Judge Leslie M. Osborn will decide whether James Bryant Hudson
spends the rest of his life in prison or is put to death when
he rules Thursdsay morning on the capital and first degree murder
charges of three members of the Cole family.
Aware that the action could result in a death sentence, Hudson,
55, pleaded guilty at his February 7 trial to the July 3, 2002
shotgun murders of Patsy Ayers Cole, her husband Thomas Wesley
Cole, both 64, and Thomas' brother Stanley Walker Cole, 56, on
Virgie Cole Road.
At trial, Hudson was convicted of one count of capital murder,
one count of first-degree murder and two counts of the use of
a firearm in the commission of murder.
The capital murder charge stems from the murder of the two Cole
brothers, while the first-degree murder conviction is the result
of the shotgun death of Patsy Ayers Cole.
All three were killed by close-range shotgun blasts, the Commonwealth's
Attorney said during the trial.
The capital murder conviction carries a penalty of either life
in prison or a death sentence.
In addition, Hudson faces 20 years to life for the murder of Patsy
Cole, Wesley's wife, and up to 10 years in prison for the two
firearms convictions.
Approximately 150 people, many of them family and friends of the
victims, attended the sentencing hearing.
In deciding to wait until Thursday before imposing a sentence
on the convicted murderer, Judge Osborn told the packed courtroom
that he had several matters to review before rendering a sentence.
"The standards by which the court has to considerr this matter
is by evidence," Osborn said. "And I also have before
me about 60 victim impact statements.
"But the real issue I have before me is whether (Hudson)
meets the depravity of mind statute and poses a future danger."
Osborn told the gallery, many of whom were sobbing quietly, that
he understood their pain.
"I can tell that you want closure today," he said. "But
I feel that I need to review a number of matters that have come
before the court in light of the fact that the defendant has not
put on any defense."
Hudson instructed his attorney, public defender Buddy Ward, not
to argue against the death penalty.
The defendant was stoically silent as Commonwealth's Attorney
John Greenbacker, through 18 witnesses, painted a picture of a
crushed family and broken lives.
"So often we come into the courthouse and have to deal with
indescriminate crimes and victims and witnesses in the lower range
of society," Greenbacker said. "This is not the case
today.
"If there ever were solid citizens, these were just those
type of people. They didn't do anything but be the best of neighbors
and friends," he added. "There was no reason for this.
It's the coldest, most pre-meditated thing I can imagine.
"Unmitigated, unjustified and unreasonable meanness. That's
what this man exhibited on that day. An entire generation, with
the exception of one member of that family, died that day and
the effects just ripple down," he said.
The Commonwealth's Attorney called members of the Cole family,
former co-workers and Hudson's estranged brother to speak for
the prosecution.
Hudson's brother, Kenneth Hudson, a Virginia State Police trooper,
testified to an altercation with the defendant in 1991 which forced
him to leave the family home.
"We had some words and (the defendant) came at me with a
knife," he said.
Some of the most poignant testimony came from Cole family members
who tearfully told the court about the cost of Hudson's crimes
on their lives.
"On November 2, I had a yard sale," said Linda Cole,
wife of Stanley Cole. "It was the hardest thing I've ever
had to do.
"I sold his farm equipment," she said. "He loved
farming. My life has changed and not because I wanted it to.
"My life is nothing like it used to be. NOTHING!" she
said as she glared at the defendant.
Denise Takes, Wesley and Patsy Cole's daughter, described her
life since the crime.
"I don't sleep at night - ever. My life is out of control.
I'm seeing a doctor for depression," she said.
She said the murder of her parents has caused her to question
her own spirituality.
"I have been a Christian since I was 12," she said.
"Now, I'm not so sure. I'm not 100 percent sure there is
a God that could allow people like these to be murdered in that
way."
Her husband Jim Takes told the court that Hudson's crimes had
caused irreparable damage to their family.
"I don't think my son will ever be right," the father
said through his tears. "He's scared and has terrible nightmares.
You wake him up and he says he was trying to get the gun away
from that man that was going to kill Pappa.
