Not only a portrait, but a glimpse into the personality of a frugal "Christian gentleman" who left an estimated $1,900,000 in stocks to a Baptist children's home was unveiled Monday in Halifax Circuit Court during a ceremony honoring the late Judge Gus Mitchell Jr.
The gift to Virginia Baptist Children's Home & Family Services is one of the largest gifts in the Salem-based organization's 108-year-history, according to its executive director, Don Bradley.
Judge Mitchell died October 27, 1997 at age 90. He retired from the bench after serving approximately 25 years.
Never married, the judge left a personal estate valued at about $10 million, primarily in stocks and bonds, and an interest in 14 properties throughout the county valued at $1,162,350 according to records on file in the courthouse. His nephews, Gus Mitchell III and Dr. F.B. Mitchell are named as primary heirs.
The judge also left a $10,000 bequest to Millstone Baptist Church. Several smaller provisions were also listed in his handwritten will, according to court records.
But it was Judge Mitchell's compassion, intelligence, fairness and integrity Circuit Court Judge Charles McCormick III recalled during the Monday ceremony.
Former state Sen. Howard Anderson, Halifax attorney James Edmunds, Bradley and Mitchell's nephew, Gus Mitchell III, a family spokesman, painted a more intimate portrait of the man they knew well.
Sen. Anderson said Judge Mitchell "enjoyed an unimpeachable integrity and was a Christian gentleman."
The senator also described Mitchell as interested in administering justice and mercy. But that he also was interested in "rehabilitation," which Anderson described as unusual at the time.
"Very frugal" was named as another of the judge's traits by Anderson. "Some said tight," he recalled with a smile. But the senator also recalled one of Mitchell's former law firm associate's words on that matter: Gus gets anything he wants but he doesn't want anything.
Anderson also remembered Mitchell's preferred form of transportation, a motorcycle.
Attorney James Edmunds took the motorcycle story to a higher level, producing a photograph of Mitchell aboard his motorcycle with attorney Garnett Bledsoe as the two rode to work. However, following his appointment to the bench, Judge Mitchell traded his more daring transportation for a car, some say at the behest of his former law firm associate, the late Gov. William Tuck.
Edmunds remembered Mitchell as most distinguished by his good, kind and courteous behavior to every person. "I never heard him raise his voice" in the courtroom, yet he was "always in control," said the Halifax attorney.
The judge's loyalty to his church, Millstone Baptist Church, with both his time and money, were also recalled by Edmunds.
"He was a credit to the bar, a credit to the community and a pleasure to be around," said Edmunds.
Noting Mitchell's long association with the late Gov. Tuck, Edmunds said, "It seems they have come together after this long time." Since Monday both men's portraits hang in the circuit courtroom.
Edmunds, too, described Mitchell as "a Christian gentleman," closing on a biblical note: 'Well done thy good and faithful servant.'"
Bradley described the judge as a community person and a Christian gentleman. "If we ever lived in a time we need Christian gentlemen ...," he added.
Gus Mitchell III's memories were family ones, memories of his uncle taking him and his brother under his wing. He also recalled his father's and his uncle's belief in work. "If Dad did not have us working at the store, he (the judge) had us working at the farm."
Gus Mitchell remembered his uncle as a skilled in many ways, and also as an "independent, self-reliant" man.
He also remembered him telling the brothers that if something broke in the country it might take weeks to get someone there. Because of that, the nephew said they learned the skills of an electrician and plumber. And there was the garden. "I can plow a row as straight as any man," added Mitchell.
Mitchell said he and his brother had the opportunity to learn from the judge, but added he was particularly thankful his three children came along and had the opportunity to know Judge Mitchell as he had.
Describing the judge as a man of character and integrity, Mitchell said if they only ask what the judge would have done, they will not go wrong.
Gus Mitchell III and Dr. F.B. Mitchell, and four of the brothers' children unveiled the handsome David Silvette portrait of the judge, during the ceremony.
The judge had requested the portrait not be hung during his lifetime.
South Boston Town Council will meet at 5 p.m. today to consider a potential appointee to fill the Council seat now held by Deborah P. Morris, who announced her resignation last Thursday.
The special Council meeting will be held in the Conference Room at City Hall.
The special meeting was called by Mayor Glen N. Abernathy "for the purpose of accepting the resignation of Council Member Deborah P. Morris and for the consideration of a potential appointee to fill the vacancy."
Mrs. Morris, first elected to Council in May of 1996 and now halfway through her first term, disclosed her intent to resign in a letter to Town Manager Ken McLawhon dated June 18.
She cited family needs as a reason for stepping aside. She also said she is unable to give town matters her "full attention."
Mrs. Morris said she feels the town has the "potential for a bright future" if the governing body continues its "visionary course."
No names of potential successors have been mentioned publicly. The appointment, when made, will be for the unexpired portion of Mrs. Morris' term.
This is the complete text of Mrs. Morris' letter of resignation to Town Manager McLawhon:
"After much soul searching, I have decided to resign my position on South Boston Town Council effective immediately.
