Air Force Lt. Col. (select) William R. Watkins III was killed
April 6 during a combat mission over Northern Iraq, Pentagon
officials have confirmed.
The South Boston airman was the weapons system officer aboard
an F-15E Strike Eagle.
He was completing a bombing mission when his plane went down,
family members said Wednesday.
The Air Force has yet to determine the cause of the crash.
Watkins, 37, grew up in South Boston, graduated from Woodberry
Forest High School in 1984 and from the United States Naval Academy
in 1989.
He graduated first in his class in Navy flight school.
He served in the Navy as a naval flight officer in the A-6E Intruder
and F-14A Tomcat.
In June 2001, he transferred to the United States Air Force as
a Weapons Systems Officer in the F-15E Strike Eagle and was stationed
at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina.
Watkins was a resident of Goldsboro, N.C., a home he shared with
his wife, Major Melissa Watkins, an Intelligence Officer also
stationed at Seymour Johnson AFB, and their son.
Watkins and his wife are the parents of a 10-month-old son, William,
and are expecting a second child in August.
The remains of the plane's pilot, Capt. Eric B. Das of Amarillo,
Texas, were identified last week.
Mary Garrett Watkins, the airman's sister, offered the following
memories of her brother;
"My brother was one of the most loyal and generous people
I've ever known," she said. "He was a wonderful father,
husband and brother. He will be missed by all who knew him."
She said her brother truly enjoyed the life he lived.
"He loved flying," she said. "He's wanted to fly
as long as I can remember. As a child, our dad took us to air
shows and he never wanted to leave.
"There aren't many people who knew what they wanted to do
with their life when they were five," she said. "My
brother did."
But one thing stood out in her mind - "Not only was he a
gentleman, he was a gentle man."
Tucker Watkins, an aide to U.S. Sen. George Allen and the airman's
uncle, said yesterday that the family "had hoped for a couple
of weeks the outcome might be different."
"We were fortunate to have him 37 years," said Tucker
Watkins. "And he was a fortunate man to find the wonderful
wife he did, she has been a strength throughout this."
"He (Watkins) did not view himself as a warrior," Tucker
Watkins said. "He felt it was what he needed to do to give
his children and wife safety. He didn't go into war in anger,
he went out of duty."
Sen. George Allen offered words of comfort to the family.
"Major Watkins is a courageous airman, husband and father
who lost his life and his future so that our families can now
live in greater security and freedom," Allen said. "Our
hearts ache for the tragic loss they will have to endure without
their husband and father."
William Powell, a lifelong friend of the airman's, remembers
his friend's loyalty, "always connecting" wherever life's
journey took the two old friends.
"William was a true friend," Powell said, adding that
he didn't expect to experience another friendship like theirs.
"Honor" is the word Elizabeth Robertson Wetmore, a family
friend, associates with Watkins. "He was intelligent and
kind," she added.
The Watkins family issued the following statement Wednesday:
"We are truly grateful for the love, support and prayers
for us in this time of loss and sorrow. We hold dear the wonderful
memories of Bill and we are comforted that he is with His Lord
and Savior now and we know that we will be united with him again.
"Bill's legacy will continue in the lives of his two children
as it will in the memories that each of us holds dear of this
truly caring and loving man. We have always been and will continue
to be proud to have known him even for this very short time."
Dates for memorial services in Goldsboro and final burial in
South Boston will be announced at a later date.
The airman's relatives in the area include his uncle, Tucker Watkins,
two aunts, Louise Moore and Porter Thrift, and a step-mother,
Hollis Cannon.
He is the son of the late William Watkins and Amy Atkins of Danville.
William Randolph Watkins III's name will be added to the Halifax
War Memorial.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to an educational
account being established for Watkins' children at Branch Banking
& Trust Co., 435 N. Berkeley Blvd., Goldsboro, North Carolina
27533.
The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization
Commission pledged at least $1 million per year for the next eight
years to construct a building at Riverstone Technology Park yesterday.
Commission members mandated that the money be used to fund debt
service on the $12 million project.
The announcement came as the full commission met at Berry Hill
Conference center yesterday.
Tom Arthur, chairman of the Southside Economic Development Committee
(SSEDC), told the commission that the group received 50 requests
for funding.
