From staff and write reports
If boundary lines for Virginia's legislative districts - drawn by a GOP-dominated General Assembly - are tossed out, Del. Clarke Hogan, R-60th House District, will seek re-election.
"If I have to run again this fall, I'll do it," Hogan said yesterday.
Judge Richard C. Pattisall ruled Monday that the state's redistricting plan is unconstitutional.
Both Hogan and former Del. W.W. "Ted" Bennett questioned yesterday whether the ruling would affect the 60th District.
"Usually they can adjust within a region," said Bennett, who added that it was his understanding that the districts in question were largely around Richmond and southeastern Virginia.
In his ruling Monday, Judge Pattisall said some of the districts in the GOP-drawn plan were racially gerrymandered.
"The feds have said that we have to maintain the majority-minority districts, so what are we supposed to do?" Hogan asked.
Attorney General Jerry Kilgore, a Republican, said that he would appeal the judge's ruling.
But even without an appeal, the ruling won't have an immediate effect on House membership.
Delegates would keep their seats pending a new redistricting plan.
After a plan is in place, elections would be held this year for the new electoral districts created in the House, according to Pattisall's ruling.
Judge Pattisall also said that no new elections should be conducted until the General Assembly and the governor sign new redistricting plans for both the House and the Senate.
The effect on two Senate districts where special elections were held last fall was not immediately clear.
Twenty-two new members, including 19 Republicans, were elected to the House under the plan drawn by the Republican-dominated legislature. Ultimately the GOP gained a 64-34 margin over the Democrats.
Both the House and Senate redistricting plans were approved by the U.S. Justice Department in a review last year.
State Democrats sued in June 2001, alleging the redistricting plan engaged in racial, gender and partisan gerrymandering.
Pattisall denied a motion by Democrats in September to use the old district map for last fall's state elections while the new plan was being contested in court. But in his ruling Monday, Pattisall, a Democrats, backed some of the Democrats' claims, focusing on what he called the racial gerrymandering that occurred in newly created districts in southeastern Virginia and around Richmond.
Democrats were jubilant about the ruling, saying the 2001 redistricting plan was drawn up on a partisan basis.
"It was done with the purpose of getting as many Republicans elected as possible," said state Democratic Party Chairman Lawrence H. Framme III.
Republicans, meanwhile, vowed to back the attorney general's office in an appeal.
"There were a number of highly unusual things with the way (Pattisall) handled this entire case, said state GOP chairman Gary Thompson. "The whole process has been a questionable one."
Yesterday, Hogan described Judge Pattisall as "a very, very partisan Democrat."
Hogan said that the judge "should not have taken the case to start with."
If there are House elections, Bennett expressed no interest in seeking the 60th House seat that he once held.
Democrat Brad Wike, who ran against Hogan in the November election, could not be reached for comment at press time.

