Halifax Education Association officials said Monday night that discussions of a possible work to the contract movement among its member teachers may surface at upcoming HEA meetings.
About 100 irate teachers left Monday night's Halifax County School Board meeting in a huff after venting their anger with school system officials for posting what they called an "eleventh hour" memo Monday notifying them of a 20 minute increase in the length of their school work day - a day that will have them working from 8:20 a.m. until 3:40 p.m.
The teachers, who are facing a 7.5 percent hike in health insurance premium rates next year, also voiced their disdain with service problems with the Community Health insurance program adopted by the school system a year ago and not being given adequate voice in decisions regarding the school system's choice of group health insurance programs.
Neither Weston nor Chris Daniel the Director of the Piedmont UniServ Unit of the Virginia Education Association in Danville would go on record as saying that a proposal or suggestion for a work to the contract movement effort among its member teachers will result from upcoming HEA member meetings.
"Obviously, the feelings that have surfaced in regard to this issue (length of the teacher work day) will have a role in terms of our plans for 1998-99," Daniel said.
Weston, a teacher at Meadville Elementary School, said that he anticipates that working to the contract will be discussed.
"But, we'd like to work with the school board as much as we can," Weston stated.
"We're in this for the children. I don't think striking and walking out are part of our ideology."
Daniel pointed out that the teachers' anger does not lie specifically with the 20 minute increase in the school day for teachers next year, an increase that will have all of the county's teachers on duty at their respective schools from 8:20 a.m. until 3:40 p.m. Rather, it is what he called "a Cavalier attitude" on the part of school system officials that has angered them.
"It has been anticipated that something (regarding an increase in the length of the school day) was going to happen," Daniel said.
"They (the teachers) knew something was coming. It's not the 20 minutes a day. It's the manner in which it has been done. The concern is that nobody would "fess up" until they got this memo at the eleventh hour."
Daniel also pointed out "there have been some expressions (on the part of school system administrators) if you don't like to work in Halifax County under these conditions...." The time when you treat people that way is long ago."
Weston pointed out in a speech to school trustees that the 20 minute increase in the length of the school day translates to a five percent yearly increase which represents the equivalent of an additional eight days or 60 hours of service a year.
"In money, this translates to $1,500 to $2,000 for the year depending on the teacher's salary," Weston told the school board.
"However, over the years, we have seen the teaching day filled with demands and the burdens placed on teachers have grown accordingly. The demands related to the delivery of instruction under the SOLs and the accompanying testing program weigh heavily on all of us involved in public education. We will seek to meet the challenges of these increased expectations. However, when decisions such as this are made in this manner, teachers across the system feel that they are being told to "suck it up." As Mr. Witt stated, the teachers have to do whatever it takes to get the job done."
Weston pointed out that teachers must spend many additional hours doing this such as attending PTO meetings, participating in school fund raising projects, participating in parent conferences, preparing lesson plans and averaging grades outside of the normal school day. And, he said that the HEA is calling upon the school board to immediately begin a study of possible ways that the increase in the length of teachers' school work day could be offset.
They included:
- enhanced compensation specifically targeted to offset the increased length of the day;
- duty free lunch for those teachers who do not currently enjoy that benefit;
- increased use of guidance periods and elementary art, music, and or PE in order to provide additional planning time at the elementary schools; or
-the development of a dual transportation system which could allow the elementary day to remain at its current length.
Weston also pointed out that teachers have been experiencing problems with the school system's Community Health group health insurance program.
"There seems to be difficulty in obtaining referrals to appropriate specialists in a timely manner and accomplishing timely payment of claims," Weston stated.
"We have just recently completed a survey among our members and have completed a preliminary analysis of the results which revealed these concerns."
Despite Weston's voicing of the concerns, several teachers in the audience engaged in a heated impromptu debate with the school board and county school superintendent Dennis Witt over the length of the school day.
Barbara Frizzelle, a teacher at Halifax County Middle School, stated that the teachers at the middle school have been working longer hours than teachers at some other schools for some time due to the nature of the school's transportation program and the times at which students arrive and depart school.
That time will be lengthened as a result of this move, she said.
Frizzelle also pointed out that "I don't know of anybody outside the educational system that is asked to work additional time for no compensation."
One local teacher, Phyllis Marston, went so far as to challenge the school board's authority to force teachers to work the longer hours since contracts for next year have already been sent to teachers and returned to school system officials.
She contended that the notification of the lengthening of the school work day for teachers was made Monday and that the lengthier school day was not stated in the contract.