"My wife's depression just keeps getting worse," he
added. "I'll come home early and find her sitting in a room
by herself crying."
Stanley Cole's daughter-in-law Cynthia described having to tell
her child about the crime.
"The hardest thing that I've ever done in my life is to tell
my child that the man she thought was the greatest man on the
earth had been shot.
"I'll forever hear her scream," she sobbed.
BY JOE CHANDLER
G-V Staff Writer
LYNCHBURG - A Halifax County man awaiting sentencing on convictions
of federal cocaine and methamphetamine distribution charges delivered
a big punch for the government yesterday in the murder-for-hire
and conspiracy trial of Halifax County resident Leon Hinson and
Pittsylvania County resident John Cardwell, here in United States
Western District Court.
Tommy Cole, who worked as an undercover police informant after
entering a guilty plea to a 12-count federal indictment, testified
yesterday that during an October 23, 2001 meeting at a Danville
restaurant between himself, Hinson and Cardwell, Hinson said he
wanted to hire him to murder Eric D. Brown, a potential witness
against Hinson in a federal prosecution in the Eastern District
of North Carolina.
"Leo said they got this boy that done told," said Cole.
"I said, 'You can't get to the son of a bitch' and he said
'yeah.'"
"He said he needed this to happen," Cole said using
his forefinger and thumb to make the shape of a gun and moved
the thumb up and down like the movement of shooting a gun.
Cole said he told Hinson it would cost him $25,000 and that Hinson
then suggested $50,000 because he may have to kill Brown's wife,
Robin, as well, because she stayed so close to her husband.
"I told him if you're serious, get this man here (Cardwell)
to get me an up-to-date picture (of Brown) and an address and
consider it done," Cole testified.
Hinson, he said then wrote Holden Bay (Holden Beach, NC) on a
piece of paper or napkin and showed it to him.
Cole said that later during the meeting, Hinson "asked me
if I could get hold of a drug that would make the guy brain-dead.
I said 'LSD 25 straight, uncut.' I said that would do it."
However, Cole said he told Hinson that because he didn't know
Brown that well, it would be hard for him to do the job using
the drug.
Cole said he told Hinson again "get John (Cardwell) an up-to-date
picture and address and consider it done."
The subject of killing Brown came up on three different occasions
during the hour and a half meeting. Cole used recording devices
planted on him by police prior to the meeting to record the conversations
of the meeting that occurred at Texas Steakhouse in Danville.
Much of yesterday was spent with jurors listening to the several
hours of recorded meetings and conversations involving Cole, Hinson
and Cardwell with Cole fielding questions about certain aspects
of the profanity-laced conversations.
In the third of a series of recorded telephone conversations Cole
had with Cardwell on October 24, Cole asked Cardwell if Hinson
was still serious about hiring him to murder Brown. Cardwell was
heard on the tape saying "very serious."
"How quick is he going to be ready to go?" Cole asked
Cardwell.
"Next week," Cardwell replied.
Cole told Cardwell that instead of $50,000 cash he would take
a kilogram of cocaine up front and $25,000 cash and asked Cardwell
to ask Hinson about that arrangement.
"I'm sure that can be arranged," Cardwell told Cole.
Cole, who was working a ruse for police in an attempt to obtain
information and evidence that prosecutors could use against Hinson,
testified Hinson was the person who brought up the subject of
killing Brown.
"I didn't approach the subject," Cole said.
"I let him approach the subject."
Cole, in a meeting with Hinson on February 7, 2002, gave Hinson
a Brunswick County NC newspaper containing a story stating that
Brown and his wife were missing, proof offered by Cole that he
had carried out the "hit" as Hinson had asked.
However, the "hit" on Brown was never actually carried
out.
Hinson's attorney David Rudolf, said in his opening statement
on Monday that Hinson never provided Cole with the information
Cole would need to carry out the "hit" on Brown.
"All of us know people who are all talk and no action,"
said Rudolf.
