RALEIGH (AP) - A tobacco grower representative says farmers object to a proposal by Philip Morris to buy tobacco directly from farmers and bypass the traditional warehouse system.
''Philip Morris said they want to experiment with some contract growing,'' said Keith Parish, a Benson farmer who is executive director of the National Tobacco Growers Association.
''We told them we were against it because we think it will be the end of the tobacco program as we know it.''
Philip Morris told grower representatives at a closed-door meeting last week in Atlanta they believe the government-backed price support system no longer works, The News & Observer reported Monday.
Price supports, which guarantee a minimum price per pound, have kept prices stable for tobacco since the 1930s and helped make tobacco the most dependable cash crop for many farmers.
Direct contracting is nothing new, although it hasn't been used here for tobacco because of the auction system and government price-support program. Most poultry and pork farmers in North Carolina raise their animals under contracts with big production companies.
Philip Morris and other tobacco companies already have contracts with farmers in countries such as Brazil and Malawi.
With direct contracts, farmers would no longer need auctions to sell their leaf according to the price-support system.
Philip Morris officials also complained to growers it has been unable to obtain the grades and styles of tobacco it needs from price-support cooperatives. The co-ops are required to purchase any tobacco that isn't sold at auction each year at a support price established by the Department of Agriculture.
In recent years, low demand has caused millions of pounds of surplus tobacco to accumulate at co-ops. The surplus is subtracted by agriculture officials when it calculates the next year's quotas.
Despite fears direct contracting could drive down tobacco prices and give cigarette makers too much bargaining power, not all farmers were against the proposal.
''It would be just fine with me,'' said Albert Williams, a Sampson County farmer who grows about nine acres of tobacco. ''It doesn't make any difference to me if I sell it at the warehouse or sell it directly to the company.''
An eight-page memo from Philip Morris painted a grim picture for the future of cigarette makers and farmers.
Cigarette and leaf demand are falling in both domestic and overseas markets, the company said, and that is shrinking government tobacco allotments. Allotments, or quotas, are basically licenses issued to certain farms each year by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to grow and sell a specific amount of tobacco.
About a third of the tobacco allotments in the country are assigned to North Carolina farms.
Quotas have been cut 35 percent during the last two years due to declining demand for cigarettes and flagging export markets for American tobacco. Another big quota cut could come in December unless there is a dramatic change in the market.

By LAURIE ASSEO
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court stepped into a major dispute over smoking Monday, agreeing to decide whether the Food and Drug Administration can regulate tobacco and crack down on cigarette sales to minors.
The Clinton administration and the tobacco industry will square off in oral arguments this fall over the FDA's 1996 decision to start regulating tobacco. The government says the policy switch was justified by new evidence that the tobacco industry intended its products to feed consumers' nicotine habits.
A lower court threw out the rules, saying it is up to Congress - not the FDA - to make the ''major policy decision'' of how to regulate cigarettes and chewing tobacco.
President Clinton released a statement saying he was pleased the court would take up the case. ''Every day, 3,000 young people become regular smokers and 1,000 will have their lives cut short as a result,'' he said. ''I remain firmly committed to the FDA rule, which will help stop young people from smoking before they start.''
''It will be the most important public health case the Supreme Court hears in decades,'' said David Kessler, FDA commissioner in 1996 and now dean of Yale University Medical School. ''The goal is certainly to reduce the number of people who smoke and the best way to do that is to reduce the number of young people who start.''
Brown & Williamson Tobacco Co. called the FDA's rule an example of ''government overreaching'' and said it expected the Supreme Court to deny the agency the authority to regulate tobacco.
Philip Morris Inc. issued a statement saying it has sought to curb smoking by minors but also will ''continue to work to protect the rights of our adult consumers to make informed choices about the use of tobacco products.''
Tobacco industry officials have argued that FDA regulation of tobacco would force a ban, or short of that, would let the agency control the contents of cigarettes or limit where they can be sold.
All 50 states already ban tobacco sales to anyone under 18. In addition to adopting that rule, the FDA required stores to demand photo I.D. from all tobacco purchasers under age 27 and limited vending-machine cigarette sales to adult-only locations, such as bars. Those rules remain in effect during the appeal.
The FDA rules are part of growing efforts to curb the tobacco industry, spurred by disclosures of secret industry documents that showed companies long knew of nicotine's addictive quality and that they targeted teen-agers as potential smokers.
Although Congress failed to pass a nationwide settlement last year, all 50 states have reached settlements in which tobacco companies will pay them $246 billion for the cost of treating smoking-related illnesses. Cigarette billboards around the country were taken down last week as part of that agreement.
The federal government plans to sue the industry to recover federal health-insurance costs, and the industry faces individual and class-action lawsuits by smokers and their families.
For decades, the FDA said it lacked authority to regulate tobacco so long as cigarette makers did not claim that smoking provided health benefits. But the government reversed itself in 1996 and said it would begin regulating tobacco products as ''devices'' that deliver addictive nicotine.
Tobacco companies challenged the FDA rules. In April 1997, U.S. District Judge William Osteen upheld the government's authority to regulate tobacco and upheld the crackdown on sales to minors, but threw out other restrictions on tobacco advertising.
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last August that the FDA could not regulate tobacco at all. ''Congress never intended to give the FDA jurisdiction over tobacco products,'' the appeals court said.
The Clinton administration's appeal, supported by 39 states, said the appeals court's ruling ''invalidated the most important public health and safety rulemaking that FDA had conducted in the past 50 years.''
Industry lawyers said that setting tobacco policy is a political task for Congress, which has prohibited tobacco advertising on radio and television, banned smoking on airplanes and required warning labels on cigarette packages.
A ruling is expected by summer 2000.