"Our contract is a legal binding document," Marston said.
"This was changed after we turned our contracts back in."
"You can't change something after the fact," she later pointed out.
School trustee Patricia Nelson retorted "you're also paid to work 200 days but we don't make you work 200 days."
County school superintendent Dennis Witt informed Marston that the school board has the authority to set both the length of the work day and the school calendar.
"All we want is for somebody to be fair with us," Marston said, "not stick something in our box at the last minute."
Witt pointed out that lengthening the school day has been discussed for a period of several months in public hearings and at public meetings.
"I'm telling you we've discussed it all year," Witt said.
"They (the teachers) knew when they signed the contracts they (the school days) were going to be longer," added Nelson.
School board chairman Alan Gravitt attempted to put an end to the debate, telling teachers that piped up from the audience with random comments that the debate was accomplishing nothing.
"We don't need to make a decision tonight," Gravitt also stated.
"You're not going to work ten minutes early tomorrow."
School trustee Lottie Nunn suggested that the school board examine the issue more thoroughly later.
But, another teacher in the audience quipped to the school board, " to me you're fighting us, you're not with us."
School board vice chairman Carl Furches reminded the teachers that "as you are, I once was." He noted that "I know what your concerns are. I had the same concerns when I was sitting there where you are."
Furches told the teachers that the school board was concerned with their feeling and told them "we've got to pull together, work together, and communicate together. You're doing a good job and I'm proud of you. At the same time, some of these problems are not solveable in one day."
School trustees, in a four-four deadlock, failed Monday night to adopt a proposed long range $25 million to $29 million school facility plan that would close five county elementary schools.
Instead, they asked school superintendent Dennis Witt to initiate architectural studies of the school sites proposed for renovations and additions, studies that will provide more concrete cost estimates for the plan.
That request came after trustees, unable to reach a consensus, deadlocked 4-4 on a motion to table the matter until after more firm estimated cost figures for the project could be obtained.
In that vote, Wanda McDowell, Lottie Nunn, Raleigh Moorefield, and vice chairman Carl Furches voted to table the matter while D.H. McDowell, Jr., Patricia Nelson, Steve Anderson, and board chairman Alan Gravitt voted against that move.
Shortly after that, the board voted on a motion offered by Nelson to go with the proposed plan with Nelson, Anderson, D.H. McDowell, Jr., and Gravitt voting for it while the other four voted against it.
"We've got to do something," Nelson told her fellow trustees.
"What do you propose we do at this point other than drag our feet?"
Furches then offered a motion to have Witt initiate the architectural studies of the school sites. That motion passed on a 6-2 split vote with Moorefield and Nunn casting the negative votes.
The study, Witt said yesterday, is expected to cost the school system a little over $10,000, or about $2,000 per site.
"What we're talking about is not a major expense in the overall scheme of things," Witt said.
The architectural studies could be completed in as little as two to three weeks.
"I'm looking at two weeks, three weeks at the most," Witt stated after noting that he hopes to be able to engage a firm this week to undertake that project.
Witt had been hopeful that school trustees would endorse the concept of the plan that has been described as a "hybrid" or earlier plans recommended by the School Facilities Study Taskforce some 18 months or so ago.
But, it didn't happen.
"Four (school board members) were ready to move forward and four weren't," Witt remarked.
"Everybody's got to vote the way they feel. I thought we were a little closer than that on the concept."
Witt said that the school board's failure to adopt the concept of the plan does not mean that the plan has been stymied.
"I think there is a message in that," Witt said of the school board's decision to request the architectural studies.
"Some of them want more answers before they put it to a vote on it. I thought we were doing that anyway. I think the support is still there for the plan. My feeling is that they want to know what it will cost. I think it's normal to want to do that. I still think the board can come together on a plan of some sort. I think the board wants to do that. We'll keep digging and bringing answers to the table until we reach some consensus."
With the events of Monday night, there is now little hope that a bond referendum for a long range school facility capital improvement plan will make the election ballot in November. Witt had indicated earlier that he hoped that the process would move in a timely enough manner to allow for a bond referendum this fall.
School trustee Steve Anderson told his fellow board members Monday night that "November of this year is not a priority for me" and noted that his concern is that proper steps in the process be taken in the proper order to insure that the best possible plan is devised and taken to the public.
The proposal that was brought to the table Monday night was little different from the plan that was unveiled and discussed at a public hearing earlier this spring.
