online                     

OBITUARIES

Virginia Keatts Powell

Mrs. Virginia Keatts Powell of 6046 Clays Mill Road, Scottsburg, died Saturday, December 6, 2008 at Halifax Regional Hospital. Born in North Carolina on January 21, 1923, she was 85 years old and was the daughter of the late Silas Hunter Keatts and Roxanna Oakley Keatts. She was married to the late Elgin U. ÒPunkÓ Powell, Jr. and was a member of the Clover Baptist Church.
Mrs. Powell is survived by three daughters, Bernice P. Morris of South Boston, Sarah P. Crump and husband, George of Scottsburg and Rose P. Wilmouth and husband, Kenneth of Alton and two sons, Gene Powell and wife Gayle of Halifax and Ernest ÒMonkÓ Powell of South Boston, a daughter-in-law, Brenda Powell of Halifax, two sisters, Minnie K. Powell and Alice K. Whitt, both of South Boston, fifteen grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren.
A funeral service for Mrs. Powell will be conducted on Tuesday, December 9 at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Bob Rudman officiating. Burial will follow in Halifax Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home Monday evening from 7 until 8:30 p.m. and at other times at her home, 6046 Clays Mill Road, Scottsburg. On-line condolences may be made at www.powellfunerals.com.

Veola Gladys W. Richardson

Mrs. Veola Gladys Wade Richardson of 1126 Richardson Lane, Alton died Wednesday, December 3, 2008 at her home at the age of 69. Born in Halifax County on May 28, 1939, she was the daughter of the late Mr. Carlton Wade and Mrs. Edna Cunningham Wade. She was married to Mr. Waverly Lorenzo Richardson and was a member of Crossroad Baptist Church.
Mrs. Richardson is survived by her husband, Mr. Waverly Lorenzo Richardson of the home, a step daughter, Ms. Jackqulin Hemphill of Silver Spring, MD, a sister, Mrs. Lutta Scott of Alton, three brothers, Mr. John Wade of South Boston, Mr. James Wade of Alton and Mr. Arthur Wade of Mt. Vernon, NY, two grandchildren, Chae and Channon, three brothers-in-law, Dr. George Pickens, Jr., Mr. Harold Robinson and Mr. Paul Harper; five sisters-in-law, Mrs. Peocla Pickens, Mrs. Gloria Robinsons, Mrs. Cecila Harper, Mrs. Elnora Wade and Mrs. Clarissa Wade, a devoted friend, Mr. Robert Scott and a host of other nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
A funeral service for Mrs. Wade was conducted on Sunday, December 7 at 2 p.m. at Crossroad Baptist Church, Alton.

Gwendolyn Hancock

Ms. Gwendolyn Hancock of 2167 Howard P. Anderson Road, died Friday, November 28, 2008 at Halifax Regional Hospital at the age of 72. Born in New York on August 27, 1936 to the late Mr. Harvey Hancock and Mrs. Irene Coleman Hancock, she was a member of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.
Mrs. Hancock is survived by her cousins, Mrs. Ethel Washington, Mr. Nelson Harris, Mrs. Cindy Womble, Mr. Curtis West, Mr. Harold Hancock and her special cousins, Mr. Jesse Penick and Mr. Fulton Penick who served as her guardians and a host of other friends.
A funeral service for Ms. Hancock was held Saturday, December 6 at 1 p.m. at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church with the Rev. James E. Traynham officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Walter Bradley Cummings

Walter Bradley Cummings, 67, husband of Kay Vaughan Cummings, died Thursday, December 4, 2008 at Longwood Park in Clarksville. Native to Ithaca, NY, Walt was a graduate of North Carolina State University. He served in the US Army from 1962 until 1965. He made his career in the pharmaceutical industry and retired as Vice-President of Research/Development with Warner Lambert-Parke Davis. Walt has owned property in Clarksville for over 25 years, and relocated to Clarksville in 1997. In addition to being a sailing enthusiast Walt enjoyed the game of golf; and he greatly enjoyed his grandchildren. He is remembered by his family as Òthe most honest, most fair, and smartest man they will ever knowÓ and Òhe did not waste any of his days.Ó He volunteered with MALA, the Heritage Foundation, the Cove Project and the revitalization of Clarksville. He was Citizen of the Year in 1999. His vision included what was best for Clarksville as a whole. In addition to his wife, Kay, of 46 years, Walt is survived by his son Mike Cummings and his wife Angela of Raleigh, NC; his daughter Shannon Keesling and her husband Mark of Cary, NC; 11 grandchildren and 1 great grandson. His brothers, Ralph W. Cummings of Gainsville and William Kenneth Cummings of Alexandria; and sister, Mary Ann Hardee of Fayetteville, NC also survive. Services will be 11 AM Monday in the chapel at Watkins Cooper Lyon Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 5-8 PM Sunday at the funeral home. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.wclfh.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions to the Clarksville Elementary School Education and Technology Fund.

Eloise Boose Brandon

Mrs. Eloise Boose Brandon of 3069 Mason Chapel Road, Alton died Thursday, December 4, 2008 at Halifax Regional Hospital at the age of 64. Born in Milton, NC on December 29, 1942 to the late Mr. Luther Boos and Mrs. Mary Fannie Jeffreys Boose, she was married to the late Mr. Curtis Darnell Brandon and was a member of Mason Chapel Baptist Church.
Mrs. Brandon is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Michelle Hairston of Danville and Mrs. Pamela Chandler of Alton, a god son, Mr. Jeffrey Jones of Bronx, NY, two sisters, Mrs. Jeanne Briscoe of Washington, DC and Mrs. Vanessa Jones of Hagerstown, MD, three grandchildren, Keon and Charles Chandler and Keturah Baxter, two sons-in-law, Mr. Gary Hairston and Mr. Kevin Chandler, four brothers-in-law, five sisters-in-law, one aunt and a host of other relatives and friends including Mr. Clyde Baxter. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Mr. Samuel Boose and Mr. Luther Boose, Jr.
A funeral service for Mrs. Brandon will be held Tuesday, December 9 at 1 p.m. at Mason Chapel Baptist Church with Rev. Angel Lea officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at the home 3069 Mason Chapel Road, Alton.