In an effort to make a Community Development Block Grant application "look good on paper," the writers of that application apparently confused even the directors of the Halifax Education Foundation for whom the $464,000 will benefit.
"We would have been confused if we had seen it," HEF vice chairman R.O. Harrell told the Halifax County Board of Supervisors Monday night.
In writing the grant application, the Southside District Planning Commission, included all monies contributed so far to the project which proposes to renovate an old tobacco processing warehouse on lower Main Street in South Boston to house the Continuing Education Center.
Contributions so far include $250,000 from Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, $243,420 from the Town of South Boston and $250,000 from the State of Virginia. Voters approved a $1.75 million bond initiative last fall on the basis that the foundation would raise a matching amount in privately funds.
Total price estimate for the facility now stands at $3.9 million
Disagreement over the use of previously raised monies to match the $1.75 million bond money surfaced last week at a board meeting which was not attended by any one representing the HEF.
The original resolution gave the supervisors the impression that previously raised monies would be used to match the bond initiative. As written, HEF would only have had to raise $581,000 from the private sector.
The supervisors, holding firm to the foundation's promise of matching the $1.75 bond amount with private money, drafted a second resolution that would lower to $1,165,875 the amount of bond issuance.
A third resolution identifies the total project cost at $3,964,830 to be funded by the following sources: $464,830 Community Development Block Grant, $1.750,000 Bond Referendum and $1,750,000 private funds.
Foundation Chairman Chris Lumsden told the supervisors the intent of the resolution, as originally written, was confusing "and we're here tonight to answer any questions you may have."
Lumsden said that he didn't receive the resolution himself until after the supervisors had made their changes and charged HEF with failing to live up to the original agreement concerning privately raised funds.
"If we had known (how the resolution had been written) we would have been here to answer questions," Lumsden explained.
"From the beginning of the project," he continued, "we have stated that all funds would be considered old money and would not be counted as matching funds.
"Since we have started, we have anticipated the challenge of raising the full $1.75 million," Lumsden said. and "any money we can raise ethically, we will go after."
"Everyone is behind this project 100 percent," said Supervisor Dickie Abbott adding "but somewhere the money just didn't match." in the original grant application.
"We were unaware it was going to be presented (in this way)," said Harrell. "It was well-intentioned by the folks in South Hill who thought it would look better with money already raised included.
"We stand on our pledge to raise new money," Harrell continued. "and we look on this block grant as being our saviour, if we are unable to raise the full amount."
Last Easy Budget?
In other action, a full contingent of school personnel were available but no one spoke during a public hearing for the proposed $42.1 million 1999-2000 school budget.
Library director Sarah Hudson, seeking more local money for the local libraries, spoke during the second public hearing on the $59.3 million Halifax County budget.
The school budget seeks no increase in local funding, but foreshadowing future budget wars, County Administrator Dan Sleeper told supervisors this would probably be the "last easy school budget."
Next year the anticipated addition of the Clover Power Plant to the county's tax base, could lead trustees...and the supervisors, trying to find over $1 million in additional local funding.
One option, Sleeper told the board, would be the revocation of the tax break on pollution control equipment at the facility.
The addition of the power plant in the county's tax base will cause a change in the state funding formula for the school system.
The local funding formula could rise to as much as 60 percent, Sleeper said.
The county is expected to approve the school budget at the May 3 meeting and the county budget well before the June 30 deadline.
Scottsburg Loaned $30,000
The board drew up a proposed loan agreement between the county and Scottsburg for $30,000 to be used for repairs and upgrades to the town's pumping station.
The agreement has the loan at four percent interest with a three-year payback.
Monthly payments in the proposal are $885.72.
The proposal will now go before Scottsburg council.
Courtroom Update
Supervisors also received an update on the General District Courtroom construction. The court is closed while it is being moved to the Bethune Complex.
Once in place, walls will be torn out of the present courtroom and as soon as the State Supreme Court approves the plans, construction will begin in earnest.
The new courtroom will not only house district court but will allow for a secondary Circuit Court, taking care of overflow from the higher court, Sleeper said.