One of the differences in this proposal was that Turbeville Elementary School, which had been targeted for possible closure, has now been included among the schools targeted for renovation.
No change was made in the status of Virgilina despite the fact that a delegation of Virgilina area residents opposed to the closing of the school offered an alternative at the public hearing to build a new school in the Kingswood area or renovate the existing school.
As a result, five schools including Clover, Volens, Halifax, Washington-Coleman, and Virgilina have been targeted for closure. Only one facility, Halifax Elementary School, being retained for use as a teacher training center,and or additional space for the school system or other county agencies. The others would be discontinued for use as educational facilities.
Clays Mill, Scottsburg, and Sydnor Jennings would undergo renovations and additions to allow the school to accommodate 325-375 students, renovate and add on to the South of Dan to accommodate 400-450 students, make improvements to Meadville Elementary to accommodate 300-350 students,and make additions and renovations to Wilson Memorial to accommodate 150-200 students.
The plan also calls for renovations and additions to Sinai and C.H. Friend to accommodate 525-575 students with a part of C.H. Friend's renovation including the installation of an elevator.
Also, the plan calls for major improvements at Halifax County Middle School to include an overall refurbishing of the school that will allow discontinued use of the mobile units and the vocational annex building.
A few improvements are also called for at Halifax County High School with major items there being of a maintenance type nature.
In addition to including a dual bus transportation system for elementary and secondary school students, the plan will also set up a standardized grade structure of K-6 at the elementary schools, grades 7-8 at the middle school, and grades 9-12 at Halifax County High School.
Witt outlined the basics of the plan at Monday night's county school board meeting and told the trustees that it is important that a concept for a long range school facility capital improvement plan be adopted by the body.
At the outset, school trustee Lottie Nunn, who represents the Virgilina area on the school board, had a 13 member delegation of Virgilina residents opposed to the plan to stand up.
School board vice chairman Carl Furches then voiced his opposition, saying that he wanted to see an architectural study of each and that he wants to see more fine tuned figures of what the actual costs of the project will be.
"My constituents want to know exactly how much it costs," Furches pointed out.
Furches also pointed out that the plan made no mention of a site for an Alternative Education program that many local residents want to see implemented, and that the school board needs to meet with the Board of Supervisors and county administrative officials to determine how far and how much money the county is willing to go for such a project.
"Don't give me a $25 million bond issue and then come back later and say we've got to get another $10 million to $20 million," the school board vice chairman said.
"That's like the federal government and we don't want that here."
School board member Patricia Nelson said that the real question that needed to be decided is whether or not the school board supports the basic plan, the basic concept.
"Do we agree this is where we want to head?" Nelson asked.
She added that after that issue is decided more firm cost figures can be obtained and the school board could then decide at a later date how far it wants to go and how much money it wants to spend or request in a bond referendum.
Witt assured the school board that the architectural and cost study would be performed before the school board took a further step and before any plan is pitched to the Board of Supervisors.
"But, before we can go forward with it, we need to know to do something in concept," Witt said.
In terms of Furches' concern for an Alternative Education site, Witt said that work is underway on that.
"We are not at liberty to say anything about a specific site right now," Witt said.
"We are working on an alternative education site for the school system."
Furches later noted that it seemed to him that "we're putting the cart before the horse" and put the motion on the floor to have Witt initiate the studies that will yield the cost figures.
On the heels of a request to increase funding for the Day Complex in South Boston, the Halifax County Board of Supervisors discussed a possible consolidation of Halifax County and South Boston recreation departments.
During a meeting Monday night, the topic arose after discussion of the $10,000 annual request from Dixie, Inc., which oversees the Day Complex.
In-depth studies will be undertaken before any consolidation efforts are taken, officials pointed out.
Dixie, Inc. had earlier asked the Finance Committee to, at least, match what South Boston had been contributing to youth baseball activities which is $7,080 per year. The town also funded about $3,300 to pay for water and sewer and electrical services for the Day Complex.
While the town will continue to appropriate the $7,080, they discontinued funding the water and sewer and electrical needs of the Day Complex earlier this year, after years of extending such assistance.
Meanwhile, the county appropriated $2,000 during their last fiscal year to Dixie Youth baseball.
"The problem is one group of people loves to control things (youth league operations)," supervisor Dickie Abbott pointed out. "When taxpayers' money is in, the community should be in control."
In addition to factions which seem to be competing for both funding and league control, the situation involves the existence of two separate departments of parks and recreation, one for the Town of South Boston and one for Halifax County.