CLARKSVILLE - For the second time in less than six weeks, Virginia Governor Mark R. Warner came bearing good news for the economically stressed Southside region.
Yesterday, he brought word of a $49.9 million expansion of Star Scientific Inc.'s manufacturing and processing facility in Chase City, that will create 315 new jobs primarily in the former Jonbil distribution complex.
"This announcement is great news for Mecklenburg County and all of Southside Virginia," Warner said during an 11 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday for his administration's Coordinated Economic Relief Center on Virginia Avenue in Clarksville.
"I am pleased that the Commonwealth was able to help the company bring more quality jobs to Mecklenburg County."
Responding to massive job loss in the county over the last several months with the closing of Russell Stover Candies and the impending shutdown of Burlington Industries, Warner had been in Clarksville on Feb. 1 to launch the Governor's Economic Crisis Strike Force and to announce plans for location of a Trinity Packaging Corp. facility here that will generate 300 jobs.
"He's brought great news for our community," said Clarksville Mayor Benjy Burnett. "He's brought jobs. It's been dry around here and dad-gone if the governor didn't bring rain."
Warner said the expansion of Star Scientific will benefit not only Chase City and Mecklenburg County, but all of Southside Virginia.
"This is an important shot in the arm for Mecklenburg, Halifax and all of Southside Virginia," he said before presenting company representative Lloyd Jones with a framed share of stock for the company.
Officials said Virginia successfully competed with North Carolina, Georgia and Kentucky for the investment.
The parent company of Star Tobacco Inc., Star Scientific is a technology-oriented tobacco company engaged in the development of tobacco products that deliver fewer carcinogenic toxins.
Headquartered in Chester, Va., the company is expanding its operations in Mecklenburg County to accommodate the manufacturing and processing of its new smokeless tobacco products, particularly ArivaTM hard snuff and StonewallTM dry snuff.
"Star Scientific is pleased to expand its partnership with Mecklenburg County and the Commonwealth of Virginia," said Paul L. Perito, chairman and president of Star Scientific.
Warner approved a $300,000 grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to assist Mecklenburg County with the project. Star Scientific qualified to receive a $500,000 performance-based grant from the Virginia Investment Partnership, a program available to existing Virginia firms.
The company is also eligible to receive further tax credits because it is locating in an Enterprise Zone. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Mecklenburg County, the Lake Country Marketing Council, and the Town of Chase City assisted Star Scientific with its decision. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide workforce training services.
According to Perito, the company will move one currently operating manufacturing line for its new smokeless tobacco product ArivaTM from its Chase City processing center into the former Jonbil facility located across the street in the Chase City Industrial Park.
The 85,000-square-foot Jonbil building will be completely renovated at a cost of approximately $300,000, with 45,000 square feet serving as manufacturing space, and 35,000 square feet reserved for warehouse storage, he said.
The remaining area will be updated for office space, and will also house the company's state-of-the-art laboratory and small cafeteria, Perito added.
With a second ArivaTM manufacturing equipment line "already on the way" Perito said the company plans to begin renovations of its new facility within the next few weeks.
Star's current facility, which is serving as processing and receiving center for locally grown tobacco as well as manufacturing site for the ArivaTM product, will continue to function as a tobacco receiving and processing center.
"We are very excited about broadening our partnership with Chase City and Mecklenburg County," Perito said. "We look forward to continued growth, and we will continue to plan future expansions with the hopes of operating at least six manufacturing lines in the new Chase City facility."
Chase City officials were pleased with Star's expansion plan, and added that things seemed to be "turning around" in the town's favor.
"This announcement is a big turnaround for Chase City," Chase City Industrial Development Authority Chairman Charles Duckworth said. "We are adding back 30 to 40 percent of the jobs we lost in the 1990s, and we are in a great position to continue to grow."
Duckworth referred to the recently announced expansion at Sherwood Foods in Chase City, the downtown revitalization work currently under way and Star's announced expansion, and said that it seemed as though a great master plan was unfolding.
"There was nothing on paper, but it sure seems as though a big master plan is finally benefiting our town," he said. "This is a great opportunity for us to get back a lot of what we lost in the past - we need to seize this opportunity."
"I'm elated about the expansion, and about the 315 new jobs coming to Chase City," Chase City Mayor Duke Reid. "There was a lot of work done by people in the county and the town to make this possible, and they worked very hard on this project.
With Warner during Tuesday's announcement and ribbon-cutting ceremony was Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, who earlier in the day visited with youngsters at Clarksville Elementary School.
Kaine, as well as state Senator Frank Ruff of Clarksville, Delegate Tommy Wright of Victoria, and Delegate Clarke Hogan, who represents Halifax and Charlotte counties, cited the importance of teamwork in economic development and of working as a region for the good of all.
Not to be overshadowed by the Star announcement was the grand opening of the Coordinated Economic Relief Center (CERC) at 403 Virginia Ave., which will provide immediate access to the Governor's Economic Crisis Strike Force designed to coordinate state and local government and private sector services for the area's 2,000 recently displaced workers.
"It gives me great pleasure to announce the opening of the Clarksville relief center," Warner said.
"Many families in this area are facing real challenges through no fault of their own. We are proud of the extraordinary effort that state and local governments and non-profit groups have made in order to streamline the service process for the area's affected citizens."
Area residents affected by recent job loss can access the Clarksville CERC services on a "walk-in" basis at the center, or they may call the center's toll-free number at 1-888-439-3916.

