Recent Articles

The Town of Middlesex is moving forward with pursuing grant funding to rehab and replace several of its sewer lift stations.
Towards the end of 2013, Middlesex Commissioners were given a report on the town’s 11 lift station. The report gave bad news that most of the stations were in need of some sort of repairs. Three of the town’s lift stations were in dire need of maintenance.

A vision from a local youth pastor set in motion the idea for the Collins Street Block Party.
Nashville United Methodist Church is hosting the block party on Saturday, April 26 from 3 until 7 p.m.
The idea came from Youth Pastor Luke Whitehead.
Whitehead had a vision to raise money to purchase Bibles for children in Nash County that may not have one.

Students at Red Oak Middle School have spent the school year focusing on giving back to the community.
The school has raised money for several organizations, including the Jimmy V. Foundation and Pasta for Pennies. Students have also donated stuff animals, coats and blankets to those in need.
Red Oak Middle School Principal Margaret Sharpe said students have really embraced the school’s goal of giving back and went above and beyond her expectations.

Lucille Joyner Bone, 95, of Sandy Cross passed away Sunday, April 13, 2014. She was born in Nash County to the late Bauzy W. Joyner and Mary Lizzie Hendricks.  In addition to her parents she was predeceased by her husband  Hubert C. Bone; sons William “Billy” Bone, Dale C. Bone; brothers, Howard Joyner, Ambler “Jake” Joyner and Jasper L. Joyner.

ENFIELD –– Claudia Brinkley, 87, of Enfield, passed away Thursday, April 10, 2014.

ROCKY MOUNT –– Regan Leoni Battle, 6 months, of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, died on Sunday, April 12, 2014.

NASHVILLE - Funeral services for Ziripha J. Ward, 90, who died Saturday, April 12, 2014, will take place at 1 p.m.,  Friday, April 18 at Union Hill Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Oakland Cemetery with Rev. Thomas McCullers officiating.

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.