Recent Articles

NASHVILLE - Flonnie Jackson “Dick” Parker, Jr., 84, passed away on Sunday, May 25, 2014.

ROCKY MOUNT - Bobby E. Stevenson, 64, of Rocky Mount, died on May 23, 2014.

Joyce (Gayenelle) Woodlief Tilley,  formerly of  Rocky Mount, died   Sunday, June 1, 2014 at Elmcroft Assisted Living in Raleigh. She was born August 26, 1928 to the late Aubrey Woodlief Sr. and Sarah Powell Woodlief. She was predeceased by her husband, Thompson Milton Tilley; and brothers, Bervin, Fleming, Maynard, Woodrow and Aubrey Jr.; and sisters, Selene Wright, Ione King, Hortense Gibson, Nadine Bradley and Clina Wheeler.

John Dewey Weaver, Jr, age 91, passed away June 1, 2014. He was born in Rocky Mount on March 25, 1923 to Mary Faulkner Weaver and John Dewey Weaver. He was preceded in death by two daughters, Elizabeth Lane Weaver and Ann MacPherson Weaver.

Beth Chancellor Hammersley Ferrell, age 72, passed away Sunday, June 1, 2014. Born in Washington DC on August 25, 1941, she was the daughter of the late Edward Chancellor Hammersley and Julia Marie Crump Hammersley.

William H. Stanley died Monday. May 26, 2014. He was born March 14, 1925 in Lake View, South Carolina to Ina Humphries Stanley and John H. Stanley.  He was predeceased by his parents and two brothers, Jack and Joe.

Virginia Lupton Knowles passed away May 26, 2014. She was born in Suffolk, Virginia on December 26, 1923 and was the daughter of the late Lee Blount Lupton and Mattie Matthews Lupton of Rocky Mount. She was preceded in death by her late husband, Mr. Melvin Dixon Knowles.

Marie Lamm Boykin, 83, passed away Monday, May 26, 2014. She was born in Nash County, July 7, 1930. She was the daughter of the late Onnie and Martha Lamm. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Clarence Boykin, and daughter, Betty Jo Boykin Parker. She was also preceded in death by her 10 siblings and by her best friend Faye Shiflett.

Nellie Robbins Stone, age 89, passed away Tuesday, May 27, 2014. She was born in Wilson County, daughter of the late Charlie Daniel Robbins and Gertie Edwards Robbins. Nellie was preceded in death by her husband, Cleveland Turner Stone.

Bobby Ray Pierce, age 68, passed away Thursday, May 29, 2014. Born in Nash County on March 19, 1946, he was the son of the late Willie Fulton Pierce and Verytine Davis Pierce. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Mamie Champion Pierce.

Katharine Spruill (Kate) Harrison, a life-long resident of Rocky Mount passed away May 30, 2014 at the age of 97. A funeral service was held Tuesday, June 3 at the Church of the Good Shepherd with burial following at Pineview Cemetery.

Russel M. Wheless, age 66 of Spring Hope  passed away May 29, 2014.

We think we know, but we don’t.
We can read and study, and we can watch incredible movies and series such as “Saving Private Ryan” or “Band of Brothers,” and we think we can take in the carnage, the ugliness of war, the horror and the fear. But in the end, we just read words and see cinematic special effects, no matter how close they are to “real.”

70’S BAND –– The “Coming Seeds” was a newly-formed dance band in Nashville in 1972. The band is pictured above practicing in an old packhouse they had converted into a club house in the Elm Grove Community. Members were (left to right) Milton Gupton, Steve Brown, Rex Jones and David Lucas. Tim Wells was manager of the band.

If you live in Spring Hope, your taxes are going up this year even though the budget was presented prior to a public hearing without a tax increase.
Our School Board and County Commissioners are at odds regarding funding for the 2014-2015 school year and school board members are considering a legal dispute.

COLLARS ~ How important are they?  VERY!  For one thing, that is where you can put an ID!!!  If your dog gets out and lost, then you can be found!  You can by cheap collars at the dollar stores and take a magic marker and put your phone number on it, for example.  However, remember, dogs grow, thus their collars need changed during that time or if they gain weight.

The Rocky Mount/Edgecombe Community Development Corporation’s (RMECDC) Juneteenth Community Empowerment Harambee Festival will celebrate the musical legacy of the international jazz great, Thelonious “Sphere” Monk, with a Thelonious Monk Jazz Concert on Friday, June 6, 2014 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Booker T. Theater.

Correction

Nash Community College recently announced the Spring 2014 Associate Degree, Diploma and Certificate graduates.

The Nash-Rocky Mount Schools administration held two special called meetings in the past week to “allow our community to gain a clear understanding of our revenues and expenditures for the upcoming budget,” which has been approved by the board at $134 million for 2014-15.
The school board’s first priority for the NRMS 2014-15 budget is to increase the teacher supplement, NRMS superintendent Dr. Anthony Jackson told those at the special meeting last Wednesday night.

Spring Hope’s Board of Commissioners decided against any tax increases during a budget workshop held last Wednesday evening.
During the budget presentation in April, Town Manager John Holpe presented a $1 million budget to commissioners. Holpe tossed around the idea of a tax increase to help cover maintenance of town buildings as well as town’s debt. At the time, Holpe said a six-cents tax increase would increase the tax rate from 57 to 63 cents, which would generate an additional $40,000 more in revenue a year.

Nick Tyson has been fighting to get his life back for a year now.
Tyson was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma last May after a lump appeared on the inside of his leg. He was 14 years old.
Tyson’s mom, Jennifer Watson, said Tyson woke up one Sunday morning and discovered the lump. He had played sports the day before so at first, Watson thought he had just injured it.

A battle during the Civil War has a lot of significance for James Ervin and is one he likes to reflect on while remembering those killed in action.
Ervin was the guest speaker for Nashville’s Memorial Day   
services, held Sunday evening at Forest Hill Cemetery.

The Nash County Parks and Recreation Department is hosting its first community workshop at Coopers Elementary School on June 10.
The meeting is one of several planned to help receive input from residents about the recreation programs and facilities in Nash County. Other workshops are planned for Red Oak, Spring Hope and Middlesex but the dates have not been set yet.

Pamela Nealey wants Nashville’s Boys and Girls Club to be the ultimate club.
As the Unit Director of the club, she said she is working hard on creating the ultimate summer experience for club members but also wants the club itself to be one-of-a kind.
Nealey joined the Boys and Girls Club of Nash/Edgecombe Counties last June. She took over the Nashville Club as the Unit Director on May 1.