Virginia State Police said that alcohol could have been a factor
in a single-vehicle accident on Route 501 that claimed the life
of a 52-year-old Halifax man, according to Trooper P.W. Leath.
Appomatox state police spokesmen said yesterday that Cabell Williams
Chambers, of L.P. Bailey Highway, was traveling south on the highway
when his 1978 Chevrolet pickup ran off the right side of the highway
and struck a tree.
The accident occurred at approximately 11:15 p.m., according to
state police reports.
Chambers was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after police
arrived.
"We called in Dr. Devine from the medical examiner's office,"
said Leath.
Leath, who investigated the accident, said yesterday that although
no containers of alcohol were found at the scene, investigators
suspect it could have been a factor in the accident.
In other police business, Andrea Daphne Kirby, 38, of Mallard
Lane in South Boston, was arrested Friday and charged with the
discharge of a firearm in/at an occupied building.
The alleged offense occurred Friday.
Deputy T.R. Spencer was the arresting deputy.
Bradshaw Lamar Woody, 19, of Porter Lane in South Boston, was
arrested December 2, 2002 and charged with disorderly conduct.
The alleged offense occurred December 2, 2002.
Deputy W.G. Yancey was the arresting deputy.
Halifax County High School senior Laura Robertson was named
the winner of the Principal's Award during Thursday night's Senior
Awards Program.
The award, considered one of the school's signature senior honors,
was presented to Robertson by Principal Albert T. Randolph.
The Principal's Award is presented each year to a graduating senior
who exemplifies excellence in all facets of student life, including
academics, extracurricular activities and community endeavors.
Robertson was president of the SCA, as well as a member of the
ACE (Academic Competition for Excellence) Team her freshman, sophomore
and senior years.
She was first a member of the National Junior Honor Society and
then the National Honor Society, and was a member of the high
school's soccer team for four years.
Robertson was also a member of the Comets girls tennis team for
four years, serving as captain her senior year.
She was a member of the Junior Habitat for Humanity her last three
years in high school.
Andre' Barnes, Mashonda Dismuke and Racquel Jeffress were named
as recipients of the school's top male and female athletic awards
Thursday night.
Barnes received the T.C. Watkins III Outstanding Male Athlete
Award, while Dismuke and Jeffress were named co-recipients of
the Tuesday Woman's Club Outstanding Female Athlete Award. (See
related story in the sports section).
The valedictorian and saluatorian awards were not presented Thursday
night because school officials have not finished compiling SOL
test scores and final grades.
Those awards and the recognition of the Top Ten students will
take place Friday during the high school's graduation ceremonies,
beginning at 6 p.m. in the gymnasium.
The list of award and scholarship winners follows.
Virgilina Elementary and "community school" supporters
are expected to seek supervisors' support in their fight to keep
the school open during the Board's meeting tonight.
Supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. at the Mary Bethune Complex in
Halifax.
Petitions supporting Virgilina and "community schools"
have been circulating throughout the county since the School Board
voted to close the school last month.
Specifically, the petitions request the Halifax County Board of
Supervisors to communicate to the Halifax County School Board
"our desire to sustain Virgilina Elementary and other community
schools."
Supervisors also will be asked to " restrict or eliminate
our county tax dollars and loan obligations to capital programs
that encourage centralization and the closing of community schools
until such time as a comprehensive improvement plan can be established
that meets the needs of our diverse community."
Southside Concerned Citizens (SCC) is among those supporting the
community school concept.
"SCC has always had a stand for community schools,"
said SCC activist Jack Dunavant.
In other business, three public hearings are scheduled by supervisors
at 8 p.m., one dealing with zoning ordinance amendments.
The proposed action would assure that the subdivision and zoning
ordinances match. Supervisors will address the proposed two-acre
minimum lot with 200-feet in street frontage.
One hearing addresses Dr. William Will's permit application to
locate a small animal veterinary clinic at Route 614, Love Shop
Road.
During public hearings, supervisors will also hear Theodore Gilliam's
application to permit an auto sales facility, Route 746, Mt. Laurel
Road.
One potential condition would limit the operation to a minimum
of five vehicles at any time, with no repair activities.
In other business, the Board of Viewers exploring a King Village
Trail rural addition have met several times, according to VDOT
reports.
A status report is among VDOT's agenda items tonight.
Supervisors will reconvene Monday, June 9, at the Mary Bethune
Complex for a budget work session. Public comment will be welcome,
Joe Morgan said.
