Wednesday, February 2, 2005
Single Copies 50£
Vol. LXXII,
Johnny Williams remembered as dedicated to students
Johnny B. Williams
John “Johnny” B. Williams, Prin
cipal of John A. Holmes High School,
passed away unexpectedly Thursday
night at Chowan Hospital. Williams,
who had served as principal of John
A. Holmes since July, 2000 was 48.
years old.
“Our school family and students
grieve this tremendous loss,” said Dr.
Allan Smith, Superintendent of
Edenton-Chowan Schools.
“John was dedicated to the success
of every student at John A. Holmes.
His love and concern for his students
and faculty was evident through his
energy and commitment he exhibited
daily,” Smith added.
According to Glenda Jakubowski,
spokeswoman for the Edenton
Chowan school system, Williams at
tended a school function during the
last hours’of his life. After the event
ended, rather than returning home,
he drove himself to the emergency
room at Chowan Hospital. Jaku
bowski said Williams died at the hos
pital of an apparent heart attack later
that evening.
Prior to becoming Principal of
John A. Holmes High School, Johnny
Williams served as Principal of Ro
bersonville Middle School in Martin
County, 1998-2000; Assistant Principal
of Ayden-Grifton High School, 1997
1998; Assistant Principal of Lee
County Sr. High School, 1992-1997; and
as a middle school teacher at Tur
rentine Middle School in Burlington,
NC.
In addition to his distinguished ca
reer as an educator, Williams also
served in the United States Army as
Captain at Fort Bragg, NC, 1983-1985
and as a commissioned officer, 1979
1985.
• Williams is a graduate of North
Carolina A&T State University (NC
A&T) where he held two Masters de
grees, one in Educational Adminis
tration and the other in Social Sci
ence Education. Williams also
earned a Bachelor of Science from
NC A&T in Social Science Educa
tion.
He and his wife Helen reside in
Elizabeth City. He and his wife have
five children and five grandchil
dren.
A memorial service was held at 3
p.m. Monday afternoon in the COA
Community Center'Auditorium,
Elizabeth City, NC. A family funeral
followed later in the week in
Sanford, NC.
Chowan Herald file photo
Walkers carry the offi
cial banner around the
track at last year's hugely
successful Relay here.
Relay Kickoff
is tomorrow
The Ghowan/Perquimans
Relay for Life will hold a
Kickoff Celebration on Feb.
3 at 6 p.m. at the Edenton
United Methodist Church
Fellowship Hall.
The celebration is in
tended to bring together
committee members, team
captains, civic leaders, spon
sors and anyone else in the
community who would like
to get involved in the fight
to find a cure for cancer.
Everyone is encouraged
to come help kickoff the
2005 American Cancer So
ciety Relay for Life which
takes place each year at
Holmes High School in
Edenton.
Please RSVP by calling
Mistie Ali, 482-3006, Sandra
Tunstall, 482-1700 or Tracy
Berk at 217-7040.
INSIDE
Calendar.C2
Church.C4
Classifieds.D1 -6
Editorials.A6
Learning.B4-6
Obituaries.C6
Society.C3
Sports.B1-3
On Page B4 ...
Spanish 3
students go
extra mile
mmmm
Staff photo by Earline White
On hand at the 2005 Chamber Banquet were (I to r) Don Faircloth, 2004 Chamber President, Jonathan
Davidson who was recognized as the "Young Business Person of the Year", Jim Blount who received the
"Business Person of the Year" award, Rev. Jim Huskins the "Humanitarian of the Year", Lynn C. Perry the
"Volunteer of the Year" and 2005 Chamber President, Win Dale. •
Chamber recognizes outstanding
local citizens with special awards
BY EARLINE WHITE
The Chowan Herald
Hundreds of movers and shakers in Chowan County
gathered at the 2005 Chamber of Commerce annual
banquet bringing together those forces that advance
the county in economic and tourism development.
Held at the Chowan Golf and Country Club Thursday
night, the group assembled to recognized the “Young
Business Person of the Year”, “Volunteer of the Year”,
“Humanitarian of the Year”, and “Business Person of
the Year”, all for 2004.
