Sentencing for James Bryant Hudson, convicted earlier this
year of the murder of Patsy Ayers Cole, and the capital murders
of Stanley Walker Cole and Thomas Wesley Cole, is scheduled for
Tuesday in Halifax County Circuit Court.
The sentencing hearing is set to begin at 9:30 a.m.
Commonwealth's Attorney John Greenbacker said yesterday he will
seek the death penalty for Hudson.
"Absolutely, I will seek the death penalty," said Greenbacker
yesterday.
"The death penalty has no validity unless it can be applied
to a case like this.
"If the law allows the death penalty as a possibility, there
has to be a circumstance under which it can be applied.
"And, this is one case where it does apply, based on the
precedents."
Hudson pleaded guilty February 7 to the first degree murder of
Patsy Ayers Cole, and the capital murders of her husband, Thomas
Wesley Cole and Thomas Cole's brother, Stanley Walker Cole, as
well as using a firearm to commit first degree murder and capital
murder.
The capital murder conviction carries a penalty of either life
in prison or the death sentence.
In addition, Hudson faces 20 years to life for the murder of Patsy
Cole and up to 10 years in prison for the firearms convictions.
Presiding at the sentencing hearing will be Judge Leslie M. Osborn.
High water is likely to enter some storage buildings and warehouses
in Riverdale this weekend, the result of consistent rainfall throughout
the week.
The Dan River at South Boston was expected to crest at 24.8 feet
around noon today, according to Mike Gillen of the National Weather
Service (NWS).
The latest prediction was 2.8 feet higher than was predicted Tuesday
by the NWS.
At 11 a.m. Thursday, the Dan River was at 23.1 feet and by 3 p.m.
had risen to 23.31 feet, Gillen said.
Flood stage for the Dan River at South Boston is 19 feet.
By comparison, U.S. 501 south of the bridge is under water at
26.5 feet, while at stage 29.3 feet, water is into the intersection
of U.S. 501 and 58.
"The Dan is supposed to stay above 19.0 feet through the
weekend. It'll be a slow recession," added Gillen.
A 3 p.m. Thursday bulletin from the NWS said that runoff from
Tuesday night's rainfall continues to produce rises along the
middle Roanoke and Dan Rivers.
Additional rainfall into Thursday will continue to cause main
rivers to rise.
Minor flooding is occurring already along the Dan River in South
Boston with more expected, according to the NWS.
At 6 a.m Thursday, the Dan River at South Boston was 22.8 feet
and falling slowly.
At 2 a.m. Thursday, the Dan River at Paces had risen to 18.7 feet
and was rising slowly. Flood stage is 20.0 feet at Paces.
Five secondary roads in Halifax County were still closed Thursday
at 3 p.m., according to Joe Barkley, VDOT resident engineer.
Among those were:
· Route 600 (Black Walnut Road), between Routes 92 (Clover
Rd.) and 746 (Mt. Laurel Rd.).
· Route 778 (Green Valley Road) between Route 600 (Black
Walnut Road) and Route 746 (Mt. Laurel Road).
· Route 730 (Ramble Road) from U.S. 58 to U.S. 58.
· Route 601 (Buckshoal Road) between Route 730 (Ramble
Road) and Route 737 (Hudson Road).
· Route 710 (Bethel Hill Road) from Route 711 (Harmony
Denniston Road) to North Carolina state line.
The NWS said a combination of weather systems has created the
latest round of raw, wet, windy weather, including everything
from snow in the mountains of the western Piedmont to gales along
the coast.
Flood advisories covered much of the Southeast, including parts
of western North Carolina, southwestern Virginia, southern West
Virginia, eastern Kentucky and western Tennessee.
Rainfall totals at the South Boston wastewater treatment plant
have exceeded four inches since Sunday, according to plant employee
Carroll Anderson, inclusing a total of .7 of an inch of rain recorded
since 7 a.m. Thursday.
The Virginia State Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors resumed
a two-day spring meeting this morning at historic Berry Hill Mansion/Marriott
Conference Center.
It is the first time ever the state organization, considered one
of the largest, most influential general business organizations
in the commonwealth, has met in Halifax County.