Rudolf also contended that portions of the several hours of tapes
authorities have is of poor quality and that several important
conversations in which Hinson allegedly talked about having Brown
killed were held either after tapes planted on Cole had run out
or mechanical problems developed that prevented their recording.
Brown, a former Halifax County resident who had previously pleaded
guilty to federal and state drug charges, was cooperating with
authorities by working as an undercover police informant.
He was scheduled to testify against Phillip Barfield, an alleged
associate of Hinson in an alleged drug trafficking operation and
was working undercover with authorities obtaining information
for police regarding Hinson's alleged drug operation.
Brown is also scheduled to appear as a prosecution witness during
this trial.
Cole also testified that Cardwell agreed to act as a "go-between"
between Cole and Hinson with regard to the "hit" on
Brown and in a drug distribution deal Cole was attempting to set
up between himself and Hinson.
Cole also testified yesterday that Cardwell, whose Chatham based
Piedmont Land and Auction Company had fallen on hard financial
times, had asked him to help him secure a loan through Mafia connections
that Cardwell believed Cole had.
In a series of recorded conversations between Cole and Cardwell,
prosecutors aired in front of the jury, Cardwell told Cole he
needed $500,000 for five years to cover a land deal involving
400 acres of land and $500,000 home.
Cole, however, kept putting off putting Cardwell in touch with
the so-called Mafia connections and no connection was ever made.
While Cole, in his ruse, was working to try to help Cardwell,
Cardwell was working to try to help Cole set up a large drug deal
with Hinson that would involve the movement of up to 500 kilograms
of cocaine.
Cardwell, during the October 25 meeting with Cole, told Cole that
he was sure Hinson could supply him 200 to 300 kilograms of cocaine.
"If he (Hinson) can come up with the "cane," I
can crank the Meth (Methamphetamine) back up," Cole told
Cardwell referring to his former methamphetamine manufacturing
operation.
The government is alleging Hinson was involved in an on-going
large-scale multi-state drug distribution operation. Hinson and
Cardwell are on trial on charges relating to their respective
roles in attempting to hire Cole to murder Brown and his wife
and a conspiracy charge relating to the alleged crimes.
Hinson and Cardwell, a 51-year-old Gretna resident, face six charges
relating to the attempted murder-for hire of Brown and his wife
and a conspiracy charge relating to those crimes.
In addition, Hinson faces a charge of possessing a firearm after
having been convicted of a felony.
That charge was filed after police arrested Hinson at his home
late on the night of February 7, 2002 and found a Ruger handgun
while in the process of executing a search of the house.
The alleged crimes occurred between October 23, 2001 and February
7, 2002.
Authorities have indicated that after this prosecution of Hinson
and Cardwell is concluded, Hinson will be prosecuted in the Eastern
District of North Carolina on drug trafficking and other charges.
Special Agent Mark Francisco of the North Carolina State Bureau
of Investigation was the first witness to testify Monday.
He stated that the SBI and FBI launched a probe stemming out of
a September, 1999 murder investigation into an alleged large-scale
drug operation that included murder, drug trafficking, drug smuggling,
drug distribution and money laundering.
The targets of that probe, Francisco said, were Phillip Barfield
and Hinson.
Francisco said a dozen persons were indicted as a result of that
probe including Barfield, his wife, Charity, Hinson's wife, and
several distributors for Phillip Barfield including Brown.
In January of 2002, a jury panel was seated in the Eastern District
of North Carolina and Barfield pleaded guilty to the charges facing
him. He was sentenced to one life term plus five years in prison.
That information offered to the jury by Francisco was offered
as background information. It had nothing to do with the charges
that Hinson and Cardwell are being tried on in this prosecution.
Major R.S.B. Pulliam, Chief Deputy of the Halifax County Sheriff's
Department and the coordinator of the local drug taskforce, testified
Monday that Cole operated a large illegal methamphetamine lab
in Halifax County and was involved in a large drug distribution
and firearms trafficking operation.
Cole was indicted on September 19, 2001 on a 12-count indictment
alleging drug, firearms and conspiracy charges.
He pleaded guilty to all of the charges and is facing a minimum
mandatory sentence of 134 years and as much as three life sentences.