"We considered funding 43 and recommended 38 for awards,"
Arthur said.
"One we recommended for approval was Riverstone," he
added.
Arthur said Scott Morris, director of the Halifax County Industrial
Development Authority, had requested a resolution of intent to
fund the project be approved by the commission.
The resolution mandates that Riverstone will receive at least
$1 million per year for eight years, "if the IDA assumes
the debt for Building One of the project."
Commission member and delegate Clarke Hogan said the payment didn't
affect the amount of money Halifax County is allocated annually.
"What this means is that for the next eight years, if Halifax
County gets $1.5 million, $1 million of that will automatically
go to Riverstone and everyone else can fight over the rest,"
Hogan said.
Morris said the promise of capital each year makes the project
more attractive to bankers.
"The primary thing today's action allows us to do is go to
the banks with a letter of intent from the Commission and borrow
money against it," the director said.
He added that the IDA had been working hard to get yesterday's
approval.
"This was a positive step for the future of Halifax County,"
he said.
"I think that by showing how this capitalizes on the Commission's
other initiatives like the e-58 project and the Institute in Danville,
it helped move this forward," Morris added.
The funds will be used to jump-start construction on what Morris
said he affectionately dubbed "Building One."
Construction is tentatively set to begin this fall.
"It's estimated to be around 60,000 square feet," he
said. "The building will be a multi-use facility - a place
for companies to locate in Halifax County.
"It gives us some opportunities today, but opens up more
in the future," he said.
Halifax County Administrator Joe Morgan agreed. "Riverstone
is an attempt to shift our workforce from a manufacturing economy
to a more technology-based economy," he said.
Riverstone Technology Park is located on 120 acres on U.S. 58
West across from the Halifax County Industrial Park.
Kerry Lawrence Clark was tried and sentenced Wednesday in Halifax
County Circuit Court on six drug charges, the same day he was
arrested and charged with two of them.
Under terms of a plea agreement with the Commonwealth, the 22-year-old
Webster Street resident pleaded guilty to four counts of felony
marijuana distribution, one count of misdemeanor marijuana distribution
and one county of misdemeanor conspiracy to distribute marijuana.
The plea agreement further stipulated that Clark be sentenced
to five years in prison for each felony conviction and to one
year for each misdemeanor conviction to equal 22 years in prison,
with all but six months suspended.
Judge William L. Wellons accepted the plea agreement and ordered
the suspended portions of Clark's sentence be conditioned on his
good behavior for 20 years.
In addition, Judge Wellons ordered Clark to be placed on probation
for one year following his release, and authorized either work
release or weekend confinement.
The two charges leveled Wednesday against Clark were the result
of a search warrant executed in February.
Clark was charged with one count of possession with the intent
to distribute marijuana and one count of the distribution of marijuana.
In February, Clark was charged with three counts of distribution
of marijuana and one count of conspiracy to distribute marijuana
following the execution of a search warrant at the Willow Oaks
apartment complex by the Halifax/South Boston Regional Narcotic
Enforcement Task Force.
"At approximately 11:30 a.m., the tactical teams of the South
Boston Police Department and the Halifax County Sheriff's Office,
Halifax County deputies, South Boston officers, the task force,
and the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (VABC)
executed a search warrant at the residence," Maj. R.S.B.
Pulliam of the task force said of the February arrest.
After securing the scene, members of the task force seized approximately
one pound of marijuana, $8,200 in cash, various drug paraphernalia,
TVs, stereos, a computer, VCRs, jewelry, DVD players and various
other electronics and two vehicles, according to Pulliam.
After his Wednesday arrest, Clark was released on a $10,000 unsecured
bond before appearing the same day in court to face all six charges.
"This area has been responsible for the distribution of illegal
drugs on a daily basis," the major said. "This apartment
had a large customer base, and many of these customers have been
identified and face potential charges."
Pulliam said the investigation into Clark's network is continuing
and he expects additional suspects to be apprehended.
"The success of this investigation was the result of undercover
agents purchasing drugs from this location over the past year
and valuable information provided by concerned citizens and the
law enforcement community in Halifax County," he said.
The task force would like to express thanks to all of the citizens
who passed information along about drug activity and violators
in the community.
