The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star, Norfolk, VA

Effie Russell

William C. Smith

VIRGINIA BEACH - William "Bill" Clifton Smith was born Feb. 2, 1922, in Newberry, S.C., to Annie Mae Bickley Smith and Clifton Candler Smith. Bills stories about his early days in Newberry -- swimming and fishing, playing ball, getting into a fight the first day of first grade, selling newspapers, working in the mill -- were well known and loved by his family. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in May 1940. A veteran of two wars, Bill served on the USS Barnett and the USS Warrington (DD843) during ...

Eunice F. Hatfield

FRANKLIN - Eunice Faison Hatfield, 79, widow of James Edward Hatfield Jr., died Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2006, at Southampton Memorial Hospital. Born in Sussex County, she was a daughter of the late George L. and Mary Barrett Faison. A member of Black Creek Baptist Church, Mrs. Hatfield was a former Sunday school teacher and member of the TEL Class. Her passion in life was to be the best wife and mother that she could possibly be for her family. Survivors include three sons, J. Edward Hatfield III...

Edward L. Baker

CHESAPEAKE - Edward Lewis Baker of the 2000 block of Flowers Lake died Jan. 9, 2006, at Chesapeake General Hospital. He was a native of Princess Anne County. Survivors include a sister, Sally Daniels of Florida; three brothers, Leon Baker and wife Gladys of Virginia Beach, Nelson Baker and Matthew Jones, both of Norfolk; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Thelma M. Sexton

NORFOLK - Thelma Mae Sexton left us Jan. 16, 2006. She was born in Lynchburg, Va., where she lived on her beloved parents farm until she eloped to Yuma, Ariz., to marry her husband of 54 years, Fred F. Sexton. She will be in the memories forever of her daughters, Kathy A. Sexton and Cheryl K. Eady; her loving granddaughter, Lauren Sterling Eady; and her granddog, Mattie. She will be missed greatly by Evelyn Broughton who loved her Nannie dearly; her sister, Arlene Smith; her brothers, Kenneth...

Charles H. Greene

NORFOLK - Charles Harold Greene, 84, was taken by the Lord Jan. 18, 2006. Mr. Greene was born Dec. 9, 1921, in Richwood, W.Va., to Charles E. and Ora Greene. He settled in Norfolk during his Navy career and resided here for more than 60 years. He retired after a 27-year military career as a chief warrant officer in the Navy, serving on seven aircraft carriers. He then started a second career as clerk to the judges at the Circuit Court of Norfolk, where he worked for 15 years. He spent retirem...

Vanessa Bell

Jeanette M. Dean

VIRGINIA BEACH - Jeanette Mary Dean, 91, of Beth Sholom Home of Eastern Virginia, passed away Jan. 18, 2006. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Mrs. Dean was the widow of Theodore Roosevelt Dean.

Fumiko S. Witherspoon

CHESAPEAKE - Fumiko Suzuki Witherspoon, 75, beloved mother and grandmother, was called home to be with the Lord Jan. 17, 2006. Fumiko waged a courageous battle against cancer and was a cancer survivor for more than 12 years. Also known as "Connie" and "Bachan" (Japanese for grandmother), she was the daughter of the late Suzu Suzuki and Hatsujiro Suzuki of Nagoya City, Japan. Fumiko was a typical Japanese schoolgirl until World War II interrupted her studies and ultimately changed the course o...

F. Maxine Reed

NORFOLK - F. Maxine Reed, 83, of the 8100 block of Ridgefield Drive, passed away Dec. 29, 2005, at a local hospital. Born in Virginia, Mrs. Reed was one of the first women police officers in Norfolk during the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Its Not Professors Who Drive Up Textbook Costs

A new state study to rein in textbook costs (Business, Jan. 12) contains several erroneous assumptions: n

Mr. Kaine Goes to Richmond: Act I

Virginia opened its 2006 General Assembly last week with a House Republican majority still looking to make bricks without straw, a Senate Republican leadership that wouldnt mind chucking a few bricks at the House and a Democratic governor whose architectural skills have yet to be measured. The seating arrangements are familiar: Republicans vs. Democrats, Republicans vs. Republicans. And not.

Coyotes Named As Culprits in Isle of Wight Cattle Killings

BY LINDA McNATT THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

Letters to the Editor -- The Virginian-Pilot

Lets bridge the gap by throwing out politicians Re Getting nowhere (front page, Jan. 17), about the feud between Suffolk and VDOT over the Kings Highway Bridge replacement:

For New Signal, Timing Is Everything

BY JOHN WARREN The Virginian-Pilot

Deputies Deserve Job Safeguards

Tony Ellis and David Cahoon boasted four decades of experience as deputies in the Chesapeake Sheriffs Office. Then they ran afoul of their boss and were history. Deputies serve at the pleasure of their local sheriffs, who are constitutional officers. That unique and special designation gives officials like longtime Chesapeake Sheriff John R. Newhart immense power to hire and fire sometimes on nothing more than a whim.

Police Release Name of Norfolk Woman Found in Pretty Lake

The VIRGINIAN-PILOT NORFOLK The body found last week in Pretty Lake has been identified as that of Crystal Nicole Harris, 21, who was reported missing last month.

Pitchkettle Rd. Is Being Touted As Suffolks Next Frontier

BY AARON APPLEGATE THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

Chesapeake Seeks Authority On Regions Trash

BY MIKE GRUSS THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

Hidden Flaws Ignored On Gay Marriage Edict

Its easy to understand why the General Assembly leadership is moving so quickly to pass a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Republicans including many who find such constitutional meddling repugnant and unnecessary dont want to spend February mired in the unwinnable culture war.