A South Boston man drowned Tuesday morning after apparently falling from a railroad trestle over the Dan River, just west of the Tucker C. Watkins Jr. Memorial Bridge.
John Richard Doss, 45, of Noblin Avenue was pronounced dead at the scene after his body was recovered at 10:45 a.m., according to South Boston Police Lt. Rick Loftis.
"At this point of the investigation, we believe this is a case of an accidental fall and drowning," said Lt. Loftis. "We have not seen any indication of foul play or a deliberate jump."
No autopsy was planned, he added.
A two-man Virginia State Police SCUBA Team located Doss' body approximately five minutes after one of the divers, Trooper R.C. Overholt of Mecklenburg County, entered the water at 10:40 a.m.
They were assisted by rescue personnel and a boat from the Halifax County Rescue Squad, as well as first responders from the South Boston Fire Department.
The body was found in about 10 feet of water, approximately 10 feet east of the railroad trestle, Trooper Overholt said. Underwater visibility was about one-foot, he added.
Doss was described by relatives as an avid fisherman, though it is not positively known whether he had been fishing from the trestle, Lt. Loftis said.
"No fishing gear was found at the trestle," Lt. Loftis explained. "We also have no indication that alcohol was involved."
Prior to the recovery of Doss' body, police had located his Dodge van which was parked along a nearby unpaved road frequently used by fisherman along the river banks, he added.
A witness, Isaiah Dogan, was driving his daughter to work at ABB when they saw Doss fall from the trestle, according to the investigation.
Dogan and his daughter saw Doss hanging from the concrete pillar, just as he fell into the river at about 6:45 a.m., Lt. Loftis said.
After dropping off his daughter, Dogan drove to the South Boston Police Department to relate what they had seen, Lt. Loftis said.
Prior to that, another citizen had arrived at the station to report "seeing something" hanging from the trestle, he added.
When officers arrived on the scene to investigate, Doss was not visible. Police did find the top of his cooler which had floated downstream and had become lodged underneath a branch of a riverside tree, according to the investigation.
"There was some initial accounts that he had been hanging from the steel part of the trestle when he fell, but after interviewing everyone, we believe it was the concrete pillar," Lt. Loftis explained. "There were scrapes on his arms and head that indicated he had fallen from the concrete."
The state police divers arrived on the scene at about 9:30 a.m. Additional anchors for the rescue squad's boat were needed because of the river's strong current, causing a short delay.
Once they arrived, paramedic Michael Hardy of the Halifax County Rescue Squad anchored the boat underneath the bridge, at the section where Doss was believed to have fallen into the water.
Trooper Overholt entered the water and began his search slightly downstream, making sweeping concentric semi-circles in an ever-widening pattern. He was attached to a rope which was tendered by fellow diver Trooper T.A. Elder of Charlotte County.
"The state police divers did an outstanding job in recovering the body so quickly, especially in something as potentially complicated and dangerous as a river," commented SBPD Chief Jim Hall. "We really appreciate their professionalism in doing such a thankless, but necessary job."
As the body was put into the boat, a Norfolk-Southern coal train rumbled overhead towards a power generating plant in North Carolina. The trestle is owned by Norfolk-Southern and fishing from or walking along the structure is an act of trespassing.
In an incident that may or may not be related to Doss, a unknown man was spotted on the trestle by a Norfolk-Southern engineer piloting an earlier coal train to the power plant, Lt. Loftis pointed out.
The unknown man was not struck by the train during the 2:30 a.m. sighting, police said. The engineer used a cellular telephone to alert the South Boston Police Department, but when police arrived a short while later, no one was seen.
"We have no evidence at this time if that sighting was in any way connected with Mr. Doss," Lt. Loftis said. "Everything we've looked at indicates an accidental drowning."
South Boston's first full year with expanded boundaries will cost town taxpayers about $1 million more than the town expects to spend in the fiscal year ending June 30 of this year.
But the good news is that Town Council also expects to balance the general fund budget while collecting real estate taxes at a rate some 20 cents per hundred below the present level.
