February 4 at his home.
Mr. Crews was born in Halifax County on June 26, 1927, the son of Joseph M. and Mamie Garber Crews. He was married to Shirley Jones Crews and was a member of Catawba Baptist Church and an Army veteran of the Korean Conflict.
His survivors include two sons: Coyle Edward Crews and Thomas Allen Crews of Nathalie; daughter: Gayle C. Rickman of Nathalie; three grandchildren: Wendy, Don Jr. and Katlin of Nathalie; two sisters: Millie C. Anderson of Halifax, Sally C. Moore of Oxford, NC; three brothers: Raymond Crews, Howard Eugene Crews and Henry M. Crews of Nathalie.
A funeral service will be held Tuesday, February 6 at 3 p.m. at Catawba Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home tonight from 7-8:30 p.m.