Supervisors are anticipating a county budget public hearing June
23, with adoption June 30.
The Current Issues Committee of the South
Boston Town Council will address a proposed amendment to town
code regarding billboards within the town limits tonight.
Members of both the CIC and the Finance Committee will convene
in Council chambers at 5:45 p.m. on Yancey Street for their monthly
work session.
If approved, the proposed billboard amendment will allow the signs
to be moved, replaced, altered or modified if the changes are
approved by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
The issue is set for a public hearing on June 9, when the full
Town Council convenes for its monthly meeting.
South Boston's Planning Commission recommends against adopting
the amendment.
Members of the CIC are also expected to discuss potential appointments
to the South Boston Industrial Development Authority and the South
Boston Library Board.
The appointments are due July 1.
Finance committee members are expected to discuss financial issues
in the upcoming budget for action at the June 9 meeting including:
· Water and sewer rates.
· The adoption of the budget on second reading.
· A resolution authorizing appropriations with town funds.
· Taxes and fees lists.
Following the reading of the financial statement for the month
ending April 30, members of both committees are expected to convene
as a full council to take action on a resolution designating Town
Finance Director S. Vandie Saunders as "agent" authorized
to file for federal and state disaster relief funding as a result
of the ice storm and floods of 2003.
By JOE CHANDLER
It was no secret that the Halifax County High School girls
softball team would need a big performance Friday against Stonewall
Jackson if it was going to advance to the finals of the Northwest
Region Tournament.
Unfortunately for the Comets, their bid to win the game and make
the field for next week's Group AAA state tournament unraveled
at the seams.
The Comets produced only four baserunners, committed three defensive
errors and gave up seven hits and six walks in a 9-1 loss to the
Raiders, the second seed from the Cedar Run District, in the Northwest
Region Tournament semifinal game.
With the win, Stonewall Jackson (18-2), one of last season's state
finalists, advanced to the regional title game and secured a spot
in this week's Group AAA state tounament.
Friday's loss ended the season for the Comets, the second seed
in the Western Valley District.
"It was a heartbreaker to lose this way," said Comets
coach Melanie Saunders whose team finished with an 11-10 overall
record.
"It's disappointing to have to end on this note when we battled
so hard to get here."
While the loss was a disappointment to the team, Saunders stressed
that neither she nor the team were going to treat the experience
as anything other than a positive one.
"I don't want this to be a negative," Saunders pointed
out.
"Stonewall's got a great team offensively and defensively.
This is probably the best team we've faced.
"The players have seen now what it (playing in the regional
tournament) is like and what you have to do to bear down and win
ball games," added Saunders.
"We have to accept that we had a bad ball game, learn from
it, come back next year and, hopefully, take it a step further.
"No one thought we would make it to the regionals and no
one thought we'd win that game against Culpeper," continued
Saunders.
"This gives us something to shoot for next year."
Halifax County's offense produced only two hits, a single by Kim
Ford in the fourth inning and a single by Amanda Rogers in the
sixth inning.
The fourth inning and sixth inning were the only occasions in
the game when the Comets were able to mount any sort of threat
to the Raiders.
Trailing 3-0 at the time, Nikki Fountain walked with two out,
moved to second base on a passed ball and advanced to third base
when Ford singled to right field.
The inning ended with the Comets stranding runners on first base
and third base when Jamie Anderson flied out to right field for
the third and final out.
Trailing 9-0, the Comets got their second and final hit of the
game and their only run of the game in the top of the sixth inning.
With one out, Rogers reached base on an infield single. She stole
second base and third base and scored on an error when the Raiders'
catcher made a bad throw to third base trying to nail her at the
bag.
Trailing 9-1 at that point, the next two Comets batters, Lindsey
Hastings and Fountain were retired in order to end the inning.
Other than those two innings, the Comets had only one other base
runner in the game, that occasion coming when Hastings walked
with two out in the top of the first inning.
Stonewall Jackson, which had averaged six to eight hits a game
but had been somewhat dormant with only three hits in each of
their two prior games, stung the Comets for seven hits that included
two triples and a double.
But it wasn't until the bottom of the third inning that the Raiders'
bats came to life.
"We wanted to get out of the box and hit the ball well but
we didn't right off the bat," said Stonewall Jackson coach
Jason Koch.