The current fiscal year is budgeted out at $5,681,764 and includes the last six months with the old boundaries, and the first six months of this year after the boundaries were extended, according to a budget first draft studied by Council at a budget workshop Monday night.
The fiscal 1998-99 projection, which totals $6,624,798, becomes effective July 1, 1988, and runs through June 30, 1999, which is the first full year after boundary extensions.
Council members and Town Manager Ken McLawhon stressed that this is only the first draft of the budget and is subject to change before it is adopted.
One place where the new figures rise significantly is the police department, which goes from $767,376 now to $937,870 next year. Most of this difference is in salaries for new officers, up to $599,063 from $470,624.
The big revenue items in the South Boston budget are real estate levys for $760,000 and personal property taxes for $530,000.
For '98-99 these figures become $543,300 and $780,000, respectively. McLawhon said the personal property tax is being continued at its current rate so that town motor vehicle owners will receive full benefit when the state car tax plan goes into effect.
Because of the change in real estate taxes and this spring's reassessment of property values by Halifax County, town officials said they are unable at this time to estimate what individual property owners are likely to have to pay.
In addition to the general fund budget, Council has begun the task of funding a water and sewer budget bloated by higher government capital outlay mandates.
Foremost among these expenses is an enormous $7,737,500 for a major expansion at the wastewater treatment plant. The town is responsible for half the cost, or $3,868,750.
McLawhon said the town's share will likely be paid from the issuance of bonds, either revenue bonds or general obligation bonds.
Also, there is an $888,160 item for upgrades of the water filtration plant and $575,000 for a sludge project. Both are awaiting completion of the permitting process that will enable the projects to be approved.
With the expensive one-time line items added, the first draft of the water and sewer budget stands at $8,439,889, which is $3,471,642 more than the current budget of $4,968,242.
In another action by the Current Issues Committee Monday night, the Current Issues Committee agreed to recommend to Council for approval a DAR request to develop a small lot owned by the town at the southeastern corner of Broad Street and Seymour Drive.
Just up the hill from the Tucker Watkins Main Street bridge and only a short distance from Constitution Square, the site would be developed as a commemoration of the Revolutionary War's Crossing of the Dan Campaign in 1781.
The lot would be developed by the Berryman Green Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The Finance Committee heard a continuing report from Chris Lumsden, who brought committee members up to date on the work of the Halifax Education Foundation and its efforts to expand and relocate the Continuing Education Center from Love Shop to the old tobacco factory district downtown.
The town is awaiting cost figures for a necessary survey to be completed.
The Virginia General Assembly recently awarded a $250,000 grant to the Education Fondation to be applied to this project.
The Finance Committee recommended that the water and sewer extension project on River Road be recommended to Council for approval. The low bidder was Tharpe's Excavating at $86,871.60.
Also, the decision was made and sent to Town Council for a public hearing April 6 on a request by Ralph Dyer to close a dedicated but unopened portion of an alley behind his home at 300 Chalmers Street.
Blue Ridge Beverage Company Inc. broke ground Monday for a new distribution facility to be located in the J. Aubrey Houghton Industrial Park in the town of South Boston.
The 33,000 square foot facility will enable Blue Ridge Beverage to combine its Danville and Keysville operations, which it acquired from Southern Virginia Distributing Company Inc. in June of 1997.
The combined operation will provide more than 25 jobs to South Boston, a spokesman said.
Blue Ridge Beverage expects to occupy the new facility by September of 1998.
Mrs. Regine N. Archer, President of Blue Ridge Beverage Company, said, "We are pleased to have forged an excellent working relationship with the South Boston Industrial Development Authority and the Town of South Boston.
"We look forward to becoming a long-term corporate citizen of this fine community in the heart of our southern service territory," Mrs. Archer said.
Blue Ridge Beverage Company Inc. is a wholesale distributor of beer, wine and soft drinks, and is the largest distributor of Miller Brewing Company products in Virginia.