A resolution adopted by both jurisdictions on December 22-23, 1997 called for a framework of consolidations efforts, beginning with the proposed consolidation of the E-911 systems. Those resolutions were united in an agreement between both jurisdictions which officially went into effect on January 1,1998.
Halifax County and South Boston agreed to study, discuss and possibly implement a consolidation of the parks and recreation committees within a three-year time frame.
Such a consolidation will be done, "only if the study proves that it would be in the best interest of both jurisdictions, the kids, and the taxpayers," commented South Boston Town Manager Ken McLawhon.
During Monday's meeting, the board of supervisors took no action on the Dixie, Inc. request. They did agree that more information was needed before any decisions were made.
Halifax County Administrator Dan Sleeper stated that the county's Recreation and Finance committees were "heading towards" an in-depth study of the consolidation issue.
Supervisor Dickie Abbott of Election District #1 is chairman of the Recreation Committee. One other supervisor, Earl Watts of Election District #5, is a member of the committee. Each remaining election district has one appointee on the committee.
Watts stated that additional funding for youth sports could easily be found by diverting county funds appropriated to the Halifax County Department of Social Services.
"We've got social services and the community action (Halifax County Community Action Agency) that overlap each other's programs," commented Watts. "They keep increasing these giveaway programs every year...it's throwing money down rat holes."
Watts stated that money transferred from the Department of Social Services would be more suitable if it went to help fund the baseball and softball programs.
"This would benefit the community much more than giving money to someone who's not going to do anything," Watts said.
During Monday night's meeting of the board, a public hearing was held for any citizen who wanted to publicly comment on the proposed 1998-99 $54,926,719 general budget.
That citizen, Rex Crews of Halifax, spoke about the need for the county to better fund local sports programs. He also told the board that the county needed a comprehensive plan for recreation on a countywide basis.
"The present level of funding is inadequate," Crews told the board.
By LAURIE KELLMAN
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate today rejected a Democratic effort to force a vote on a sweeping tobacco bill that would crack down on tobacco companies and raise the price of cigarettes for the nation's 50 million smokers.
Trying to salvage the important election-year initiative, President Clinton suggested later that a compromise may be in the works. ''We're working hard to get this thing back on track,'' the president said.
''I think there may be some developments late this afternoon and this evening that might make that possible,'' he said.
Lawmakers were not so optimistic.
''There is no consensus on how to proceed,'' Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind., told reporters. ''There is no movement toward any kind of consensus.''
''The tobacco companies have to be cheering after that last vote,'' said Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill.
By 56-42 - 18 votes short of the 60 required - lawmakers refused to limit debate on Sen. John McCain's tobacco bill and the amendments awaiting it, prolonging the conflict among lawmakers unable for months to agree on its terms.
More such cloture votes are expected Wednesday and Thursday, and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle plans to hold a daily vote afterward on ending debate.
But the bill may not survive that long. Republican leadership aides said Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott was researching rules by which he could abandon McCain's bill and move on to other legislation - killing the legislation, for now.
''This bill has lost control,'' a visibly angry Lott said on Monday. ''It's just a spending bill. It's lost its focus and it should be pulled.''
He suggested switching to a narrower, politically safer bill.
''I would like to see us have a bill that does deal only with teen-age smoking and drug abuse,'' he added.
For their part, Democrats vowed to keep McCain's bill alive by trying to attach it to other bills that come to the floor.
''This legislation is not going to go away,'' said Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.
McCain's bill would charge tobacco companies $516 billion over 25 years in part by raising cigarette taxes by $1.10 a pack by 2003. It also would severely restrict advertising for companies, and grant the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate nicotine.
In its third week of Senate debate, the measure has become tangled in parliamentary maneuvers over everything from how to spend the money to the terms under which it should move forward. Republican leaders are demanding votes on amendments to use some of the money for tax cuts, limit attorneys' fees and devote funds to drug interdiction.
Democrats insist that their amendments be considered as alternatives to Republican proposals or that the entire bill be brought to a final vote.
It was too early, Lott said, to pursue the narrower bill. A key test would be whether Democrats cooperate with or fight a GOP amendment that would dedicate some of the $516 billion in the bill to fighting teen drug use, Lott said.
''We've tried the cooperation route,'' responded Daschle, who vowed to keep the issue alive. ''We'll see to it that it's not dead.''