However, when the Raiders started their barrage on the Comets
it was effective.
Katie Speaks got the Raiders' first hit of the game off of Comets
starting pitcher Emily Pool with a one-out single up the middle
to centerfield.
Raiders hurler Courtney Bures, who helped her own cause by going
2-4 at the plate with four RBIs for the day, backed it up with
the first of her two triples in the game to give Stonewall Jackson
a 1-0 lead.
With two out, Bethany McLain laced a double to centerfield to
score Bures and give the Raiders a 2-0 lead.
McLain stole third base and scored when Jessie Green singled to
centerfield to make it a 3-0 lead for the Raiders.
Koch said Speaks' hit up the middle woke up his team.
"That's her shot - right up the middle," Koch said.
"The whole team knows that's her shot. When they saw her
do it, it gave all of the kids confidence. It broke the ice."
After avoiding a near miss by putting down the Comets' rally in
the top of the fourth inning, the Raiders put the game away with
four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to make it 7-0 score.
Julie Pallett opened with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice
bunt by Bures, and moved to third base on a passed ball.
Shannon Darling walked and stole second base to put two runners
in scoring position.
Speaks reached base to load the sacks when the Comets couldn't
make a play on a fielder's choice.
A triple to left field by Bures scored three runs and put the
Raiders up 6-0.
That proved to be the end of the day for Pool who left the game
after having allowed six runs on six hits.
Kristi Myer came to the mound but struggled as well.
A passed ball allowed Bures to score and extend the Raiders' lead
to 7-0.
Myer walked Sarah Hefter and Hefter reached second base safely
on an error when McLain reached base on a fielder's choice.
On that play, the ball was hit to Comets' third baseman Erica
Elliott and Elliott made a throw to Fountain at second base in
an attempt to get the force out. Fountain missed making the catch
and Hefter was safe at the bag.
A walk to Green loaded the bases for the Raiders, putting Myer
in trouble with one out.
However, Myer and the Comets got out of the inning when the next
two batters popped up to Myer and Anderson, the catcher, respectively
to end the inning.
Myer got into trouble again in the bottom of the fifth inning,
this time by walking Kristen Windle and pinch hitter Beth Ann
Kuzma to start the inning.
That proved to be the end of Myer's day on the mound as Saunders
and assistant coach Allen Lawter brought Beth Throckmorton to
the mound.
Windle and Kuzma moved up a base when Speaks hit a ground ball
to Fountain between second base and first base and Fountain ran
over to first base to get Speaks out for the first out of the
inning.
Pinch hitter Keisha Robinson, batting for Bures, grounded out
to third base for the second out of the inning but Windle scored
on the play to give the Raiders an 8-0 cushion.
Stonewall Jackson added a run on an error when Elliott couldn't
make a play on a ball hit to her at third base to extend its cushion
to 9-0.
Pinch hitter Kimmy Spinks singled to right field to move Hefter
over to third base.
Halifax got out of the inning when pinch hitter Kristie Kirby
grounded out to Hastings at shortstop for the third and final
out of the inning.
The Comets produced their only run of the game right after that,
in the top of the sixth inning, to account for the 9-1 final score.
"It just wasn't our day," said Saunders.
"It wasn't our day defensively and it wasn't our day offensively.
It was just one of those days. It's just a shame that it had to
happen when you come off of a big game like we had against Culpeper."
Saunders pointed out that her team was hitting the balls thrown
by Bures, the Raiders' starting hurler, through the first four
innings of the game.
"We were on her," said Saunders.
"She didn't sit us down that much. We just couldn't seem
to get base hits out of her. We just couldn't get anything going."
Bures finished her four-inning stint on the mound allowing only
one hit and two walks and fanning three of the 15 Comets batters
she faced.
Stonewall Jackson reliever Kirby Jenkins held the Comets to one
hit and fanned three of the 10 Comets batters she faced over the
final three innings.
"Stonewall was good," said Saunders.
"We didn't lose this ballgame because we're young. We've
got leadership that wasn't there at the beginning (of the season)
that stepped up the last half of the season. We had three seniors
that gave us great leadership and our juniors gave us great leadership
throughout this year.
"It's just disappointing to go out like this when we've done
so much to get to this point," Saunders concluded.
Graveside services for Miss Trinity Aryonah
Daniel were held Saturday at Concord Baptist Church Cemetery in
Chase City.