Pulliam said that when Cole's residence was raided by police a
red folder was found that contained information linking him to
Hinson. Inside the folder, Pulliam said, was a piece of paper
that had a cellular telephone number and another number. The cell
phone number was traced and found to belong to Edward Medley,
an employee of Hinson's. The numbers were the address of Hinson's
residence at Bethel Trail. Hinson, Pulliam said, used Medley's
cell phone.
Pulliam said that after his conviction and sentencing, Cole offered
to help investigators in an attempt to have his prison sentence
reduced.
The Halifax County investigator stated that Cole was a tough individual,
a person who ruled his drug operation "by fear and intimidation."
Pulliam stated that after Cole was convicted and sentenced, Cole
agreed to work for the police as an undercover informant and was
granted a 21-day "pass" from jail, a "pass"
that was extended to become the better part of four months.
According to Pulliam, law enforcement officers had two goals in
working with Cole. One was to recover a machine gun that Cole
had possessed at one time that was out on the streets. The other
was to have Cole establish a connection with Hinson that would
allow authorities to obtain information that could be used in
a prosecution against him.
Pulliam said that on October 23, 2001, with Cole's help, the machine
gun was recovered in Mecklenburg County. Cole was also able to
make contact with Hinson.
The indictment against Hinson and Cardwell stated that on October
22, 2001, Cole, working for police, contacted Cardwell for the
purpose of setting up a meeting with Hinson under the guise of
authorities having questioned him about Hinson during his recent
incarceration.
A meeting was set up for the next day at Texas Steakhouse in Danville.
Cardwell arrived with Hinson, Pulliam said. Cardwell first met
with Cole alone, went back outside and returned with Hinson.
According to the indictment and Pulliam's testimony, Hinson indicated
during the meeting he wanted Brown, a former associate, killed.
Hinson, according to the indictment, allegedly offered Cole $50,000
to kill Brown and his wife.
The indictment states that two days later, on October 25, 2001,
Cardwell allegedly met with Cole to further discuss the murder-for-hire
and other activities and indicated he was going to be the "middle
man."
At that time, according to the indictment, Cardwell allegedly
indicated to Cole he would have to get back to him after talking
to Hinson before answering Cole's questions regarding the murders.
In addition, Cardwell allegedly indicated he would be the person
making the payment to Cole after the murders were accomplished.
According to information contained in the indictment, on January
29, 2002, Cole allegedly met with Hinson at Hinson's house at
Bethel Trail in Halifax County. Hinson allegedly inquired whether
Cole had the ability to make Brown brain-dead through the use
of drugs so that Brown "would lay in his own private hell"
and be unable to communicate. At that time, Hinson allegedly told
Cole he did not want Cole dead anymore, that making Brown brain-dead
was worse than killing him.
Hinson, at that meeting, allegedly gave Cole information to help
him find Brown and his wife in North Carolina and then allegedly
gave Cole $1,000 for expenses.
According to the indictment, on February 7, 2002, Cole allegedly
met Hinson at his residence and told Hinson he had carried out
the murders of Brown and his wife and had disposed of their bodies.
Cole allegedly gave Hinson a Brunswick County NC newspaper that
contained a story reporting that Brown and his wife were missing.
Hinson then allegedly stepped outside of his residence, burned
the newspaper, brought the ashes back into the house and flushed
them down the toilet.
Hinson, according to information contained in the indictment,
also allegedly made a partial payment to Cole of $2,800 and discussed
providing Cole with a kilogram of cocaine worth $23,500 as partial
payment for the murders.
On another occasion later that same day, the indictment states,
Cole allegedly returned to Hinson's home. At that time, Hinson
allegedly paid Cole an additional $200 and described how he wanted
another person (Phillip Barfield) killed.
Pulliam testified that in addition to those meetings, Cole met
with Cardwell on October 25, 2001 at a site on Route 57 and again
on November 14, 2001.
In the November meeting, Pulliam said, a discussion occurred between
Cardwell and Cole in which Cardwell told Cole he was desperate
for money and that he would be willing to accept money from the
Mafia and launder money for the Mafia to get it.