The chamber was still awaiting a vote on an amendment by Sen. Paul Coverdell, R-Ga., that would dedicate $16 billion of the money raised in McCain's bill to fighting illegal drug use. Its provisions include boosts for drug interdiction and vouchers to allow students who have been victims of drug-related crimes to switch schools.
Daschle insisted that would take away money intended for smoking cessation
programs. Lott said that if Democrats allowed a vote on Coverdell's
amendment, the bill might have a shot at survival after all.
Only one citizen was present to speak Monday night during a public hearing on the 1998-99 proposed $54,926,719 general budget for Halifax County.
Rex Crews of Halifax addressed the board on the issue of funding local recreation programs. "The present level of funding is inadequate," he told the board.
Crews also stated that a comprehensive program for recreation in the county was needed. Programs for people of all ages should be included, he pointed out.
Crews was then assured by board chairman Joe Satterfield that a "total study of recreation needs" would be done in the future.
"I hope the town and county can work something out," Satterfield said.
The supervisors took no action on the budget. They will report back on June 29 to adopt the budget, which must be done prior to July 1.
That vote will be held in the second floor meeting room of the Mary Bethune Office Complex in Halifax. The June 29 meeting begins at 7 p.m.
In other matters:
The board unanimously approved a recommendation for employee health insurance under the Trigon Local Choice program. The county will pay the monthly $209 cost per employee.
An employee with a spouse and two children, for example, would be responsible for the difference between the family-of-four rate of $585 and the $209 figure, officials said.
The motion to approve Trigon Local Choice program was made by supervisor Garland Ricketts and seconded by supervisor Tom West. The vote passed 7-0, with supervisor Robbie Smart not present for the meeting.
The proposed annulment of the Town of Clover's charter was briefly discussed, with Halifax County Administrator Dan Sleeper stating that an agreement between the county and town could possibly be considered for adoption at the June 29 meeting.
Such an annulment must still go before the voters of the Town of Clover.
School system employees will be faced with a 7.5 percent hike in health insurance premiums now that the county school board has adopted the renewal rates for its group health insurance program.
The premiums for the CommunityHealth insurance program reflect a $13 per month increase for the individual subscriber under the Comp 80/20 plan, a $16 per month increase for the PCP 20 $10Rx plan, and an almost $16 per month increase in the rates for the PCP 20 $15Rx plan.
In all, the rate increases reflect a 7.5 percent across the board hike in the insurance program.
School system officials pointed out that the increase is well under the 12 percent cap that CommunityHealth officials said last year that they would place on premium increases for this year.
This year is the second year of a three year contract that the school system has with the CommunityHealth insurance group. And, this is the only year for which CommunityHealth officials had promised any limitation on premium rate increases.
There are provisions under which the school system and CommunityHealth can renegotiate the contract after this year and provisions under which the school system could seek bids from other insurance providers should the parties be unable to reach an acceptable agreement.
The school system turned away from Trigon last year after Trigon announced a 20 percent premium rate increase, seeking to find a more economical insurance program for its employees.
However, school system officials and school board members were besieged with heated comments from an irate group of teachers who complained of problems and poor service on the part of CommunityHealth.
Barbara Frizzelle, a teacher at Halifax County Middle School, cited episodes of CommunityHealth's alleged failure to make timely payments on insurance claims which resulted in a collection agency being sent after an individual as a result.
Frizzelle also told the school board "we were misled" and stated that CommunityHealth officials had told teachers that efforts were being made to get some Danville area doctors and doctors from the Roxboro, N.C. area involved as participating physicians and that they felt that would happen.
"Since then, they have not," Frizzelle said.
Frizzelle pointed out that there is a lot of dissatisfaction with the current program among local teachers. And, she stated that the decision to make the switch to CommunityHealth was a last second deal.
"I've served on every insurance committee we've ever had," Frizzelle said.
"And, it's always a last ditch effort. It's done at the midnight hour and we (the teachers) can't make a decision."
Frizzelle told the school board that putting a committee of teachers teachers in a position to make a last minute decision in the final day or two of the school year that affects hundreds of employees is wrong and that the rank and file teachers should have a voice when it comes to their insurance plan.
"We need to have a voice," Frizzelle said.
"We're intelligent people. We want to have our say."
Dr. Bobby R. Hall noted that because the insurance renewal date each year is October 1, it puts the school system in a bind when it comes to being able to stage mass meetings with teachers before they leave at the end of the school year.
School board vice chairman Carl Furches said that he agreed with Frizzelle that it was always an eleventh hour decision.
"I agree with them," Furches said.
