Rev. Julian M. Motley of Wake Forest, NC will be the guest speaker for the annual Memorial Day service Sunday, May 27 at 11:00 a.m. at the Virgilina Cemetery.  Mr. Motley was born and raised in the Shockoe community in Chatham where he was baptized at 11 years old at the Shockoe Baptist Church, Chatham.  He graduated from Martinsville High School, received a AA degree from Campbell Junior College in Buies Creek, NC, received a BA degree from Wake Forest College and a Master of Divinity degree with Languages from Southeastern Baptist Seminary in Wake Forest. 
He has pastored several churches with 30 years at Gorman Baptist Church in Durham, NC.  He has served on several committees of the Southern Baptist Convention, North Carolina State Convention and Yates Baptist Association in Durham, NC.  He was on the Board of Directors for Youth Camps for Christ, Inc. and his latest position was Adjunctive Professor of Pastoral Ministry at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.  He has been a Southern Baptist pastor for 46 years. 
In his retirement years he has assisted in the training and counseling of young ministers in preparation to commence their ministries.  He and his wife Jane live in Wake Forest, NC.  Special music will be provided by Kim Morris and Darren Whitlow, and the Community Choir consisting of members of Union Church of Christ and Florence Avenue Baptist Church who have jointly had this service since the late 1800s. It is an annual event that many attend from surrounding areas who have lost loved ones and are buried at the Virgilina Cemetery and an opportunity for families to gather together for such an inspirational service at the amphitheater under a beautiful oak tree setting at the Virgilina Cemetery.  The care of the cemetery is a project of the Virgilina Women's Club and anyone wishing to make donations to help with the groundskeeping can contact Mary Helen Gravitt at 434-585-2489.
The Memorial Day Service is also the conclusion of the Virgilina Summerfest which is an annual event and fundraiser for the Virgilina Volunteer Fire Association to be held on Saturday, May 26 beginning at 11 a.m. with a parade, craft vendors, food, games, rides and entertainment all afternoon.  This event will close Saturday night with a street dance from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and music will be provided by The Konnection Band.
Anyone wishing to have a float or another entry in the parade are asked to call Chad Loftis, Summerfest Chairman at 434-585-2810 or email celoftis@gapac.com.  Anyone wishing to donate cakes or pies, please drop off at the fire department on Friday, May 25.  Any other questions, please contact Ralph Murray, Fire Chief at 434-585-2222.