A spring clean-up effort gave one South Boston homeowner more
than she bargained for Monday night.
According to Lt. John Barber of the South Boston Police Department
a Washington Avenue resident was clearing some underbrush in his
backyard when he uncovered a Thompson sub-machine gun in the undergrowth.
Police received the call at around 8:30 p.m., Barber said.
"The resident, Felicia Bailey, reported that her husband
was cleaning up behind the home when he found a plastic bag containing
the gun," the lieutenant said.
The gun is a 1927 model Thompson A-1, police said.
"We haven't been able to conclusively determine whether it's
fully automatic or not at this time," Barber said. "But
we're pretty sure it's a semi-automatic."
Officer Fletcher Daniel, who responded to the call, carried the
firearm to the police station.
"We are currently trying to trace its owners through the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms," Barber said.
He said the gun, although somewhat rusted, is in fair condition.
"It could be cleaned up and made operational," he said.
Officers contacted the forensic laboratory and they said the couldn't
determine how long the gun had been at its current location.
"We're trying to get its history through the serial numbers,"
Barber said.
U.S. Senator George Allen said yesterday
that with the major fighting in Iraq coming to an end, President
Bush is turning his attention to creating more jobs for Americans.
"We support our troops, that's clearly important and we're
proud of our men and women in uniform," Allen said. "But
we've got to get this economy moving."
As an example, he cited Bush's proposed tax cuts.
"I think many of them are very good for the economy,"
Allen said.
The Bush plan would speed up various tax cuts due to be phased
in over the next seven years, including an immediate increase
in the child tax credit from $600 to $1,000.
"If you have children, you know darned well that the extra
$400 will get spent on shoes and clothes as they grow," he
said. "That spending is good for the economy."
It would also eliminate most taxes on stock dividends - the feature
that has received the most criticism in Congress.
The Senator said that although he voted for the current budget,
"as far as economic growth and job creation, it wasn't as
much as I'd have wanted."
Bush also proposed across-the-board tax cuts and tax relief for
married taxpayers.
"These mean working people keep more of what they earn,"
the Senator said.
"There is (currently) a marriage penalty tax that accelerates
penalties for married people. Repealing this tax is simply good
for the economy," he added.
In addition, the Bush proposal would triple the small business
write-off - from $25,000 to $75,000.
"All of these things are good for jobs," Allen said.
"They put money in people's hands and they'll spend it."
He also suggested that the current administration is not as "anti-tobacco
as the Clinton and Gore administration."
"I'm currently working with (Congressman) Goode and he's
got a good bill as far as the tobacco buyout," the Senator
said.
But he added that the Goode bill would be "very difficult"
to get passed.
"I'm not in favor of FDA regulation of the tobacco industry,"
he noted. "I think it would be very harmful for companies
like Bailey's."
Mother nature did the Halifax County High School varsity baseball
team a favor last week, as a week's rest and recuperation may
have the Comets ready for a critical stretch of games.
Drew Lewis went 2-3 with an RBI double and solo home run, Brent
Long smacked a two-RBI double in his first plate appearance of
the season, and Robert Carter pitched a complete game to lead
the Comets varsity baseball team to a 4-2 win over visiting Amherst
Monday night.
The Comets staked Carter to a 3-0 lead after one inning, and Carter
took it from there, pitching a five hitter, with Jay Taylor's
two-run sixth inning homer the only blemish.
Carter scattered five hits, struck out four and walked only two
batters, while giving up the two runs.
"I thought Robert did a fantastic job out there," said
Comets coach Kelvin Davis.
"He kept the batters off stride and he took control of the
ball game."
Davis added the early lead gave Carter a chance to relax and pitch
his game.
"We got him runs early in the ball game and it gave him a
chance to work. He was out there relaxed and did what he does
best.
"He threw a whale of a ball game."
Carter escaped a two-on, one-out jam in the top of the first inning
with the help of a head's up defensive play.