Headquartered in Salem, the company serves more than 36 counties of central and southern Virginia, including Halifax County, from six existing facilities in Salem, Danville, Keysville, Lynchburg, Charlottesville and Harrisonburg.
The site is Lot J2 in the J. Aubrey Houghton Industrial Park, and this is the second project to be undertaken in that part of the park.
Turning north from Hamilton Boulevard, the Blue Ridge site is on the right near the top of the hill, on the opposite side of the street from Lewis Metal Works Inc.
By LAURIE KELLMAN
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress' leading tobacco bill contains few legal protections demanded by the industry, an election-year effort by both parties to cede little to companies they believe lied for years about hooking kids on smoking.
Even before Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the Commerce Committee chairman, unveiled his compromise Monday, the industry called the bill an act of ''vengeance'' and threatened not to go along with any congressional curbs on tobacco advertising. Many experts say ad restrictions would be unconstitutional if forced by Congress.
''This is a punitive and unrealistic assault on the industry, the millions of people who work in it and with it, and the millions of American adults who use its products,'' industry representative J. Phil Carlton said during a conference call with reporters. ''The industry cannot and will not give its assent to it.''
Though they criticized the bill as too lenient on the industry, the White House and Democrats called it a good starting point for debate. McCain said ''the vast majority'' of Republicans and Democrats on his 20-member panel would support the measure in a vote expected this week.
The legal protections had been the sole sticking point that prevented round-the-clock negotiations from winding up over the weekend. Seeking Democratic votes, McCain stripped the bill of most legal shields 90 minutes before he presented the bill at a news conference Monday.
The measure he presented would limit the amount of punitive damages the industry could be forced to pay every year to $6.5 billion. It provides none of the immunity from class action and other lawsuits the industry had agreed to in the $368 billion June settlement with 40 states suing it.
McCain acknowledged that the provisions requiring companies to steer advertising away from kids could be meaningless if challenged or ignored by the industry, but said he puts little credence in threats from tobacco executives.
''I can't and will never be subject to a veto by the tobacco industry,'' McCain said, adding that he doubts companies could win a public relations war against the bill. Besides, he said, the issue is fluid. ''If some tobacco executive drops dead tomorrow, that may change the equation.''
Sen. John Chafee, R-R.I., shared that sentiment.
''If we get into a game of hardball with the industry, the industry is going to lose,'' said Chafee, who co-authored a bill with similar legal shields with Sens. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and Bob Graham, D-Fla. ''If the Congress gets its back up, there's a whole series of taxes that can be levied.''
McCain's final draft, which some Democrats will attempt to change during a formal committee meeting Wednesday, is significantly tougher than the June settlement. Under the June proposal, the industry would be protected from class action and other types of lawsuits for past conduct if it voluntarily curbs its advertising restrictions. It would not take effect unless Congress ratifies it.
Instead, McCain's version would inflate the payments tobacco companies must make to $506 billion over 25 years and delete the protection from class action and other lawsuits. His bill would impose a $6.5 billion annual cap on punitive damages, require the industry to pay 80 percent of that amount into a fund whether or not it is sued, and allow class action and other lawsuits for past and future conduct.
Democrats particularly object to the fact that the 80 percent payment - of $4.8 billion a year - would earn the industry a tax credit in that amount. McCain's staff director, John Raidt, said that benefit was a function of current law, not a bonus for the industry slipped in by committee Republicans.
Democrats, the White House and members of the health community say the bill is too easy on the industry where it raises cigarette prices and holds companies responsible for reducing teen smoking.
The bill would impose a $1.10 increase on the price of a pack of cigarettes by 2003, far short of the $1.50 Democrats and others say is the minimum amount that would discourage kids from smoking.
Former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop called the bill ''a sellout'' that would not prevent children from smoking.
''They're teaching kids just how to manage to spend a few cents a year to get their fix,'' Koop said in an interview. ''That just won't do it. It must be more than a kids' allowance can afford.''
And provisions that would require the industry to pay hefty penalties if teen smoking doesn't decline by 60 percent over 10 years are too lenient, critics say. The bill would cap the penalties required of the industry at $3.5 billion.