Juvenile Detention
Supervisors approved a $74 per-day, per-bed fee for six beds at the W.W. Moore Detention Home in Danville. The county uses the facility to house arrested juveniles.
"This is the best deal in town," said Sleeper, "other juvenile facilities charge significantly more."
The county receives credit for any unused beds during the next year.
Landfill Troubles
Board members were given a report concerning the ongoing battle with the Department of Environmental Quality concerning leachate and windswept trash blowing at the landfill.
Sleeper said the current landfill is set to close as soon as possible with an estimated cost of $1.8 million. Meanwhile, the present landfill has been cited three times since December by the DEQ for violations.
"All three of the last inspections, we have been in violation," he said.
Sleeper said he hopes to have the new section open by July.
Points of Interest
· a resolution seeking the release of DEQ reports that could show the source of PCB contamination in the Staunton River was approved. Similar resolutions have been passed by Charlotte and Campbell Counties and the town of Brookneal.
· approved establishing a recycling center at the old carwash in Volens and possible new locations for green trash dumpsters boxes that were recently removed from near Ward's Equipment.
No one seems to want the containers near their residence and are now having to carry trash to the Bethune Complex dumpsters.
An option, Sleeper said, might be for the county to buy about an acre of land in the area and set the boxes up.

Longtime Halifax County resident James E. Edmunds announced plans yesterday to make a run for the District 5 Board of Supervisors seat presently held by Earl Watts.
Edmunds, a beef cattle and tree farmer from the News Ferry area of the county, is circulating petitions now to run as an independent in the November election.
Edmunds' statement announcing his candidacy states:
"As a life-long resident of Halifax County and District 5 and raising a family here, I have a vested interest in the future of Halifax.
"I would like to see Halifax County prosper and be the kind of place where others would choose to live.
"If elected, I will work for the people of my district and with impartiality and objectively serve the county to the best of my ability," he said.