Stephen Kauffman couldn't believe his eyes after pulling up the America's Most Wanted Web page in late November 2000.
The then 13-year-old resident of Lititz, Pennsylvania, thought Raymond Pin, the 10-year fugitive profiled on the program that night and on the web page, resembled the kind and courteous China King Restaurant employee everyone affectionately called "Chinaman."
Kauffman, a regular at the Lancaster, restaurant, said it took about a week for him to come to the conclusion that his friend was indeed Pin.
"I though he was such a nice guy," recalled Kauffman, who visited Halifax County and the scene of Pin's crime with his grandfather earlier this week.
"He even gave me free food and drinks on occasion," he smiled.
Kauffman had difficulty convincing anyone else to believe him, including his parents.
"My parents wouldn't let me call at first," said Kauffman, who actually missed the airing of the Saturday night program because he was at a basketball game.
Just how close Kauffman came to not identifying Pin was explained by different photos of the fugitive being displayed on the television program and the website.
A passport photo was used on the website viewed by Kauffman, and differed from the picture used during the television profile, explained Kauffman.
"If I had seen the television program, I never would have thought it was him," admitted Kauffman, who added he went back to the restaurant several times afterward to try and see Pin's hands, cut and scarred as the result of his struggle with his victims.
"I guess I'd noticed him for about a year at the China King," said Kauffman.
"After I saw the website, I went there about five or six times a week to try and verify."
After two weeks, Kauffman finally called authorities to inform them, after which Pin was put under surveillance at the restaurant, arrested, then found guilty of capital murder after a trial in Halifax County Circuit Court last November.
One of the arresting officers admitted to having dined at the restaurant on many occasions without suspecting Pin.
Even his classmates did not believe their unassuming classmate when he told them what happened.
"None of my classmates believed me, they were shocked. They told me, 'no way,' laughed Kauffman.
"I don't think many of them went there (China King) often.
They might have been more envious than shocked when the Virginia State Police and the Halifax County Sheriff's Department presented Kauffman with a $1,500 reward for his efforts in identifying Pin.
In addition, Kauffman visited with John Walsh, the host of America's Most Wanted, having lunch with him in Washington, D.C.
Kauffman's grandfather, Don Oeschger, accompanied him when he went to the scene of the crime, the former home of Frank Sydnor, who, along with Valencia Bouldin, was stabbed to death by Pin in October 1989.
The scene was unlike anything Kauffman expected, as the house remains unoccupied after the murders.
"I always thought the house would be brown, not white, and I thought it would be bigger," said Kauffman, who walked across the untended front yard to peek inside the window.
"I wanted to come here to see where it all happened, to get some kind of closure for myself to the whole Pin case."

Some South Boston residents have expressed concerns over the operation of Oxford House, a home for recovering substance abusers next to Boston Commons on North Main Street.
During Monday's town council meeting, Councilman Tom Raab voiced the concerns of neighboring residents over its operation in their area, which is zoned for single-family residences.
A flyer for The Oxford House of South Boston describes it as a "self-supported, self-run" recovery house for recovering individuals (men) after "30 days of sobriety."
The flyer states that rooms rent for $40, $50 and $60 per week.
Councilmen expressed concerns over public safety and regulation of Oxford House, which has no on-site supervision.
Oxford House has signed a lease with the town under the name Main Street Oxford House, according to planning and zoning administrator Lee Pambid, who said that up to eight individuals can stay there at one time.
"Because it is a group of individuals together with one disability, that precludes us from regulating it," said Pambid.
In answer to zoning questions posed by Raab, Town Manager Ted Daniel said Oxford House is treated as a single-family residence under state and local codes if it treats eight or less people.
"My concern is public safety," said Mayor Glen Abernathy, who asked who the contact person would be in case of problems at the house.
"Who is the responsible party should a problem arise?" he asked.
Abernathy said he would ask the police department to monitor the situation.
According to the group's website, the first Oxford House was established in 1975 in Silver Spring, MD.
The Anti-Drug Abuse Act, passed by Congress in 1988, directs the states to establish a revolving loan fund to provide start-up funds for groups wishing to open sober living environments based on the Oxford House model.
Since 1989, the Oxford House Financial and Outreach Services Operation provides staff to participate in opening new Houses in new areas and in monitoring the adherence of member Houses to the traditions of Oxford House, according to the website.
The website further states that the efforts of the field staff are supplemented by the central office, which interacts with all Houses on a regular basis, records and reports problems and assists in resolving zoning questions.
The Financial Services office administers loans to Houses and tabulates data from the Houses.