Miss Daniel, the one-month-old daughter of Michael McFail and
Katrina Daniel, died Tuesday, May 27, at the Halifax Regional
Hospital.
Survivors include her parents, both of South Boston, one brother,
Xavier Fuller of South Boston, one aunt, Kishia Wood of South
Boston, and four uncles, Brian Daniel of Georgia, Jessie Daniel
of Clover, Clarence Barnette of Georgia and Anthony Russell of
Chase City.
Condolences may be e-mailed to harrisfh@kerrlake.com.
Funeral services for Mr. George Francis
Ford will be held today, June 2, at 1 p.m. with services at the
Mizpah Presbyterian Church.
The Rev. Michael Ferrell will officiate.
Burial will follow in the Rose Garden Cemetery.
Mr. Ford died Thursday, May 29, at the Halifax Regional Hospital.
He was 83.
Mr. Ford was born in Baltimore on December 5, 1919 to the late
George Washington Ford and Arabella Walker Ford.
He was married to the late Florence Glenn Breedlove Ford.
Mr. Ford was a member of the Mizpah Presbyterian Church. He was
a retired employee of JPS Converter and was one of the founding
members of the Men's Progressive Club.
Mr. Ford is survived by one daughter, Dr. Sandra Ford Mobley of
Richmond, two sons, Rev. George William Ford Sr. of Halifax and
Breedlove Ford of South Boston, one half-sister, Doris Braxton
of Atlantic City, N.J., one half-brother, George T. Ford, five
grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, two daughters-in-law,
Barbara Ford of Halifax and Beulah Ford of South Boston, one brother-in-law,
two sisters-in-law and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives
and friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Walter Howard Gayles
Jr. were held Saturday at the Holy Name Church of Jesus in Chase
City.
The Rev. Gladys Watson officiated.
Burial followed in Ivy Hill Cemetery in Chase City.
Mr. Gayles, of Lynchburg and formerly of Drakes Branch, died Tuesday
at the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville.
He was 38.
Mr. Gayles was born in South Boston to Walter Howard and Catherine
Ann Seymour Gayles.
He attended Charlotte County Public Schools and was a member of
First Baptist Church in Wylliesburg. He was a former auto mechanic
for Sears Automotive in Lynchburg.
Mr. Gayles is survived by his wife, Shirley Gayles, and one son,
Brian Anthony Gales, both of Lynchburg, four sisters, Patricia
Ann Gayles of Drakes Branch, Gloria Gayles Hardy of Greensboro,
N.C., Gwen Gayles Harris of Saxe, Tabitha Laverne Gayles of Newark,
N.J., two brothers, Arnold Gayles of Halifax and Ronald Gayles
of Drakes Branch, three brothers-in-law, five sisters-in-law,
his mother and father-in-law and a host of other loving relatives
and caring friends.
Condolences may be e-mailed to harrisfh@kerrlake.com.
Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Jennings
Hightower will be held Wednesday, June 4, at 2 p.m. with services
at the New Vernon Baptist Church.
The Rev. Robert S. Wimbush will officiate.
Burial will follow in the Berry Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the residence, 2219 Swain Road.
Mrs. Hightower died Thursday, May 29, at the Retreat Hospital
in Richmond.
She was 51.
Mrs. Hightower was born in Halifax County on June 12, 1951 to
Ms. Mattie Lee Jennings.
She was married to the late Albert Daniel Hightower II and was
a member of New Vernon Baptist Church.
Survivors include two sons, Albert Hightower III and Barry Hightower,
both of Halifax, her mother, two brothers, Gene Autry Jennings
and Robert Lee Jennings, both of Halifax, three sisters-in-law
and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Ruth Layne Gilliland
Kent were held Monday, June 2, at the Rich and Thompson Chapel
in Burlington, N.C.
The Rev. Dr. Craig McMahan officiated.
Burial followed in the Pine Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Kent died in her Burlington residence Friday, May 30.
She was born in Halifax County to the late E. Herbert Gilliland
and Malissa Ann Mylum Gilliland and was married to the late Robert
Smith Kent Jr.
Mrs. Kent was a retired elementary school teacher with the Burlington
City School System, was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Beta Omega
Chapter, was a member of the Alamance County Chamber of Commerce,
retired from the N.C. Teachers Association and was the second
vice-president of the Alamance Executive Club for many years.
She was also a member of the First Baptist Church, a member of
the Dorcas Fidelis Sunday School class, former Primary Department
Sunday School and member of the churches Historical Committee.