A Comet fielding error, a base hit and a wild pitch put Amherst
runners at third and second.
Amherst's Emanuel Turner hit a sharp grounder to Lloyd at third,
and he threw to first for the second out.
First baseman Lewis threw to Matt Clay at second to catch the
runner off the bag to erase the threat.
The Comets battered Amherst starter Nathan Foster for three runs
in their first at-bat.
Matt Clay got the Comets started with a one-out double to the
base of the wall, and Jason Lloyd followed with a single.
Lloyd stole second, before Long also doubled to the wall, scoring
both Clay and Lloyd.
Kirby Barbour was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second,
before Lewis doubled to deep center to score another run for a
3-0 Comets lead.
A groundout and a strikeout ended the inning, but the Comets had
given Carter a cushion to work with.
The Comets put runners in scoring position in both the second
and fourth innings, but couldn't break through against Amherst's
John Gordon, who relieved Foster in the top of the second after
Jody Nelson drew a leadoff walk.
Gordon got a flyout for the first out, then uncorked a wild pitch
to put Nelson at second, before two flyouts got him out of the
inning.
Amherst put one runner on base in the second, third and fourth
innings, but couldn't cut into the deficit.
Carter issued a two-out walk in the second inning and gave up
a two-out single in the third, but stranded the first runner on
a strikeout and the second on a groundout to end those innings.
Turner led off the Amherst fourth inning by drawing a walk and
stole second, before two flyouts and another Carter strikeout
ended the inning.
The Comets threatened again in their half of the fourth inning,
but were denied by the best defensive play of the game.
With one out, Owen was hit by a pitch and after a flyout, Carter
followed with a single to put runners on first and second.
Clay hit a hard line drive to the gap in left center field that
appeared to be heading for the wall, before Amherst center fielder
Jay Taylor caught it on the dead run to save two runs.
Taylor did some damage at the plate in the sixth inning to get
Amherst back into the game.
After Stuart Holman singled to start the inning, Taylor hit a
3-1 offering from Carter over the left field wall to cut the Comets'
lead to 3-2.
Carter got Turner on a grounder for the first out of the inning,
but a Comet error put the tying run on first base.
The Comets then came up with a key 1-6-3 double play to get out
of the inning, as Carter snared a hard grounder, and fired to
Clay at second, who threw to first to get the third out.
Lewis added some insurance for the Comets in the bottom of the
sixth inning, crushing a 1-1 offering from Gordon to give the
Comets a 4-2 lead.
Carter gave up a one-out double to Amherst's Anthony Gilbert in
the top of the seventh, but got a groundout and a flyout to end
the game.
Davis was pleased with the Comets' bats in the early going, and
with the addition of Long to the lineup.
"As far as the sticks go, we hit the ball well early in the
ball game," noted Davis.
"We have a couple of guys who are really trying to get the
sticks going right now...
"And, Drew Lewis comes up with a big hit, that's crucial...
"That's a good insurance run late in the ball game."
"I feel very good having Brent Long back, and his first at-bat,
he gets a double for us," said Davis.
"We have a lot more options with him in the ball game.
"My hat's off to Mike Leake, the athletic trainer. He did
a great job with him, getting him back in shape for us."
The Comets hit the road Thursday against Cave Spring, before returning
home Friday to face Patrick Henry in a key Western Valley District
contest.
The Comets currently stand at 0-1 in the district, having lost
to E.C. Glass at home earlier.
Davis indicated his team is as close to being healthy as it's
been all season, thanks to the week layoff.
"We have a couple of guys healing up now, and a couple of
guys going to their respective doctors tomorrow to get checked
out," he said.
"If we get them back, we'll be fine.
"The rainfall was a blessing in disguise, because we had
a lot of guys on the disabled list, and that time was used for
them to heal."
With Monday's win, the Comets evened their season record at 3-3.
Martha Becky Crenshaw Conway, 85, of 912
Crenshaw Lane, South Boston, died April 13, at Danville Regional
Medical Center.