Halifax County Middle School baseball coach Barry Powell is hoping for a good start to the season when his Lions team opens its season here today at 4 p.m. against Holmes.
This is the earliest start for the Lions baseball team in several years and is coming 10 days ahead of its normal starting date.
"We're playing quick," said Powell.
"This is only our second week with the team. Usually we open with our invitational tournament later in the month (March 23). But, we're opening a week and a half earlier this season."
"Not only are we having to teach (fundamentals)," added Powell, "we're having to work on situations to prepare ourselves to play in a short period of time.
Powell said Holmes, a non-conference opponent, should provide his team with a good test.
"Year in and year out they give you a pretty good ball game," Powell said.
The Lions are scheduled to have two games under their belts before they play in the March 23 Halifax County Middle School Invitational Tournament.
A home game against non-conference opponent Rockingham (N.C.) is slated for 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 20.
That game is expected to provide the Lions a good test as well.
"You never know exactly how good you are or how far you've come until you get into a game situation," Powell said.
"We'll make adjustments we feel we need to make as we go along. I feel like if we get off to a good start we can have an outstanding season."
The Lions baseball team has a lot of tradition to uphold as it embarks on the start of the 2002 season.
Halifax County Middle School's baseball teams have won six consecutive Southside Middle School Conference regular season and tournament championships.
Lions baseball teams had won 61 consecutive games before being tagged with a loss last year.
However, the Lions, who finished 13-1 overall and 8-0 in conference play, came back to win its last eight regular season games and followed it up by streaking undefeated through the tournament, giving it a 10-game win streak entering the start of this season.
"The guys know the tradition we have set," Powell said.
"Winning is important," said Powell.
"But it's not the only thing. We're here to develop the school program and to help develop the players that will go on to the high school jayvee and varsity programs."
Powell appears to have a strong team again this season with an 18-player roster that is evenly split with nine seventh-graders and nine eighth-graders.
Six players on the team are returnees from last year's conference championship team.
The group includes Willie Stephens, David Lacks, David Clark, Jeremy Jeffress, Bobby Owens and Travis Powell.
Stephens, Lacks, Clark and Powell saw pretty good amounts of playing time last season.
"They've all improved since last season," Powell said.
The Lions are expected to have a solid mound staff this season with Lacks having the nod among the left-handed hurlers and Owens getting the initial nod among the right-handed pitchers.
"We have good depth in pitching," Powell said.
"Powell, Lacks and Vest are our left-handers and Owens, Jeffress and Chad Duffer are our right-handed pitchers.
"Having three left-handed pitchers is unusual," added Powell.
"It's very seldom that we have one left-handed pitcher and this season we ended up with three."
In Powell's tentative lineup, Owens will catch when he's not on the mound.
Around the infield, Travis Powell is expected to go at first base, seventh-grader Tony Barbour is set at second base, Matt Conner is slated to get the nod at shortstop and Jeffress is expected to begin at third base.
In the outfield, Clark is expected to go to left field, Stephens is slated to work in center field and Morgan Brown is being eyed in right field.
"I think we're going to be solid on defense," the Lions coach said.
" Once everybody gets to the point where they are comfortable with where they are the adjustments we make, we'll be even stronger."
Offensively, Powell says he expects his team to swing the bats well.
Lacks, Owens, Conner, and Stephens are expected to hit the ball well.
Several other players are also showing signs they may be ready to step up and cash in at the plate.
"We're pretty solid offensively as well as defensively," Powell said.
While Powell has a tentative lineup in mind, he quickly pointed out that the lineup can change because players are pushing each other hard for starting slots.
A pair of seventh-graders, Morgan Brown and Joey Rogers, are among them.
Powell pointed out that because the team is having to play its first game so quickly, he is looking at players that have the most experience for initial lineup.
"We're going to go with experience to start with," Powell said.
"Experience is very important. But, we'll make changes when we feel we need to make them."
Powell said he is very much looking forward to working his assistant coaches Will Hill and Dennis Seamster, both of whom bring a lot of knowledge and expertise to the team.
"Will is a legend," Powell said.
"I'm glad to be coaching with Will. He has been involved in baseball for many years. He will be inducted into the South Boston-Halifax County Sports Hall of Fame this year. It's a very well-deserved honor."
Seamster, Powell said, also has a lot to offer to the team.
"He played baseball for coach (Dewey) Compton and myself and played Legion ball under me," Powell noted.
"He's very knowledgeable and we're very fortunate to have him here working with us at this level."
Powell said this year's team is a strong team from top to bottom.
That was evident at tryouts.
"Our numbers were down this year," Powell said, "but the quality was there.
"This year the talent was at such a high level that we had to turn away some young men that more years than not probably would have made the team.
"It may be tough for the guys," added Powell.
"It's going to be tough on the players as far as earning playing time. They all know that because of the talent level and the competition for starting spots, they have to come out and practice hard and play hard if they want to play."
The bottom line is that Powell is expecting good things from his team this season.
"I've got high hopes," Powell said.
"We've got the talent here."