By CURT ANDERSON
AP Farm Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - The tobacco settlement bill being drafted in the Senate includes a $28.5 billion plan to buy out thousands of tobacco growers and pay those who continue if demand drops.
In addition, the measure drafted by Sen. Wendell Ford, D-Ky., would provide grants for education, for retraining displaced workers and for business creation to offset economic losses in tobacco-growing states.
''We've worked day and night to try and protect our farmers and their communities, while producing a package that can win congressional approval,'' said Ford, whose state is No. 2 in tobacco production. ''I think this is that package.''
The plan is included in the overall tobacco settlement bill drafted by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and scheduled for action in the Senate Commerce Committee Wednesday. Ford has enlisted the other two tobacco-state members of the panel - Sens. Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and Ernest Hollings, D-S.C. - in support of his plan.
The Ford plan represents only a starting point for the interests of the 124,000 tobacco growers as Congress begins debate on the bill. Sen. Dick Lugar, R-Ind., who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee, has proposed a very different plan that would end government control over tobacco.
But Ford's measure contains several compromises among the different regions that grow different types of tobacco.
The plan would maintain a system similar to the current government program of price supports and production control through ''quotas,'' which are essentially licenses to grow a certain amount of tobacco.
All quota-holders would be paid $8 per pound over 10 years or less to relinquish their quotas, but the plan makes a distinction between those who grow flue-cured tobacco and those who grow burley or any other type. North Carolina is the leading flue-cured state and Kentucky is tops in burley.
For flue-cured quota-holders, the buyout would essentially be mandatory but those who wanted to remain in production would get a new permit limiting rights to grow future crops. Renters and tenants also would receive a $2-a-pound payment if national flue-cured quotas drop, subject to a lifetime cap.
Burley quota-holders could decline to be bought out. They would also be eligible for payments of $4 per pound if their actual quotas drop, while burley tenant farmers and those who rent would get the $2-a-pound payment and could acquire the quotas relinquished by others.
In the flue-cured region, this difference would allow a transfer of tobacco control from thousands of inactive quota-holders to the farmers who actually produce the leaf. Two-thirds of flue-cured quota-holders aren't active farmers.
Burley quota-holders tend more frequently to be active farmers and also have much smaller acreage devoted to tobacco.
''These are some basic concepts we can all agree to,'' said Tim Cansler, lobbyist for the Kentucky Farm Bureau. ''We all see this as an opportunity to transition into a new way of growing tobacco.''
In addition, the bill envisions $25 million a year for displaced workers related to lower tobacco production and block grants to states for such things as promoting alternative crops and creating new businesses.
Tobacco farmers and their families also would be eligible for grants of up to $1,700 a year to pursue higher education.
By MELANIE BURNEY
Associated Press Writer
MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. (AP) - A German military aircraft was flying at the wrong altitude when it collided with a U.S. transport plane off the coast of Africa, killing 33 people, German and U.S. military officials said today.
Dual investigations released today here and in Bonn, Germany, found the Air Force C-141 and the German Tupolev 154 were each traveling at about 500 miles per hour and struck nearly head-on about 150 miles off Namibia last September.
Both planes were traveling at an altitude of 35,000 feet, the investigation board reported. That was the proper altitude for the C-141, but the Tupolev's flight plan called for it to cruise at 39,000 feet.
''It's very difficult to see another aircraft out in front of you that's at the same altitude,'' said Col. William H.C. Schell Jr., vice commander of the U.S. Air Force's 375th Airlift Wing, who headed the investigation board.
Poor air traffic control and poor ground communications in the region contributed to the accident, the board concluded.
Senior Pentagon officials in Washington, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the crash may have been prevented had anti-collision devices been in use. The collision alert system, called TCAS, is required on commercial U.S. aircraft, but neither military plane involved in the collision had such a system.
U.S. and German military officials said they would speed up installation of such devices on many of their aircraft. The Air Force plans to hike spending on the systems from $600 million to $1.6 billion, said Defense Department spokesman Kenneth Bacon.