A Halifax man faces charges in relation to a single vehicle accident that resulted in more than $50,000 in damages to a house and several vehicles Sunday.
Virginia State Trooper R.C. Compton charged Charles A. Epps, 45, of Halifax, with reckless driving after he apparently fell asleep behind the wheel of his 1988 Chevrolet and collided with a house, several parked vehicles, trees.
Reports indicated that Epps was driving along Mountain Road (Route 360) .3 miles west of 671 around 9:15 a.m. when he apparently fell asleep, ran off the right side of the road, crossed back over the roadway and ran off the left side hitting three pine trees in Morton Ferrell's yard at 7051 Mountain Road.
The impact uprooted and broke two of the three trees, causing an estimated $500 in damage.
The vehicle continued forward across a driveway and yard before striking a parked 1996 Toyota pickup in the rear causing it to rotate counter clockwise and hit a tree.
This impact in turn caused the spare tire stored underneath the truck to come loose, fly through the air and strike a 1998 Honda, which was parked under a carport at 1017 Mountain Road.
After striking the pickup, Epps' vehicle spun around and struck the rear of a parked 1987 Honda, before continuing across the yard and finally striking a porch and knocking out the support columns, tearing down the gutters, and destroying a number of shrubs.
The vehicle came to rest after striking the house and caught fire, reports stated.
The house, owned by Richard O. Brown, and surrounding yard sustained an estimated $20,100 in damages. Damage to Brown's Honda was estimated at $,000.
Damage to Epps' car was estimated at $5,000, while the 1996 Toyota pickup and 1998 Honda, both of which are owned by Richard and Linda Brown, sustained an estimated $17,000 in damages.
Reports indicated that Epps was injured in the accident, but that his injuries were not serious.
The previous evening four people were injured in a head-on collision near Volens.
Reports stated Linda Lee Chatten, 47, of Halifax, was driving on Route 757 one tenth of a mile south of Route 603 shortly before midnight Saturday when she rounded a curve and ran head on into a 1989 Izuzu operated by Seresa Mae Davis, 24, of Gretna.
Thomas Crews, 36, a passenger in Chatten's 1983 Plymouth, was injured, as was Rodney Stone, 22, a passenger in the Davis vehicle.
Charges are pending, Trooper G.M. Gilliam's report stated.
Damage to the Chatten vehicle was estimated at $3,000, while the Davis vehicle sustained an estimated $6,000 in damages.
A man and a woman were injured in an accident earlier that morning near the Pittsylvania County line.
Reports indicated that Gary Bruce Watson, 50, of Sutherlin, was driving a 1998 GMC truck along Route 688 one tenth of a mile west of Route 656 at 10:50 a.m. when he ran off the right side of the road colliding with several trees and an embankment.
Both Watson and passenger Elizabeth Ayers, 31, were injured.
Damage to the truck was estimated at $16,000.
Charges are pending, according to investigating Trooper R.C. Compton's report.
Moments later another man was injured as the result of a single-vehicle accident on Route 58, two tenths of a mile east of Route 730.
Reports indicated that Robert L. Almond III ran off the right side of Route 58 around 11 a.m., lost control of his 1990 Izuzu, overcorrected and overturned off the right side of the road.
Investigating Trooper D.T. Conner charged Almond with reckless driving.
Damage to the Izuzu was estimated at $5,000.
Several people were injured in Halifax County wrecks Sunday.
A 16-year-old Halifax boy was injured when he apparently fell asleep behind the wheel of a 1997 Chevrolet pickup and ran off the left side of Route 745, one half of a mile south of 744, striking an embankment at 3 a.m. Sunday.
Investigating Trooper G.M. Gilliam charged the teen with reckless driving.
Several hours later at 7 a.m. a North Carolina man was injured when he, too, apparently fell asleep behind the wheel.
Aaron Galloway Jr., 63, of Reidsville, N.C., reportedly fell asleep around 7 a.m. while driving a 1988 Chevrolet van along Route 58, one tenth of a mile east of Route 119.
The van ran off the left side of the road into the median before crossing the highway and running off the left side of the road striking an embankment and a highway sign and overturning in the roadway.
Damage to the van was estimated at $4,000, and the highway sign sustained an estimated $80 in damages.
Investigating Trooper D.T. Conner charged Galloway with reckless driving.
Two cars collided later that morning on Route 658 two tenths of a mile west of Route 50.
Reports indicated that Carolyn Crews Lewis, 33, of South Boston, was charged with failure to yield the right of way after she pulled out of a private drive and collided with a 1997 Chevrolet driven by Lisa Marie Mosier, 18, of Alton.
Damage to Mosier's vehicle was estimated at $2,000, while the 1993 Chevrolet driven by Lewis sustained an estimated $2,200 in damages.
No injuries were reported in this 9:45 a.m. accident investigated by Trooper D.T. Conner.
Two people were injured in another accident that occurred just before noon at the intersection of Route 58 and Route 360.
Reports indicated that Timothy Lee Seigla, 41, of South Boston, was hit made an unprotected turn into the path of a 1990 Chrysler driven by Francis A. Harris, 37, of Connecticut.
Harris and a passenger in her vehicle, Oretha Harris, 66, were both injured.
Damage to Seigla's 1999 Ford was estimated at $4,000, while the Harris vehicle sustained an estimated $3,000 in damages.
Investigating Trooper D.T. Conner charged Seigla with failure to yield the right of way.
Later that evening at 6:05 p.m., Lonnie Lee Ewell, 35, of Vernon Hill, was injured when he ran off the right side of Route 607 one mile north of Route 360, lost control of his 1983 Toyota, and then ran off the left side of the road hitting a fence and overturning.
Ewell was ejected from the vehicle, reports stated.
Investigating Trooper D.J. Cline stated that charges are pending, and estimated damages to Ewell's vehicle at $1,500, and $500 to the fence.
Jason Vaughan, 19, of Virgilina, was injured hours later when the engine of his 1986 Chevrolet pickup cut off while he was driving along Route 1205 near Route 1202 around 8:30 p.m.
The truck's power steering went out when the engine cut off, and Vaughan ran off the left side of the road and struck a tree.
Investigating Trooper D.J. Cline did not file charges.
Damage to the truck was minor.