"I feel that my attention needs to be focused on my family at this time. I find myself unable to give the matters concerning the town my full attention and this is unfair to the citizens who elected me.
"I have enjoyed working with you, the department heads, members of the staff and my fellow council members. All of ;you have taught me a great deal about local government., I feel now is the best time of resign, as a new council is about to be sworn in.
"South Boston has many fine citizens and the potential for a bright future with improvements to the quality of life for its citizens, if the Town Council can continue its present visionary course.
"I wish all of you the best and I am thankful I was given the opportunity to serve."
A nine-year-old boy was injured after his bicycle was struck by a car on Poplar Creek Street late Monday afternoon, according to the South Boston Police Department.
The youth was riding a bicycle with a group of other youths when his bicycle swerved into the path of a pickup truck driven by Harvey Junior Royal, 16, of South Boston, according to SBPD Chief Jim Hall.
The youth was transported to the Halifax Regional Hospital shortly after the 5:34 p.m. incident and remained hospitalized on Tuesday, Chief Hall said. His injuries were not considered life threatening, police said.
An estimated $100 in damage was sustained by the front end of Royal's 1994 Mazda pickup truck, according to the investigation.
No charges were filed by SBPD Officer Ronnie Edmonds.
A two-vehicle wreck was investigated Monday afternoon at the intersection of Watkins Avenue and McKinney Street, Chief Hall said.
Katherine Slayton Shortt, 61, of Halifax was driving a 1995 Chevrolet when she attempted to make a left turn from McKinney Street onto Watkins Avenue, according to the investigation.
She pulled into the path of an oncoming 1986 Ford station wagon driven by Cecil E. Throckmorton Jr., 29, of Scottsburg and was struck, Chief Hall said.
Neither driver was injured, but a passenger in Throckmorton's vehicle, Derrick Waller, was treated for injuries, according to the investigation.
Damages to Shortt's vehicle were estimated at $2,500 and damages to Throckmorton's vehicle were estimated at $3,000, police said.
Shortt was charged with failure to yield right-of-way. The 4:05 p.m. incident was investigated by SBPD Officer Randy Redd.
No arrests were made, but 78 marijuana plants were seized Monday from four locations in the county, according to the Halifax County Sheriff's Department.
Two helicopters were utilized in an aerial search of the northern and southern ends of the county. The flights began at 9 a.m. and ended at 6:30 p.m., Halifax County Sheriff Jeff Oakes said.
The plants, which were two to four feet high, have an estimated street market value at maturity of $1,000, police said. Some were in pots, while others had already been transplanted.
One helicopter used in the search was from the Virginia State Police, while the other helicopter was from the Virginia National Guard, Sheriff Oakes pointed out.
They operated in conjunction with the Halifax County Sheriff's Department, the sheriff's department's Tactical Squad, the South Boston Police Department, and the Virginia ABC Department.
Although no arrests were made, police gathered evidence at all four locations and the investigation is still being conducted. Further aerial flights will occur, Sheriff Oakes pointed out.
By BRUCE SMITH
Associated Press Writer
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) - Tobacco warehouse operators from five Southeastern states were warned Tuesday that the demise of a massive tobacco bill in the U.S. Senate did not end the battle over the industry's future.
''At no point in time have we been in more of an emergency or dire straits than we are today,'' U.S. Rep. Saxby Chambliss told the annual convention of the Bright Belt Warehouse Association.
''There are some people in the United States Congress who want to see the tobacco industry driven out of this country,'' said Chambliss, a Republican who represents the tobacco-rich 8th District in south Georgia.
The association represents operators of most of the 194 flue-cured tobacco auction warehouses in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia.
Big tobacco companies helped scuttle the Senate bill last week because it did not include the limits on future health-related lawsuits that were part of an agreement reached last year with state attorneys general, said attorney Phil Carlton, who helped negotiate the settlement.
''Without those kinds of reasonable limitations, there is no industry in history that can survive that type of litigation,'' he said.
Carlton said warehouse operators also could be sued. ''If you don't think those lawsuits are not going to have your names on them, you don't understand the type of creative lawyering going on today,'' he said.
Tobacco goes to warehouse floors across the Southeast next month, although opening sale days have not been set. Warehouse operators do not expect the uncertainty in Washington to affect this year's sales.
''For the most part, the companies have told us they plan to pretty well live up to their buying intentions,'' said J.M. ''Moot'' Truluck, a warehouse operator from Lake City.
''Everybody is worried about the uncertainty of the situation,'' he said. ''But you just can't do nothing. You can't wait until its convenient to plant your crop or harvest your crop. You do certain things on blind faith.''
The House may still try to pass a narrower tobacco bill, Chambliss said. It is not expected to have any new taxes and may limit driving privileges for teen-age smokers. But that, he said, ''will be very, very tricky because driving is a state, not a federal privilege.''
None of the original settlement proposals included compensation for warehouse operators, said their lobbyist, Ed Welch.