But the fact that the aircraft didn't have the TCAS wasn't considered by the investigation board, Schell said, because the C-141 wasn't required to have the devices.
''It would have been another piece of safety equipment on the aircraft and could have helped,'' Schell added. ''We can only speculate as to whether it could have prevented this accident.''
Under international aviation rules, the German plane should have been at either 33,000 feet or 37,000 feet because of its direction of travel, said Schell.
The German plane had filed a flight plan in Angola, Schell said, but air controllers there did not properly track the aircraft and note that it was at a different altitude. Also, the flight plan did not reach the agency in Windhoek, Namibia, that controlled the air space where the crash occurred, leaving air controllers there unaware that the German plane was coming.
All nine people aboard the C-141 and the 24 on the Tupolev were killed.
The C-141 was returning to McGuire, about 15 miles south of Trenton, N.J., after delivering troops and mine-clearing equipment to Namibia. The German plane was en route from Germany to Cape Town, South Africa, where soldiers were to have participated in a boat race marking the 75th anniversary of the South African navy.
This week a set of about two dozen bones will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in the name of seven of the crewmen aboard the C-141. Capts. Peter Vallejo and Jason Ramsey, whose remains were identified, were to be buried separately.
Weaving her magic with Patsy Cline's "Walkin' After Midnight" or negotiating an interview, singer/musician Crystal Day's cool professionalism dominates.
A demo cut last month and her first recording session looming, cool professionalism is exactly what you would expect from a seasoned performer ... until you learn this rising star is 11 years old.
Packing a lifetime into those years, Crystal began studying piano and guitar at age five. She quickly added violin to her musical menu.
Still, singing is the dream.
Last month the self-confident singer performed in a bluegrass show at the civic center in Yanceyville.
On April 11, she will be part of a program playing at the Andy Griffith Playhouse in North Carolina.
Charlotte Motor Speedway will be her stage in October when she sings the national anthem.
She is also being sought for a legends concert in Yanceyville in August.
Crystal Day loves every minute of it.
Often billed as "upcoming 11-year-old country singer Crystal Day - with a tribute to Patsy Cline," the performer simply "never gets nervous."
It has always been that way.
Crystal has been singing "ever since she could talk," reported her mother, Dorothy Day.
And Crystal's introduction to country music: "I rocked her to sleep singing 'All My Exes Live in Texas,'" recalled a smiling Day. "It was the only song I could sing. It is her father's side of the family that's musical."
A dedicated country singer, Crystal nonetheless tags the national pop hit "My Heart Will Go On" from the movie Titanic her current non-performing favorite.
And last month, Blue Ridge Record Productions tapped oldies "Downtown" and "Harper Valley PTA" for the singer's demo.
However, she will return to country in her upcoming recording session with a tribute to Patsy Cline which includes "Crazy," "I Fall to Pieces" and "Sweet Dreams," among others.
Last Christmas, the Days took video shots of Crystal singing "Walkin' After Midnight" in Times Square in New York. Locally, Ben Vaughan put the video together and it was sent to The Nashville Network. The station has asked the Days to send a video each year.
Add to the sixth grade student's calendar: a recent appearance at New Market, vocal lessons, piano lessons, daily practice sessions, singing with her church choir at First Baptist, plus maintaining good grades, her interest in playing softball, dancing, reading, drawing, her horses, Prince and Princess, and the portrait of a girl on the go is complete.
"This year she has been a lot of places and done a lot of things," said Dorothy Day. "Just about every weekend she is singing somewhere. She just loves to sing."
Crystal nods in agreement, but it was not always so.
It hasn't been that many years ago that "everybody wanted to be a princess or a teacher" in Crystal's circle. Then, she admits, she was too shy to say she wanted to be a singer.
Today she is busy chasing - and claiming - that dream.
A full day of activities is planned for the 6th Annual Cluster Springs Volunteer Fire Department Support Day event which will be held Saturday, April 18, from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Highlighting the day-long event is a festive parade that will start at 11 a.m. and a Street Dance featuring music by Auda Creek that will be held from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.