"The top two entrees in this class typify what we are looking for in a finished steer," said Alvin Thomas, Prince Edward County Extension Director, as he awarded Grand Champion honors to Cecil Fisher for her Angus market steer during the Halifax County Junior Livestock Show.
Fisher's steer, which was sponsored by Phyllis C. Cole Crop Insurance, and Blake Waller's entree, another Angus, which was sponsored by Piedmont Big Sale Inc., won Grand Champion and Reserve Champion honors, respectively, in the market steer class during the 41st Annual Halifax County Junior Livestock Show and Sale Monday.
Judge Thomas named a heifer owned by Meredith Palmer and sponsored by Royster Clark Inc. as Grand Champion in the Breeding Heifer class, while Jessica Saunders' entree sponsored by Triple "J" Farm earned Reserve Champion honors.
Jason Slabach's lamb won Grand Champion in a huge Market Lamb Class with 22 entrees. Slabach's lamb was sponsored by Slagle Fire Equipment.
The mediumweight lamb owned by Blake Waller and sponsored by Southside Fence Builders and Suppliers took Reserve Champion honors in this class.
In the judging of Replacement Ewes, another large class with 19 entrees, Jennifer Crews' entree sponsored by Reese Farms was chosen as Grand Champion.
Winning Reserve Champion honors in this class was a lamb owned by Benjamin Slabach and sponsored by Robland Development & Construction.
The youths involved in this annual event spend months practicing their showmanship skills and training their animals.
The Showmanship classes are divided by age groups.
Cecil Fisher earned first place honors in the Senior Cattle Showmanship class for exhibitors age 15 and older. Blair Waller won second place in this class.
In the Intermediate Cattle Showmanship class for ages 9-14, Jamie Anderson placed first and Timothy Slabach came in second place.
In the Senior Lamb Showmanship class for ages 15-19 Blair Waller won first place followed by Bridgett Fallen in second place.
Blake Waller won first place in the Intermediate Lamb Showmanship class for ages 12-14, while Jamie Anderson earned second place honors.
The Junior Lamb Showmanship (age 9-11) class winner was Timothy Slabach, while Jaimee Emsweiler came in second place.
There were several children showing for the very first time in the Junior Lamb Showmanship class for children age 5-8. Sarah Beth Slabach earned first place honors in this class. Placing second was Dustin Francis.
Several other awards were presented as part of the livestock judging competition. They included:
· First Place Lightweight Market Lamb - Amber Glass with her lamb sponsored by G&G Farms;
· First Place Middleweight Market Lamb - Jason Slabach with his lamb sponsored by Slagle Fire Equipment;
· First Place Heavyweight Market Lamb - Bla
ke Waller with his lamb sponsored by Southside Fence Builders & Suppliers;
· First Place Heavyweight Steer Class - Cecil Fisher with her steer sponsored by Phyllis C. Cole Crop Insurance;
· First Place Lightweight Steer Class - Donna Ford with her steer sponsored by Camp Chemical Corporation.
There were several special awards, too.
The Halifax County Farm Bureau Women's Committee honored Cecil Fisher with a trophy and cash premium for her Grand Champion steer, while the Mount Laurel Ruritan Club presented Blake Waller with a trophy and a cash premium in recognition of his Reserve Champion steer.
Jason Slabach, owner of the Grand Champion market lamb, was presented with a trophy by the Wilson Memorial Ruritan Club.
More than 250 people turned out for this year's show, which was sponsored by Halifax County Farm Bureau, Halifax County 4-H, and the Halifax County High School FFA Chapter, featured 34 participants.
A total of 29 lambs and 10 steers were sold for market. However, sales figures were incomplete and will be posted in Friday's issue.
The Halifax Livestock Committee issued a special thanks to the Halifax County Fair Association for providing the show site and to the various local businesses, groups, and individuals that contributed to the show and sale.
Local 4-H officials remind youths in the county that if they are between the ages of 9-19 and are interested in learning to financially manage livestock and gain a practical knowledge of working with livestock to contact the Halifax Extension Office at 476-2147.