"Let's have that insurance program set and let them have a say in it and not wait until the last day of school."
Hall said yesterday that school system officials will contact the insurance provider and see if there is any possibility of changing the renewal date to a date that will allow the teachers to have more input.
The Deputy Superintendent also said that school system officials will examine the possibility of setting up an insurance committee this fall after the new school year begins to evaluate the current program and help make decisions concerning the program in the future.
James Edward Cousins, Jr. of Nathalie died Friday, June 5, 1998 at Piney Forrest Health Care Center in Danville at the age of 65.
Mr. Cousins was born in Halifax County on April 10, 1933.
His survivors include his sisters: Mary Guthrie of Nathalie, Elmira Williams and Narcissia Robinson of New York City; brothers: Mural Cousins of Danville and Ezekiel Cousins of North Carolina.
A funeral service will be held today, June 10 at 1 p.m. at Crawford Garrett & Burton Funeral Chapel in Halifax. The Rev. James Traynham will officiate with interment in the Bethel Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.
Family will receive friends at the residence of his sister, Mary Guthrie,
1130 Hardings Mill Rd., Nathalie.
Everett R. Martin of Hudson, NC died Sunday, June 7, 1998. He was the son of Wilmouth and Lillie Lowery Martin.
His survivors include his sons: Raymond Martin of Charlotte, NC and Michael Martin of Hudson, NC; daughter: Lisa Hodges of Lenoir, NC; brother:Chester Martin of South Boston; sister: Sue McKinney of South Boston and four grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Ronald Dean Martin.
A graveside service was held Tuesday, June 9 at Blue Ridge Memorial Park,
Lenoir, NC.
Elizabeth Clark Anderson of 6200 Woolridge Rd., Moseley, formerly of South Boston, died June 7, 1998 at Brandermill Woods Nursing Home, Midlothian at the age of 87.
Mrs. Anderson was born September 28, 1910 in Halifax County to Samuel Y. and Ludie Hunt Clark. She was married to the late John Hudson Anderson Sr. She was a life long member of First Baptist Church where she was active in the Joy Sunday School Class.
Her survivors include his son and daughter-in-law: John and Sharon Anderson Jr. of Moseley; sister: Judson C. Bledsoe of South Boston; granddaughters: Catherine C. Smith of Port Orange, FL and Amy C. Dentiman of Richmond; great-grandchildren: Casey Ann and Cory Michael Smith of Port Orange.
A graveside service was held Tuesday, June 9 with the Dr. Frank Riley Jr. officiating and burial was in the Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family requests that memorials be made to the Elevator Fund, c/o First Baptist Church, 815 N. Main Street, South Boston, VA 24592.
John Dick Hancock of 4224 Volens Road, Nathalie died Sunday, June 7, 1998 at his home. He was 62 years of age.
Mr. Hancock was born in Halifax County on January 1, 1936 the son of Richard Hancock and Melanie Hancock.
Survivors include one step-daughter, Bonnie Cooper of South Boston; five grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren; three brothers, Marshall Hancock and Mitchell Hancock, both of Brookneal and Richard Hancock of South Boston; three sisters, Karen Hancock, Irene Hancock and Lena Hancock, all of Brookneal; three nephews, Eddie Hancock, Ray Hancock and Lynn Hancock.
Graveside services for Mr. Hancock will be held today, June 10 at 2 p.m. at Clover Bottom Baptist Church Cemetery. Rev. Paul Harlow will conduct the service.
Harry James Weatherford of 1413 Moore Street, South Boston died Tuesday, June 9, 1998 at Halifax Regional Hospital. He was 83 years of age.
Mr. Weatherford was born May 16, 1915 in Halifax County the son of Raleigh E. Weatherford and Mary Gravitt Weatherford and was married to Myrtle A. Weatherford. He was a Army World War II Veteran, retired owner/operator of Allen & Weatherford Grocery, a member of First Baptist Church, and was a member of American Legion Post 8.
Graveside services will be held Thursday, June 11 at 4 p.m. at Oak Ridge Cemetery with Rev. Robert M. Fox Jr. conducting the service.
Mr. Weatherford is survived by two sisters, Hallie W. Davis of Alton and Roger W. Hood of Collinsville, IL; a special friend, Helen Cliborne of Alton; and five step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, and one brother, Dudley Weatherford.
The family will receive friends tonight, June 10 from 7 until 8:30 at Brooks Funeral Home and other times at the home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider your favorite charity.