"Most importantly, we would like to thank the citizens for
their patience in allowing the investigation to conclude,"
Pulliam said.
In other task force business, Pulliam announced yesterday that
Marquette Blake Duncan, 18, of Easley Street in South Boston wa
arrested Wednesday and charged with one count of the distribution
of crack cocaine.
Duncan is currently being held in the Halifax Regional Jail under
a $3,500 secured bond.
Other Court
A jury in Halifax County Circuit Court convicted 22-year-old Vernon
Hill resident John David Newcomb of object sexual penetration
and misdemeanor sexual abuse after a Wednesday trial.
The jury recommended Newcomb serve five years in prison for the
felony conviction and recommended he pay a $500 fine for the misdemeanor
conviction.
Judge Wellons remanded Newcomb to custody to await sentencing
in the May court term, with affirmation of the jury's verdict
to be considered at that time.
Halifax County High School students were
reminded Wednesday that firearms and fun don't mix, as they attended
a presentation on firearms laws by Halifax Project Exile and the
Federal Safe Neighborhoods programs.
Commonwealth's Attorney John Greenbacker, Halifax Project Exile
Prosecutor Brendan U. Dunning, Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Gould
and Project Safe Neighborhoods Executive Director Michael J. Costigan
brought the students "up to speed" on current firearms
laws.
The speakers emphasized the fact that current gun laws are much
different from those of their parents' generation.
They also explained the rights and responsibilities of young gun
owners; specific laws impacting juveniles; and when juveniles
may be tried as adults.
While discussing the laws, the prosecutors also gave strong warnings
about new punishments for juveniles convicted of possessing illegal
firearms and drugs.
Project Exile is a law enforcement initiative aimed at reducing
gun violence, while Project Safe Neighborhoods addresses gun violence
prevention in the federal criminal justice system.
Both programs emphasize community outreach and education in combating
the illegal use of firearms.
Greenbacker opened with an overview of the Exile Program, which
had its roots in Richmond as a response to what was one of the
highest homicide rates in the country in the mid 1990's.
A 1997 report by the U.S. Attorney's Office placed Richmond among
the five cities with the worst per capita murder rates.
The report said in 1997, 140 people were murdered, 122 of them
killed with firearms.
"In 1997, somebody was shot and killed in Richmond every
72 hours, and half of those killed in 1998 had no criminal record,"
Greenbacker told students.
"The Exile Program responded by sending Virginia criminals
to be prosecuted by more stringent federal laws."
The federal laws provided minimum mandatory sentences which could
not be reduced or suspended.
Greenbacker explained the Virginia Code thereafter took a similar
stance with its own firearms laws.
Statistics revealed the result of the initial program was dramatic.
Although Richmond had posted triple digit homicides through the
1990's, the figure dropped to 96, the lowest in 10 years, after
the establishment of the Exile Program.
Greenbacker then reviewed the most relevant Exile statutes, including:
two to five years for possession of a firearm by a convicted
felon; five years for possession of a firearm and a Schedule II
drug; and three to five years for the use of a firearm in the
commission of a felony.
Dunning cited circumstances under which a law-abiding youth could
get into trouble by association with drug users.
Students were warned that even teenagers will be treated as adults
for firearms crimes.
Dunning encouraged firearms education since laws have changed
greatly in the last ten years and that those having the greatest
contact with youth, parents and teachers, may not be aware of
the changes.
He encouraged students to seek out information and provided several
resources.
The students were then presented with a list of "defenses
that will not work."
This list illustrated that a defendant may be convicted of possession
of a firearm or drugs even when the firearm is inoperable, is
not on his person or the drugs consist only of residue.
Gould and Costigan then took the podium to make their points,
with Gould putting the students into the prosecutor's role by
giving them facts of real cases and asking them to vote on how
they would handle them.
Gould presented a domestic violence scenario, a drug case involving
a Fourth Amendment search and seizure issue, and a concealed weapons
violation.
After the students voted on each scenario, Gould explained how
the cases were actually decided and the legal basis for each decision.
He also explained the policy rationale behind the decisions.
Gould drew on his experience as a federal prosecutor to describe
how the Richmond homicide problem differed from that of other
cities and how the Exile program was tailored to address it.