Survivors include one sister, Gladys Lacks of Halifax, and two
nieces, Barbara Baggett of Atlantic Beach, N.C., and Sandra Lacks
of Harrisonburg.
For memorials, please consider the First Baptist Church, 400 South
Broad Street, Burlington, N.C., 27217.
Penta Turner Owen, 81, of 11124 River Road,
South Boston, died May 29 at her home.
Mrs. Owen was born in Halifax County on November 26, 1921, the
daughter of Andrew Stephen Turner and Ruth Barker Turner and was
married to Lloyd Carter Owen. She was a member of Arbor Baptist
Church.
Survivors include one son, John Thurman Owen and wife, Frances;
two daughters, Ruth O. Gregory and husband, Jimmy, and Carole
O. Lovelace and late husband, Allen Clark Lovelace, all of South
Boston; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one sister,
Frances T. Reese of Scottsburg; two brothers, William Hughes Turner
and Banks Farley Turner, both of GA. Mrs. Owen was preceded in
death by two brothers and two sisters, Swanson Turner and Joseph
Turner, Mary Lois Jennings and Reba T. Torian ; and two half-sisters
and five half-brothers.
Funeral services for Mrs. Owen were held June 1 at 2 p.m. at Powell
Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Todd Smith and Tracey Allred
officiating. Burial followed in Halifax Memorial Gardens.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Arbor Baptist
Church or Halifax Regional Hospice.
Mrs. Loretta Magdalene Wilkins Reese, widow
of William A. Reese Jr., died Friday, May 30, at Duke University
Medical Center.
She was 86.
Mrs. Reese resident of Boston Commons.
Mrs. Reese was the daughter of the late Jack and Helen McGonnell
Wilkins.
She was born and reared in Williamson, West Virginia.
Survivors include three nephews, Charles Thomas Wayt of Las Vegas,
Harold (Pete) Wayt of Jacksonville, Florida, William R. Wilkins
of Virgilina, one niece, Mary Helen Wilkins Gravitt of Virgilina,
many grand nieces and nephews, and great-grand nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Online condolences may be sent to www.wclfh.com.
Memorial services for Mr. John Willie Ross
of Nathalie will be held Tuesday, June 3, at 2 p.m., with services
at the Sunflower Baptist Church.
The family will receive friends at the church immediately following
the service.
Mr. Ross died Friday, May 30, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
He was 59.
Mr. Ross was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on March 19, 1944 to the late
Rose Mae Hood-Ross. He was married to Floretta Ross and was a
member of the Sunflower Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, four daughters, Bonita Ross of Queens,
N.Y., Samantha Powell of Richmond, Sheanna Ross of Bronx, N.Y.,
and Aisha Ross of Nathalie, one son, Jason Ross of Halifax, six
sisters , three brothers, three grandchildren and a host of other
relatives and friends.
Myrtle Lorraine Watkins, formerly of Halifax
County, died May 22 in Brooklyn, NY.
She was the sister of Doris Eva Roberts and George E. Watkins.
Services for Ms. Watkins were held May 29 in Brooklyn.
William Washington Williamson, 91, of 2203
Calvary Road, Alton, died May 29, at Lynchburg General Hospital.
Mr. Williamson was born in Halifax County on September 12, 1911,
the son of William Witcher Williamson and Sallie Reaves Williamson
and was married to Anita Jordan Williamson. He was a member of
Calvary United Methodist Church where he was the former Sunday
school superintendent, and a member of the choir. Mr. Williamson
also served in the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Funeral services were held at Calvary United Methodist Church
June 1 at 3 p.m. with the Revs. David LeFon and Darrell Campbell
officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Survivors of Mr. Williamson include two daughters, Charlotte Propst
and her husband, Tommy, of Sandston, and Nancy E. Williamson of
Alton; three sons, Alex Williamson and his wife, Betty, Fred Williamson
and wife, Nancye, all of Alton, and Byrdie Williamson and wife,
Martha, of Danville; one brother, Olin B. Williamson of Richmond;
one sister, Frances W. Harper of Richmond; and five grandchildren,
Tracy Propst, Adam Williamson, Lesley Williamson, John Williamson
and Amanda Williamson.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Turbeville
Volunteer Fire & Rescue, 8146 Philpott Rd., South Boston,
or Calvary United Methodist Church, Alton.