The event will be held rain or shine.
Plans for the Support Day event, which serves as the fire department's primary fund raising event for the year, are well underway and entries are being sought for both the arts and crafts exhibit and the parade.
Persons interested in reserving a space for the arts and crafts exhibit or entering a unit in the parade are asked to contact a fire department member.
The Cluster Springs Volunteer Fire Department Support Day is a popular event in the area because it features a wide array of activities for adults and youngsters alike.
Several arts and crafts exhibitors will be on hand with a variety of items and the festive parade attracts a lot of interest with its large variety of units. Children's activities during the day will include a visit by Uncle Kurt who will perform two magic shows, do face painting, and create balloon animals. And, Trent's Inflatables will be on hand as well.
Also among the many things that visitors to the fire department will see throughout the day are a rescue demonstration by the Halifax County Rescue Squad, an antique tractor and gristmill, radio controlled airplanes, and a gun from the Virginia National Guard Armory that will be placed on display.
There will be live music throughout the afternoon and evening starting at 12:30 p.m. Several local performers will be on hand to provide a variety of music from gospel to bluegrass to country rock.
Among the groups and individuals slated to perform are Stainglass Bluegrass, The Bostonaires, The Shop, several contestants from the Halifax County 4-H Talent Show, Wendy Fitts Wilson, Southern Grace Gospel Quartet, Crystal Day, and Harold Young & Friends.
The featured band of the event will be Auda Creek which will be making its first appearance at the Cluster Springs Volunteer Fire Department Support Day. Auda Creek will provide the music for the Street Dance which will be held from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Visitors to the Cluster Springs Volunteer Fire Department Support Day will find plenty of great food. Fire department members will make and sell a Brunswick Stew for lunch with the stew being sold by both the bowl and the jar.
Also, the fire department will have both fried chicken and barbecue pork dinners available throughout the day with cole slaw, baked beans, iced tea, and dessert. Meal tickets for the fried chicken and barbecue pork plate dinners are now on sale for $7 per plate. Persons desiring to purchase dinner tickets should contact a fire department member.
In addition, food will be available at a concession stand being operated by Hilda Hatcher of Danville. Hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn, and funnel cakes will be available there. Also available at the event will be a new food item, pork rinds.
Domino's Pizza, ice cold soft drinks, and other food items will be available throughout the event as well.
Rosa D. Jennings of Nathalie died March 26, 1998 at her home at the age of 96.
Mrs. Jennings was born in Halifax County on February 28, 1902 the daughter of Pearl Dennis and was married to Hubert Thomas Jennings.
Survivors include five daughters, Thelma Carr, Angeline Boyd and Lorrine Jones, all of Nathalie, Patty Carrington of Alexandria, and Elizabeth Palmer of the home; three sons, Hubert Jennings of Nathalie, Louis Jennings of Woodbridge and Willie Mac Jennings of the home; 75 grandchildren; 151 great-grandchildren; 74 great-great-grandchildren and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Jennings were held Sunday, March 29 at New
Shiloh Baptist Church in Nathalie with burial in the church cemetery.
Anna Brown, 85, of Durham, NC, died March 27, 1998 at Durham Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Brown was born in Prince Edward County the daughter of Arnold P. and Mary Katherine Clark. She was preceded in death by her husband, Elisha C. Brown.
Burial was at the mausoleum of Woodlawn Memorial Park in Durham on March 29.
Survivors include two sons, Bobby Brown of Raleigh, NC and Clark Brown of Charlotte, NC; one sister, Mattie Kate Chaffin of South Boston; one brother, Tucker Clark of Disputanta; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Richard Ervin Glass of 1043 Mill Road, Clover died March 26, 1998 at hishome at the age of 57.
Mr. Glass was born in Halifax County on May 5, 1940 and attended Revelation Baptist Church.
His survivors include three sons: Michael and Daryl Glass of South Boston, Timothy Glass and wife, Robin of Clover; sister: Rebecca Satterfield of Clarksville; brother: Carter Glass of Clarksville and two grandsons: Paul and Eric Glass of Clover.