Costigan told students that the Exile program in Virginia has
been so successful that several states are now starting their
own versions of it.
He explained that although the program has put many criminals
behind bars, its ultimate goal is not to lock people up, but to
change behaviors and attitudes until gun violence is reduced and
society is safer as a result.
Julia Medley Kimbrough, 92, of 2104 Reverend
Coleman Road, Clover, died April 23 at Woodview Nursing Home.
Mrs. Kimbrough was born in Halifax County on May 20, 1910, the
daughter of Sterling Medley and Fannie Yuille Medley and was married
to Herbert Kimbrough. She was a member of Dan River View Baptist
Church.
Survivors include four sisters, Beatrice Donaldson of Augusta,
GA, Rev. Effie Coleman of Clover, Carrie Nelson of Long Island,
NY, and Barbara Spratling of Jacksonville, FL; two brothers-in-law,
Robert Donaldson of Augusta and Fortson Spratling of Jacksonville;
two sisters-in-law, Lucy Medley of Marietta, GA and Virginia Medley
of East Orange, NJ.
Funeral services for Mrs. Kimbrough will be held April 26, at
11 a.m. at Jeffress Funeral Home with the Rev. Clifton Madden
officiating. Burial will follow in Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery,
Clover.
The family is receiving friends at the home.
Viola Perkins, 55, of Brightwater, NY, formerly
of Halifax County, died April 22 in New York.
Ms. Perkins was born in Halifax County on March 26, 1948, the
daughter of Charlie Perkins and Gertrude Perkins Hargrove. She
was a former member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Cynthia Samples and Dianne Samples;
five grandchildren; one great-grandchild; two sisters, Rosetta
Hawkins and Evang. Barbara Betts; four brothers, Charles Perkins,
Clarence Perkins, John Perkins and Joe Perkins.
Funeral services for Ms. Perkins will be held Sunday, April 27,
at 1:30 p.m. at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. William
Dixon officiating. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.
Viewing will be held at Jeffress Funeral Home Chapel Saturday,
from 1:00 until 8:00 p.m. The family will receive friends Sunday
immediately following the service.
William Edward Ragsdale, 56, of Blackstone,
died April 22.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Ragsdale; his mother, Frances
N. Ragsdale; four children, Leigh Hart, Kim Reekes, Sherri Glascock,
and Dave Childrey; one sister, Nancy Ortego; seven grandchildren,
Marissa and Joe-Joe McMillian, Willie and Cameron Reekes, Emilie
and Zackary Childrey, and Gabrielle Glascock; his mother-in-law,
Doris Ingram, and father-in-law, Sidney Ingram. He was preceded
in death by his father, Edward Lee Ragsdale.
Graveside services for Mr. Ragsdale will be held today, April
25 at Lakeview Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Liberty Baptist Church,
or Hospice of Central Virginia.
Willie C. 'Tug' Scott, 88, of Philadelphia,
PA, formerly of Nathalie, died April 22, in Philadelphia.
Mr. Scott is survived by two daughters, Thalier Nash and Verona
Norfleet, both of Philadelphia; and one son, Marshall Scott.
Funeral services for Mr. Scott will be held Sunday, April 27,
at 1 p.m. at the Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church in Nathalie
with burial in the church cemetery.
Viewing will be held Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
at the chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home
Detlef Flournoy Whitlow, 78, of Virginia
Beach, died April 16.
Services for Mr. Whitlow were held April 19.
He was born in Clover on July 18, 1924, the son of John Richard
Whitlow and Anita Dunkley Whitlow, and was married to Doris V.
Whitlow.
Mr. Whitlow was a Navy Veteran of WWII, VFW, American Legion,
and a member of the Kempsville Baptist Church and Lion's Club
where he was a Melvin Jones recipient.
Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Lynda and husband, Dan
King, of MA; three sons, Detlef Whitlow Jr. and wife, Lesa, of
NY, John Whitlow and wife, Marty, of Charlottesville, and Scott
Whitlow and wife, Lucy, of Virginia beach; eight grandchildren;
and three sisters, Starr Berkheimer and Marjorie Herring, both
of Richmond, and Mary Jane Boyd of CA.