Hattie Sydnor McLean of 1037 Joe Jackson Trail, Halifax died Friday, April 23, 1999 at Halifax Regional Hospital at the age of 73.
Mrs. McLean was born in Campbell County on June 20, 1925 the daughter of Willie Sydnor and Fannie Miller Sydnor and was married to Sherlock McLean. She was a member of Hills Creek Baptist Church in Gladys.
Survivors include three daughters, Dorothy Ennett of The Bronx, NY, Jeanette Atkinson of New York, NY and Veraline McLean of Queens, NY; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; five sisters, Clarissa Williams of Arlington, Hazel Saxon of Brooklyn, Florence Lovelace of Halifax, Learlean Hemphill of Temple Hill, MD and Hester Jones of Washington, DC; and one brother, Floyd Sydnor of Brooklyn.
Funeral services for Mrs. McLean will be held Saturday, May 1 at 1 p.m. at Banister Hill Baptist Church with Rev. John Price officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home Friday evening from 7 until 8:00, and other times at the home.

James Wallace Meeler Sr. of 15014 Philpott Road, Alton died Sunday, April 25, 1999 at his home. He was 86 years of age at the time of his death.
Mr. Meeler was born October 6, 1912 in Halifax County the son of William Jackson Meeler and Cora McSherry Meeler and was married to Jewel Coates Meeler. He was a retired farmer and Cabinet Maker with Burton Lumber Co. He was a member of Olive Branch United Methodist Church where he was a former trustee, was a former president of the Community Improvement Club in Calvary and the Meeler family was selected 1960 Farm Family of the Year in Halifax County.
Surviving Mr. Meeler are his wife; four daughters, Jean Wilborne of Taylors, SC, Nancy Meeler of South Boston, Jane Hall of Alton, and Debra White of Dry Fork; two sons, Larry Meeler of Danville and Eldridge Meeler of Roxboro, NC; two sisters, Lottie M. Pascucci of Danville and Lorene M. Hancock of Durham, NC; 18 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one son, James Wallace Meeler Jr. and one grandson, Gregory Scott Owen.
Funeral services will be held at Olive Branch United Methodist Church today, April 28 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Michael Teixeira officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Turbeville Vol. Fire Dept., 8146 Philpott Rd., South Boston, VA 24592, Olive Branch U.M.C. Building Fund, or the charity of your choice.

Hazel B. Walker, 65, of Greensboro, NC died Monday, April 26, 1999 at Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. today, April 28 at Jamestown United Methodist Church with burial at Guilford Memorial Park, Jamestown, NC.
Mrs. Walker lived in Virginia for many years and retired to the Jamestown area after being very active in pre-school programs, community service, and church activities, with children being her main focus. She was a member of Jamestown United Methodist Church where she was also a member of the Austin P. Fortney Sunday School Class.
Surviving Mrs. Walker are her husband, Dr. Kenneth E. Walker of the home; daughters and sons-in-law, Kenita and Dan Brugh of Christiansburg, Melisa and John Venner of VA Beach, and Alison and Jason Baldwin of Greensboro; four grandchildren, Adam Ferguson, Kristen Brugh, Lucas 'Luke' Brugh, and Emily Venner; sisters, Bonnie Parsley, Cartha Martin and Pauline Jarrett, all of Marion, NC; brothers, Leo Bolick, Coy Bolick, and James Bolick, all of Marion, and Kenneth Bolick of Charlotte, NC and Donald Bolick of Morganton, NC; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the organ fund of Jamestown United Methodist Church, 403 E. Main St., Jamestown, NC. 27282.