A graveside service was held Saturday, March 28 in Winns Creek Baptist Church cemetery. The Rev. Rudolph Jacobs officiated.
Gwendolyn Ann Darden of 1130 Rev. Coleman Road, Clover died, March 28, 1998 at the home of her parents in Clover at the age of 45.
She was born in New York on June 24, 1952. Ms. Darden was a member of St. Paschal Catholic Church and was employed by Berry Hill Nursing Home.
Survivors include one daughter, Delores Dwyer of Philadelphia, PA; two sons, Stanley Wright of New York, NY and Kwasi Darden of Clover; her mother and father of Clover; one sister, Janet Mason of Clover; three brothers, James Darden of Philadelphia, Daniel Darden of New York, NY and Antonio Darden of Scottsburg; one son-in-law, Reginald Dwyer of Philadelphia; four grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.
Memorial services for Ms. Darden will be held Thursday, April 2 at 11:30
a.m. at Lawrence H. Woodard Funeral Home in Brooklyn, NY with Father Carter
conducting the service.
Maude Cook Covington of 621 Berry Hill Road, South Boston died March 31, 1998 at Berry Hill Nursing Home. She was 94 years of age.
Mrs. Covington was born in Halifax County on March 14, 1904 the daughter of Willie Cook and Maggie Morris Cook and was married to John Thomas Covington. She was a member of Providence Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Polly Bradley and Darleen Osborne, both of South Boston; two sons, Clarence Covington and Earl Covington, both of South Boston; one sister, Virgie Rose of Zanesville, OH; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Graveside services for Mrs. Covington will be held Thursday, April 2 at 11 a.m. at Providence Presbyterian Church with Revs. Jim Smith and Bob Watts officiating.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home tonight, April 1 at 7:30 until 8:30 p.m.
Those wishing to give memorials may consider the Providence Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund.
Harvey Tarvish Cole of 4197 Old Cluster Springs Road, South Boston died Tuesday, March 31, 1998 at Halifax Regional Hospital. He was 53 years of age.
Mr. Cole was born June 29, 1944 in Halifax County the son of Howard Cole and Clevie W. Cole and was married to Emily Joan Cole. He was a member of Main Street United Methodist Church, an Honorary member of the Cluster Springs Volunteer Fire Department, and was a retired Correctional Officer, Camp 23 Department of Corrections.
Funeral services will be held at Brooks Funeral Home chapel Thursday, April 2 at 11 a.m. with Revs. Jack Stewart and Grover Stevens conducting the service. Burial will take place in Oak Ridge Christian Church Cemetery in Chatham.
Surviving Mr. Cole are his mother of South Boston; one daughter, Anita C. Collins of Mt. Laurel; one son; Chris Cole of South Boston; one step-daughter, Stacy Karnes of Richmond; one step-son, Jimmy Miller of Charlottesville; and two brothers, Keenan Cole of South Boston and Cecil Puryear of Clarksville; one grandchild and two step-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends tonight, April 1 at Brooks Funeral Home from 7 until 8:30, and other times at the home of his mother, 2108 E. Hyco Road, South Boston.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Cluster Springs Volunteer Fire Dept., PO Box 110, Cluster Springs, VA 24535.
Thomas Darnell Palmer of Route 2, Penhook and formerly of South Boston, died Saturday, March 28, 1998 in Franklin County at the age of 46.
Mr. Palmer was born in Halifax County and was the son of Mrs. Elizabeth Palmer Birch.
His survivors include his mother and step-father: Elizabeth and Roger Birth of South Boston; sister: Mary Elizabeth Birch of South Boston; brothers: Willard Roger and Bobby Lewis Birch of South Boston and Glen David Palmer of Chatham.
Memorial services will be held Thursday, April 2 at 11 a.m. with services at the Jeffress Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Sandy Palmer officiating.
The family will receive friends at the home of Mary Elizabeth Birch, 1934 Jeffress Blvd., South Boston.