Halifax County Middle School girls softball coach James Smith has never shied away from a challenge.
Smith, the head coach of the Halifax County Middle School girls softball team isn't shying away from it this season.
School officials have come up with a tough schedule of non-conference opponents for Smith and his Lions team this season.
It starts when the Lions kick off their season on Saturday, March 23 in the Halifax County Middle School Invitational Softball Tournament.
Halifax County will face a team from Henderson, N.C. in its tourney opener at 11 a.m. on March 23.
It will then face either Hawley Middle School from Raleigh, N.C. or fellow conference member school Park View in its second game of the day.
Also on the schedule is a home doubleheader on April 11 against the Holy Cross jayvee team and an April 17 game against Central Middle School from Charlotte County.
"I think this is the toughest schedule we've ever had," Smith said.
"We're playing Henderson (N.C.), in our first game of the tournament and could end up playing a team from Raleigh (N.C.). We're going to be playing the jayvee team from Holy Cross and we have Central on the schedule."
Along with those teams, the Lions are expected to face tough games against conference opponents E.W. Wyatt and Park View, both of whom have given the Lions some good competition in the recent past.
"I like the tough schedule," Smith added.
"It gives our girls some good competition and some good tests. It helps us prepare for our conference games and the conference tournament."
The Lady Lions softball team will be seeking its fourth straight Southside Middle School Conference Tournament title this season.
In addition, the Lions, who were 14-0 overall last year, will be gunning for a third straight undefeated season and a fourth consecutive season of going unbeaten against Southside Middle School opponents.
These are the tasks that Smith and his Lions team are facing as they head into the start of the 2002 season.
Smith has eight players returning from last year's Southside Middle School Conference championship team.
However, only two of them, hurler Beth Throckmorton and center fielder Jasmine Parker, started for the Lions last season.
The other returnees include Jessica Lloyd, Jessica Morris, Ashley Lewis, Jobeth Cole, Erica Brandon and Jamie Wright.
Smith says he is expecting good things out of his returning players.
"We got them a lot of playing time last season," Smith said.
"Hopefully, that gave them enough experience to start this year with and build upon as the season progresses."
This year's Lions team roster is loaded with upper classmen. There are only four seventh-graders, Amelia Saunders, Melissa Sims, Tracy Spencer and Keyara Ferrell, on the roster.
As far as the starting lineup is concerned, Smith says things are far from being settled.
The only positions that have been nailed down at this early juncture, Smith said, are Throckmorton on the mound, Parker in center field, Lloyd at second base and Morris at shortstop.
"All of the other positions are wide open right now," Smith said.
"Our bench is pretty good, too, with the new girls pushing the others for playing time. One of the seventh-graders, Keyera Ferrell, is pretty strong. I expect her to push some of the eighth-graders."
Smith is optimistic about the potential of this year's team.
The biggest thing the team needs, Smith said, is games and time to develop.
"With only two starters back , it may take us a couple of games to see where we are," Smith said.
"I think after we play two or three games we'll have a pretty good idea of what kind of team we have."
One of the Lions' strong points this season will be its pitching.
Throckmorton is returning to the team after a stellar season last year. Lloyd can also get the job done on the mound as can Parker.
"Beth (Throckmorton) was a starter for us last year," Smith said.
"Jessica and Jasmine both have really improved from last year and they're making it possible for us to be deep in pitching."
Defensively speaking, Smith says the Lions may not be able to match the defensive prowess of last year's team.
However, this group of girls does play good defense.
"The only problem we have with the defense is that we may not be as strong in the infield as we were last year," Smith said.
"However, it looks like we may be stronger in the outfield than we were last year.
"With Duffey and Wright (joining Parker, the center fielder) give us more speed and better arms than we had last year."
The team's hitting ability is also something of a question mark, Smith said.
He pointed out that the players are working hard and that the bats are starting to improve.
"The only thing I'm really concerned about right now is hitting," Smith said.
"We have the other ingredients. If we can hit the ball, we should be able to be a pretty good team.
"The potential is there for us to be a really good team," added Smith.
"All we need to do is go out and play like we're capable of playing."