Arthur Woodworth 'Jerry' Glass of 2105 Rabat Road, Nathalie died Monday, April 26, 1999 at his home. He was 82 years of age.
Mr. Glass was born in Halifax County on October 14, 1916 the son of William Glass and Fannie Sue Francis Glass and was married to Pauline Cage Glass. He was a member of Catawba Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife; four sons, Rev. Joseph and wife Kimberly Glass of Gretna, Robert and wife Anita Glass of Nathalie, Earl and wife Janet Glass of Danville and Timothy and wife Kimberly Glass of Natural Bridge; one daughter, Donna G. and husband Rodney Krausz of Columbia, SC; and 10 grandchildren.

Funeral services for Mr. Glass will be held today, April 28 at 3 p.m. at Catawba Baptist Church with Revs. Joseph Glass, Ed Griffin and David Dickerson conducting the service. Burial will take place in the Cage family cemetery.

Joan Gasaway Heywood of Suffolk, formerly of Halifax County, died Sunday, April 25, 1999 at her home. She was 60 years of age.
Mrs. Heywood was the daughter of John Gasaway and Lorene Clay Gasaway and was married to William H. Heywood. She was employed at VA Dept. of Social Services, Division of Child Support.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, April 29 at 1 p.m. in Sturtevant Funeral Home, Bennetts Creek Chapel in Portsmouth with Rev. Walter Heywood conducting the service. Burial will follow in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens.
Survivors of Mrs. Heywood include six daughters, Wanda Wilson and husband Richard of Milford, DE, Loretta Shaffer and husband Steven of Suffolk, Dora Jean Heywood of Portsmouth, Audrey Thomas of VA Beach, Tammy Heywood of WVA, Becky Gage and husband Dave of CA; one sister, Barbara G. Rudy of Max Meadows; nine grandchildren, Layla, Bryan, Chelsea, Douglas, Brandon, William, Shawn, Melanie and Joshua; two great-grandchildren, Kathryn and Charles; and numerous nieces and nephews of Halifax County. She was preceded in death by one sister, Virginia Taylor; and one daughter, Kathryn G. Davenport.

Those wishing to make contributions are asked to consider the American Cancer Society.

Mary Lester Shapard Campion of Salem died Monday, April 26, 1999 at Lewis Gale Medical Center. She was 77 years of age at the time of her death.
Mrs. Campion was born in Halifax County on December 31, 1921 the daughter of Henry Heber Shapard and Mary Lester Shapard and was married to Thomas W. Campion Sr. She was a member of New Hope Presbyterian Church.
Surviving are her husband; one daughter, Marianne Golightly of Halifax; one son, Thomas W. Campion Jr. of Royal Oak, MI; three grandchildren, Valerie G. Kramer of Mechanicsville, Eric Campion of Wixom, MI and Andrea Campion of Milford, MI; and one great-granddaughter, Savannah S. Kramer of Mechanicsville.
Graveside services for Mrs. Campion will be held Friday, April 30 at 11 a.m. at Halifax Cemetery with Revs. Keith A. Johnston and Les Goode conducting the service.

The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home Thursday, April 29 from 7 until 8:00 p.m., and other times at the home of her daughter, Marianne Golightly, 1119 View Trail, South Boston.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider New Hope Presbyterian Church, 101 Keesling Ave., Salem, VA 24153 or Halifax United Methodist Church, Mountain, Road, Halifax, VA 24558.

Hazel B. Walker, 65, of Greensboro, NC died Monday, April 26, 1999 at Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. today, April 28 at Jamestown United Methodist Church with burial at Guilford Memorial Park, Jamestown, NC.
Mrs. Walker lived in Virginia for many years and retired to the Jamestown area after being very active in pre-school programs, community service, and church activities, with children being her main focus. She was a member of Jamestown United Methodist Church where she was also a member of the Austin P. Fortney Sunday School Class.
Surviving Mrs. Walker are her husband, Dr. Kenneth E. Walker of the home; daughters and sons-in-law, Kenita and Dan Brugh of Christiansburg, Melisa and John Venner of VA Beach, and Alison and Jason Baldwin of Greensboro; four grandchildren, Adam Ferguson, Kristen Brugh, Lucas 'Luke' Brugh, and Emily Venner; sisters, Bonnie Parsley, Cartha Martin and Pauline Jarrett, all of Marion, NC; brothers, Leo Bolick, Coy Bolick, and James Bolick, all of Marion, and Kenneth Bolick of Charlotte, NC and Donald Bolick of Morganton, NC; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the organ fund of Jamestown United Methodist Church, 403 E. Main St., Jamestown, NC. 27282.