Recent Articles

NASHVILLE - Funeral services for Eddie C. Biggeon Marsh, 86, who died on Wednesday, April 9, 2014, were observed Sunday, April 13, at Castalia Baptist Church with Rev. Victor Fenner officiating. Burial followed in Oakland Cemetery.

Nashville - Ziripha J. Ward, 90, died on Saturday, April 12, 2014.

Stephen Bradley ‘’Brad’’ Joyner, 43, passed away April 9, 2014. He was born November 28, 1970 in Rocky Mount. He was preceded in death by his mother, Connie Neal Moore and grandparents Mr. and Mrs. James Neal and Vertice L. Joyner and Isaac Joyner, Sr.

Edna Gay Wood, 98, passed away April 13, 2014. She was born April 11, 1916 in Edgecombe County to the late Luther Albert Gay Sr. and Lizzie Lancaster Gay. She was also preceded in death by her husband Willie (Buster) Wood, brother Luther Albert Gay Jr. and sister Elizabeth Gay Adams.

Jean Denton Medlin, age 85, passed away Saturday, April 12, 2014. Born in Wake County on March 28, 1929, she was the daughter of the late Simon Allen Denton and Edna Cone Denton. She is also preceded in death by her son Mike Leonard: and daughter-in-law, Debbie Leonard.

Bernice Howard Cooper passed away Wednesday, April 9, 2014. She was born on October 29, 1917, the daughter of the late Ernie and Eunice Howard.

Steve Ronald Kear, 68, passed away Friday, April 11, 2014.  He was born in Knoxville, Tennessee February 19, 1946 to the late Ray O. and Edith Jenkins Kear. 

William Andrew Varnell (“Mr. V.”), 93, passed away Tuesday, April 8, 2014.  He was born in Wilson County to Willie and Florence Wadkins Varnell.  Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his first wife, Louvenia Morgan Varnell, brothers David Benjamin Varnell, Virgil Varnell, James Varnell (all from Rocky Mount area), and Johnnie Varnell (Soap Lake, WA), sister, Alma Exum Alley (Hampton, VA). 

Kenneth Ray Patterson, Sr., 68, passed away Tuesday, April 8, 2014. He was born July 24, 1945 in Nash County to the late Herbert and Virginia Lee Patterson.

Shiarlene Jackson, age 77 of Middlesex passed away  April 13, 2014.

Juan Jose Vega, Jr. age 18 of Spring Hope passed away  Friday, April 11, 2013.

Middlesex –- Thomas Gerald Edwards, age 78, passed away Monday, April 07, 2014.

INCIDENTS
A larceny was reported on 4/7/14 at 712 S Bass Drive in the parking lot
A maintaining a dwelling/place/vehicle with a controlled substance and possession of marijuana was reported on 4/8/14 at 803 Old Wilson Road

A missing person was reported on 4/8/14 at 5948 Stott Street
A missing person was reported on 4/8/14 at 7079 NC Highway 301 North
A narcotics violation was reported on 4/8/14 on W Virginia Street
A narcotics violation was reported on 4/8/14 at Dollar General

Nash County Master Gardeners are hard at work preparing for the annual Master Gardener Plant Sale, which will be held on Saturday, April 26.
The plant sale has been the group’s major fundraiser for many years, said Anne Pierce, chair of the plant sale.
Proceeds from the sale help fund upkeep and enhancement of the arboretum, which is located on the grounds of the Nash County Agriculture Center in Nashville.

Red Oak Middle School recently sponsored The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Pasta for Pennies fundraiser, presented by Olive Garden.  During a three week period, Beta Club students collected spare change from classrooms each morning.  On two occasions Beta Club members and other student volunteers  worked the afternoon car line collecting money as part of the “Clean out Your Console for Cancer” part of the fundraiser.

For kids in the public and private schools in Nash and Wilson counties, this week is Spring Break. For many parents, this means trouble. Those who have trips to the beach planned, or some other type of vacation are set; others who have to make it to the summer months may not be prepared.
This, of course, is where, once again, where the Soapbox staff steps in and provides a valuable community service.

I’ve heard the comment, “People don’t read newspapers anymore” quite a bit over the past few years.
It bothers me and not because newspapers is what I do for a living but more so because it makes me believe our world has become out of touch.
You hear a lot of the older generation complaining about our youth today. They don’t do this and they don’t do that.

Dear Editor:
My Sister’s House provides services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Nash and Edgecombe Counties. In 2013 we served 54 sexual assault victims. One sexual assault victim is one too many.

BUMPER CROP –– This photo was originally published in The Graphic on August 18, 1955. The photo was taken on the farm of R.P. Bass at Bass’ Crossroads where workers were barning a bumper crop of tobacco.

Stanley “Big Grif” Griffin spoke to the Park Avenue Community Watch last week about his desire to be the next Nash County Sheriff.
Griffin, of Nashville, is running on the Democratic ticket in the May primaries against Gene Braswell. Braswell spoke to the Community Watch in March.

Gene Braswell spoke to the Park Avenue Community Watch in March. Braswell is running on the Democratic ticket in the May primary against Stanley Griffin.
Braswell grew up in Castalia. Upon graduating from Northern Nash High School in 1973 he joined the U.S. Airforce and served for 5 1/2 years.

The NRMPS Career Technical Education (CTE) department recently celebrated the accomplishments of seniors from Nash Central High School, Northern Nash High School, Rocky Mount High School and Southern Nash High School during the 2014 National Technical Honor Society induction held April 1 at the Nash Community College Brown Auditorium.

Cedar Grove Elementary School has released its Distinguished Cedar Leaders and Honor Roll List for the fourth six weeks.
Kindergarten students named to the list include Kaelin Hill, Lynwood Harmon, Jr., Zoey Rose, Isabella Walton, Amber Varnell, Alexia Faison, Jabari Silver, Kayla Richardson, Jayden Morris and Kiawah Hill.

Mohamed and Memrie Ibrahim of Rocky Mount announce the engagement of their daughter, Nadia Corrinne Ibrahim of Rocky Mount, to Kevin Charles Strickland of Nashville, the son of Charles and Joyce Strickland of Nashville. The wedding will take place June 21, 2014.