Virginia Louise Throckmorton Blanks

Virginia Louise Throckmorton Blanks, 56, of 109 Edmunds Street, South Boston, died March 10 at the home of her brother, Bryant Throckmorton.
Mrs. Blanks was born in Halifax County on September 9, 1945, the daughter of Clyde W. Throckmorton and Susie Langford Throckmorton and was married to Richard Blanks. She was a member of Scottsburg Baptist Church, a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of American Legion Post 8, and was a sales clerk at Glen-More Clothing.
Survivors include her husband; one daughter, Susie Louise Blanks; three stepsons, Nathan, Chris and Scotty Blanks, all of South Boston; two brothers, Harrison Throckmorton and Bryant 'Bonnie' Throckmorton, both of South Boston; six nieces, Betty Throckmorton Duffer, Cheryl Thompson, Robin Throckmorton, Angela Owen, Sherry Smith and Kimberly Saunders, all of South Boston; and one nephew, Carl Throckmorton of Scottsburg. She was preceded in death by one brother, Garnett Throckmorton.
Services for Mrs. Blanks will be held today, March 13 at 3:30 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Bob Richards and Ray Bucklew conducting the service. Burial will take place in Oakland Cemetery, Scottsburg.
The family is receiving friends at the home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Halifax County Cancer Association, PO Box 875, South Boston.

Robert Stowe Morse

Robert Stowe Morse, 75, of Martinsville, died March 11 at North Carolina Baptist Hospital, Winston-Salem, NC.
Mr. Morse was born in Chester, SC, on August 20, 1926, to the late Livingston Johnston Morse and the late Evelyn Stowe More. He served in the Air Force in WWII, attended the University of Richmond, and retired as corporate secretary of Piedmont Trust Bank and manager of Patrick Henry Mall branch.
Mr. Morse was a member of First Baptist Church of Martinsville where he served as treasurer, deacon, usher and a member of the Chevis Horne Sunday School class. He was a former member and president of the Lion's Club, member and board member of Lake Lanier Association, as well as member of the Martinsville Rotary and Forest Park Country Club, and also volunteered for the American Red Cross and he was a former member of Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.
Survivors of Mr. Morse include his wife, Jean Clark Morse of the home; one daughter and her husband, Ellen M. and Harry B. Byrd III of Snow Creek; one son and his wife, Robert Stowe Morse Jr. and Gail of North Myrtle Beach, SC; one sister, Evelyn M. Cassada of south Boston; two brothers, David L. Morse of Roanoke and Douglas H. Morse of Williamsburg.
Funeral services will be held today, March 13, at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Martinsville with Drs. Thomas R. McCann and James E. Baucom, and the Rev. John T. Fulcher officiating. Burial will be private.
The family will receive friends following the service at the church.
For memorials consider First Baptist Church of Martinsville, 23 Starling Avenue, Martinsville, 24112, or SPCA, PO Box 326, Collinsville, 24078.

Shirley Thompson Tucker

Shirley Thompson Tucker, 64, of Gretna, died March 10 at Lynchburg General Hospital.
Born August 1, 1937, in Halifax County, she was a daughter of the late Dorsey W. Thompson and Alma Clay Thompson and was married to James A. Tucker. She was a member of Straightstone Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband; a daughter and son-in-law, Joan and Mark Foster of Gretna; one sister, Faye Rowland of Gretna; three brothers, Owen Thompson of Nathalie, Wayne Thompson of Sutherlin and Bailey Thompson of Gretna; one grandson, Cory Foster; and a special nephew, Kimball Rowland.
Funeral services for Mrs. Tucker will be held today, March 13, at the Straightstone Baptist Church with the Rev. James Manuel officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Buster C. Compton

Buster C. Compton, 81, of 621 Berry Hill Road, South Boston, died March 11 at Berry Hill Nursing Home.
Mr. Compton was born in Pittsylvania County on March 30, 1920, the son of the late Thorn Compton and Blanch East Compton Booth. He was married to Gracie Lee Clay Compton, and was a member of the Baptist Tabernacle.
Graveside services will be held today, March 13 at 2 p.m. at Childrey Baptist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Bill McEntire officiating.
Survivors of Mr. Compton include four daughters, Elizabeth Compton Pulliam of Ringgold, Geneva Compton Smith and Janie Compton Pulliam, both of Virgilina and Vernell Compton Hubbard of Ruffin, NC; three brothers, Walter Compton and Irvin Compton, both of Chatham, and Lewis Compton of Brookneal; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.