The 50-member board is currently chaired by South Hill businessman
E. Randolph Lail.
The business agenda includes presentations by several prominent
leaders from the southside region, including Claude Owen, former
chairman and CEO Dimon, Inc. (former Dibrell Bros.), Ben Davenport,
chairman of First Piedmont Corporation, Dr. Patricia Cormier,
President Longwood University in Farmville, and State Senator
Frank M. Ruff.
Today's agenda includes remarks by W.W. 'Ted'Bennett, former member
Virginia House of Delegates.
Owen, in providing a historic overview of Southside Virginia and
the tobacco industry, said that the area's economy is no longer
driven by the tobacco industry.
"We need a new visionary in the mold of John Rolfe,"
said Owen.
Dr. Cormier's remarks centered around the role of higher education
in Southside Virginia while Davenport spoke on the impact technology
will have on the region.
The Virginia Chamber has 1450 members, representing all business
sectors in every region of the Commonweatlh, including small business
enterprises and Fortune 500 companies.
Membership also includes local and regional chambers of commerce
and statewide business and trade organizations of which the Halifax
County Chamber of Commerce is representative.
Nancy Pool was recognized yesterday at the meeting as having the
longest tenure (20 years) of any chamber of commerce president
in the state of Virginia.
South Boston attorney Kimberley Slayton
White said yesterday that she is considering a run for the Republican
nomination for commonwealth's attorney in the June primary.
"All materials will go to the registrar tomorrow to qualify
for the June 10 primary ballot," White said yesterday.
"And I do intend to turn those in and expect a formal announcement
shortly thereafter."
White said that she wanted "to give citizens an opportunity
for a choice" through the Republican Primary.
White brings experience as a prosecutor to her bid for the office.
In 1991 she began serving in the Lynchburg's Commonwealth's
Attorney office. She was a Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney in charge
of violent crime. She also served as a special assistant U.S.
attorney on federal cases.
"I prosecuted in Lynchburg a number of years, and appreciated
the ability to serve the public in that way," White said
Thursday. She described the commonwealth's attorney job as one
she felt she could put her heart into.
"I have been encouraged by a number of citizens in the community
to do this for a number of years" she said of the bid for
the commonwealth's attorney post. "My family and I are strongly
considering it right now."
White began her career in 1988 with the law firm of Vaughan and
Slayton in South Boston.
She joined the law firm of Woods, Rogers and Hazelgrove in Danville
following her work in Lynchburg. She is partner with that firm,
specializing in insurance defense, medical malpractice defense
and health care.
White is a graduate of Mary Washington College and Mercer University
Law School in Macon, Georgia.
She and her husband David White are the parents of two children,
David Hampton White III and Katherine Winfield White.
Frances Dunn Bowman, 95, of Lynchburg, died April 2. She was the
wife of the late Rev. Joseph J. Bowman, former pastor of College
Hill Baptist Church.
Mrs. Bowman was born October 18, 1907, in Sonora, KY, a daughter
of the late Raymond Dunn and Bessie Carlton Dunn. She was a member
of Inglewood Baptist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Marcia B. Mosby of Halifax and
Yvonne E. Bowman of Virginia Beach; two grandchildren, Chris W.
Mosby of Loveland, Ohio, and Laura B. Mosby of Halifax; and three
great-grandchildren.
A graveside service was conducted April 3 at Fort Hill Memorial
Park in Lynchburg. The Rev. David Booher officiated.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Westminster-Canterbury
Fellowship Fund, 501 V.E.S. Road, Lynchburg, 24501.
Malissie Ferrell Crews, 90, of 1004 Pine Trail, Halifax, died
April 8, at University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville.
Mrs. Crews was born in Halifax County on March 18, 1913, the daughter
of Whitt Ferrell and Carrie Marable Ferrell and was married to
Tommie F. Crews. She was a member of New Arbor Baptist Church.
Survivors include four daughters, Mamie Tucker of Vernon Hill,
Florine Edmonds, Frances Leigh and Marie Leigh, all of Halifax;
three sons, George Crews of Halifax, Melvin Wells of Baltimore,
MD, and John Henry Crews of Bridgeport, CT; 65 grandchildren,
including the devoted Norma Smith of Halifax; a host off great
and great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Dorothy Hogue of Baltimore
and Bessie Edmunds of Danville; and one brother, Rev. Whitt Ferrell
of Martinsville. She was preceded in death by three daughters,
Edith Oliver, Viola Crews and Martha Lawson; and three sons, King
David Wells, Joseph Crews and Walter Crews.