''You weren't an afterthought, you weren't even a thought,'' he said. Welch urged warehouse operators to speak with one voice and be persistent in getting their message to lawmakers.
''Times in tobacco country these days are about as tough as they have ever been,'' said David Rouzer, a legislative assistant who handles tobacco issues for U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C.
Rouzer said passage of the Senate bill ''would have been like a nuclear bomb on this industry.'' But, he said, lawmakers are also attacking tobacco with ''conventional warfare.''
For instance, he said there will likely be an attempt in the Senate this week to end crop insurance for tobacco growers.
Johnie Fountain Penick of South Boston died Friday, June 19, 1998 at his home at the age of 67.
Mr. Penick was born in Halifax County on September 25, 1930.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Penick; six daughters, Sharon Penick, Mildred Reid, and Frances Farmer, all of Danville, Edna Smith of District Heights, MD, Cynthia Gooden of Washington, DC and Tara Powell of Alton; four sons, Jerry Penick and Charles Penick, both of South Boston, Johnny Penick and Marvin Penick, both of Danville; 14 grandchildren and one great-grandson; his mother, Lucinda Penick of South Boston; five sisters, Sallie Simms, Rosa Ballou, Nancy Ballou, all of South Boston, Annie Penick of Richmond and Lucinda Edmunds of Ringgold.
Funeral services for Mr. Penick will be held today, June 24 at 1 p.m. at New Arbor Baptist Church with Rev. Jefferson Goode officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Anthony Clay 'Tony' Foster Sr. of 5082 Bethel Road, Scottsburg died Sunday, June 21, 1998 at his home. He was 59 years of age at the time of his death.
Mr. Foster was born in Campbell County on September 26, 1938 the son of Courtney Flournoy Foster and Erna Holland Foster and was married to Linda Smith Foster. He was a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Bethel Ruritan Club, Halifax County Farm Bureau and the Lynchburg Moose Lodge. He was a former employee of the Montague-Betts Steel Co. in Lynchburg for 30 years, after which he was self-employed as owner-operator of 360 Service Center.
Survivors include his wife; one son, Anthony C. Foster Jr. and daughter-in-law, Aimee of Lynchburg; two daughters, Ginger F. Overstreet and son-in-law, Billy of Lynchburg, and Joni Marie Foster of Scottsburg; five grandchildren, Ashley, Holly and Heather Overstreet, and Robert and Michael Foster, all of Lynchburg; three brothers, Bob Foster of Brookneal, Sonny Foster of Yorktown and Bert Foster of Naruna; six sisters, Helen Clark of Lynchburg, Arline George and Alice Pool, both of Newport News, Genell Bass of Concord, Jean Braswell and Lois Pool, both of Brookneal. He was preceded in death by one sister, Becky Ward and two brothers, Billy and Keith Foster.
Funeral services for Mr. Foster will be held Thursday, June 25 at 11 a.m. at Powell Funeral Home chapel with Revs. Michael Phillips and Tony Brooks officiating. Burial will take place in Oakland Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home tonight, June 24 from 7:00 until 8:30, and other times at the home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Bethel Ruritan Club, Scottsburg Fire Department or the Halifax County Cancer Society.
Irma Langford Moorefield of 1171 Cage Trail, South Boston died Monday, June 22, 1998 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Moorefield was born in Charlotte County on April 17, 1921 and was 77 years of age. She was the daughter of Frank Langford and Tiny Wilson Langford and was married to Herman R. Moorefield. She was a member of Revelation Baptist Church and the VFW.
Survivors include two daughters, Sandra Hester of Schuylkill Haven, PA and Bettie M. Allen of South Boston; four grandchildren, Brent Hester of Rural Valley, PA, Kami Hollenback of Schuylkill Haven, Michael Allen of South Boston and Renee Merciez of Suffolk; three sisters, Ethel Snead of Roxboro, NC, Hilda Anderson of Greenville, SC, Louise Wilkins of Benson, NC; one brother, Beverly 'Lank' Langford of Durham, NC; and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Claude and Berkley Langford.
Funeral services for Mrs. Moorefield will be held today, June 24 at 11 a.m. at Powell Funeral Home chapel with Rev. Rudolph Jacobs officiating. Burial will take place in Halifax Memorial Gardens.
R. David Buchanan, 66, of Richmond, died Monday, June 22, 1998.
He is survived by his wife, Lois Crenshaw Buchanan; three sons, Edward 'Buck' Buchanan, Dale Buchanan and Glenn Crenshaw; three daughters, Cheryl Gagneur, Dianne Martin and Jennifer 'Benny' Millington; 10 grandchildren; four sisters, Jane Buchanan, Dorothy Wilmoth, Ruth Epes and Blanche Bare; one brother, Roger Buchanan. He was preceded in death by a brother, John Buchanan.
The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6:30-8:30 p.m. today, June 24 at Bliley Funeral Home's Central Chapel in Richmond.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 25 in Clover Cemetery, Clover.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider West End Volunteer Rescue Squad, 1802 Chantilly Street, Richmond, VA 23230 or Clover Volunteer Fire Department.