Mrs. Conway was born in Halifax County on March 31, 1918, the
daughter of Major Crenshaw and Ruth Osborne Crenshaw and was married
first to Louis William Owen, then to Thomas A. Conway. She was
a member of Pleasant Grove United Church of Christ.
Survivors include two sons, William Lewis Owen of Richmond and
Bobby Wayne Owen of South Boston; one daughter, Ann O. Powell
of Halifax; seven grandchildren, Teresa Kirtley of Shenandoah,
David Owen, Richard Owen and Kimberly Anne Owen, all of Richmond,
Angela Knotts of Roxboro, NC, Stephen Powell of South Boston,
and Tracey Eanes of Danville; 11 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild;
four sisters, Katherine Satterfield of Halifax, Mary Crenshaw,
Millie Rodia and Nancy Duffie, all of South Boston; and a devoted
friend, Gladys Lowery of South Boston. She was preceded in death
by four brothers, John, Archer, Maxwell and Dorsey; and two sisters,
Margaret and Billie.
Services for Mrs. Conway will be held today, April 16, at 2 p.m.
at Pleasant Grove United Church of Christ with the Rev. Isaac
Mooneyham officiating. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.
Frank Wilson Jennings, 68, of Queens, NY,
formerly of Halifax County, died April 9 at St. Joseph Hospital
in Queens.
Mr. Jennings was born in Halifax County on March 7, 1935, the
son of Fred Jennings and Macie Edmonds Jennings.
Survivors include a devoted friend, Elizabeth of Queens; one stepdaughter,
Loretta Evans of Queens; one stepson, Edward James Evans of Orangeburg,
SC; one brother, Richard Watt Edmonds of Halifax; two sisters,
Cora Lee Marable and Georgia Mae Miller, both of Halifax; two
brothers-in-law, James Marable and James Miller, both of Halifax.
Funeral services for Mr. Jennings will be held today, April 16
at 11 a.m. at Mt. Pleasant CME Church with the Rev. Evon Bush
officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Patsy Wilkins Haun, 89, of Lynchburg, died
April 10 at Virginia Baptist Hospital. She was married to the
late Harold C. Haun.
Mrs. Haun was born in Halifax County, the daughter of the late
Richard Hunter and Minnie Bass Wilkins. She was a graduate of
the Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Danville and worked
as an R.N., and retired from Roanoke Memorial Hospital. She was
an active member of Fort Hill Methodist Church, where her memorial
service was held April 13.
Survivors include a sister-in-law, Gladys Wilkins of Roanoke;
her nieces, Betty Hall of Radford, Mary Ann Lindholm of Roanoke,
Nancy Adkins of Mechanicsville, Ann Elder of Charlotte, NC, and
Natalie Somer of Mendicino, CA; her nephews, John and Richard
Wilkins of Myrtle Beach, SC, and Bobby Wilkins of N. Augusta,
SC.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Fort Hill
United Methodist Church, 106 Oakridge Blvd., Lynchburg, 24502.
Charlie Howard Pruitt, 77, of 2025 Old Cluster
Springs Road, South Boston, died April 13, at Duke University
Medical Center.
Mr. Pruitt was born in Wilkes County, NC on December 23, 1925,
the son of Kelly Pruitt and Martha Mitchell Pruitt and was married
to May Inge Pruitt. He was a US Navy Veteran of WWII.
Survivors include his wife; one son, Charles R. and his wife,
Betty Pruitt, of South Boston; one daughter, Barbara and husband,
Dwight Patrick, of Boomer, NC; one grandson, Jeffrey Wichita Pruitt
of Boomer; four sisters, Ardell Hemric of Jonesville, NC, Margaret
Elledge of Boomer, Mabel Adams of N. Wilkesboro, NC, and Susie
Erskine of Grand Rapids, MI. He was preceded in death by a son,
Jeffrey Dale Pruitt.
Services for Mr. Pruitt will be held tomorrow, April 17, at 2
p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. H.V. Conner officiating.
Burial will take place in Halifax Memorial Gardens with Military
rites.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home this evening
from 7:00 until 8:30, and other times at the home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider a charity
of choice.