Funeral services for Mrs. Crews will be held tomorrow, April 12,
at 1 p.m. at New Arbor Baptist Church with the Rev. Nelson Stamps
officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home.
Roy Vernon Manning, 83, of Wytheville, died April 5 at Asbury
Place in Wytheville.
Funeral services were held April 8 at Barnett Funeral Home Chapel
with the Rev. Robert 'Bob' Billingsley officiating. Burial took
place in the Jackson Family Cemetery in Austinville.
Mr. Manning was born in Galax, the son of Roy Clinton and Zollie
Moore Manning. He was U.S. Army Veteran of WWII, a charter member
of Lead Mines Ruritan Club with 52 years of perfect attendance,
and was retired from Hobart N. Grubb.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley Jackson Manning; two sons
and daughters-in-law, Thomas and Maggie Manning of Claytor Lake
and Stephen and Connie Manning of South Boston; four grandchildren,
Brian Manning of Blacksburg, Karen Cook of Greensboro, NC, Christina
Manning of Charlottesville, and Brennan Manning of South Boston;
and one sister-in-law, Dell J. McKenney of Blacksburg.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider a charity
of one's choice.
Phyllis Maxine Martin, 58, of 11205 Stewart Trail, Virgilina,
died April 10 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Ms. Martin was born in Halifax County on November 9, 1944, the
daughter of James Howard Martin and Mary Stewart Martin. She was
a member of Calvary Baptist Church.
Survivors include her mother of Virgilina; three sisters, Edith
M. Shepherd, Winnie M. Epps, and Sarah M. Kennedy, all of Richmond;
three brothers, Ray A. Martin of Warner Robins, GA, Sam Martin
and Kirt Martin, both of Roxboro, NC.
Arrangements were incomplete at press time.
Rosa Ermine 'Erma' Moorefield, 96, of 1033 Long Branch Lane, Scottsburg,
died April 9 at The Woodview.
Mrs. Moorefield was born in Mecklenburg County on February 7,
1907, the daughter of William Charles Moorefield and Nanny Rebecca
White Moorefield and was married to Tommie Lee Moorefield. She
was a member of Bethel Baptist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Rebecca Lee Moorefield Green
of South Boston and Dorothy M. Conner of Clover; two sons, Tommy
R. Moorefield of Clinton, MD and Jackie Wayne Moorefield of Ringgold;
11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
Services for Mrs. Moorefield will be held tomorrow, April 12,
at 11 a.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dr. Tony
Brooks and the Rev. John Eure officiating. Burial will take place
in Clover Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home this evening
from 7:00 until 8:30, and other times at the home of her daughter,
2115 Willow Street, South Boston.
Milton Lafayette Worsham, 84, of 204 Yates Street, South Boston,
died April 10 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Worsham was born in Hopewell on June 6, 1918, the son of John
Albert Worsham and Nellie Leigh Elliott Worsham and was married
to Elsie Mae Doss Worsham. He was a member of Ash Avenue Baptist
Church and American Legion Post 8.
Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Joyce Lehew and husband,
Glenn, of Halifax, and Karen Fisher of South Boston; three sons,
Douglas Worsham and wife, Nancy of Columbia, SC, James Worsham
and wife, Chandra, of Aurora, CO, and Scott Worsham of Fort Pierce,
FL; one sister, Marjorie W. Newcomb of Rehobeth; one brother,
John Albert Worsham of Elizabeth City, NC; seven grandchildren;
and seven great-grandchildren.
Services for Mr. Worsham will be held April 13 at 4 p.m. at Powell
Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. John Eure and Jack Stewart
officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery with Military
Rites.
The family will receive friends Saturday evening from 7:00 until
8:30, at Powell Funeral Home, and other times at the home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Halifax
County Rescue Squad for the HURT (Dive Team), PO Box 183, South
Boston, 24592.