Bill Chesson presented Jonathan Davidson, a senior
at Holmes as the “Young Business Person”. Davidson
has shown commitment, dedication, responsibility
and competency in his many roles at the State Employ
ees Credit Union in Edenton. He has also become an
integral part of the company as the vehicle loan ap
praiser. According to his employer, Ginny Rowe at the
SECU, “Jonathan is very personable, polite and pro
fessional with tremendous potential.” Davidson is an
outstanding student as well showing leadership
through his roles in various clubs and organizations.
Lynn C. Perry, former fire chief of Edenton Fire
Department was selected as “William P. “Spec” Jones
Volunteer of the Year”. Introduced by Chief Greg
Bonner, everyone laughed as Perry accepted his
award and said, “You know I retired, but you can see
that I didn’t go home and sit down.” Perry has volun
teered 457 hours since 1997; all for the benefit of hu
manity. Perry volunteers at the James Iredell Historic
Site, with the American Red Cross, as a book buddy
See CHAMBER On Page 5-A
Farmer's Foods
grocery chain
coming to town
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Herald file photo/Bud Weagly
Shoppers file the checkout aisle at the local
Winn-Dixie last fall. Soon Farmer's Foods will
occupy that space at the shopping center.
BY EARLINE WHITE ~
The Chowan Herald
Edenton residents will once again have a
choice when it comes to shopping. Officially
slated to close its doors on February 9th,
Winn-Dixie’s lease will then be taken over by
Farmer’s Foods, a Chase City, Virginia-based
regional independent grocery chain with
stores throughout central Virginia. Farmer’s
Foods is scheduled to open on Monday, Feb
ruary 14th according to a press release dated
Feb. 1.
Farmer’s Foods has successfully competed
with industry giants such as Wal-Mart and
other major chains since 1985, utilizing cut
ting edge industry technologies which help to
lower cost and maintain a competitive edge.
With the addition of the Edenton location,
Farmer’s Foods will have 8 locations and “oth
ers coming along quickly” according to COO,
Ron George. Most Farmer’s Foods stores em
ploys 60 to 90 full and part time people. George
said that the management plans to keep all
the employees of Winn-Dixie that they can
See FOODS On Page 3-A
Town Council interviews prospective new members
BY SEAN JACKSON
The Chowan Herald
The three candidates vying to fill
the Edenton Town Council’s vacant
Ward 3 seat were questioned by their
potential colleagues on Jan. 18 during
a 90-minute special meeting in
council’s chambers.
The current board asked Phyllis
Britton, Peggy Brabble and Ellis
Lawrence about their views on taxes,
streets, race-relations, rumor-han
dling abilities, and the town’s Vision
Statement, among other issues.
Council is expected to select a new
Ward 3 representative during its Feb.
8 meeting, Mayor Roland Vaughan
said.
Britton led off the interviews,
which were taped and later provided
to The Chowan Herald by the town.
Herself a retired town employee,
Britton was asked by Councilman
Steve Biggs what she considers to be
the most important issues facing resi
dents and elected officials.
Jobs, Britton said. Bringing new
business and industry to town is the
chief way to enhance employment
opportunities, she said.
“I’m not talking about a Wal-Mart
or anything like that,” she added.
“Just something that will bring some
jobs here.”
In Brabble’s opinion, drug use —
especially among youths — is one of
the issues the town needs to address.
However, she added, the Edenton Po
lice Department shouldn’t be saddled
with fighting any drug problems on
its own.
“I think everybody needs to get in
volved in this,” battle against drugs,
said Brabble, who followed Britton
during the informal interview pro
cess.
Lawrence, who went last, said bal
ancing tourism and industry-recruit
ment is the biggest challenge the
town will face in the future.
A boost in good, affordable housing
would also benefit the town, Brabble
and Britton said.
Councilors also asked the candi
dates — who all sent letters to the
town expressing interest in filling the
vacant post—how they would handle
disgruntled neighbors and friends
upset with an issue they had sup
ported or rejected.
"I’m going to have to go the right
way,” Britton said of choosing ac
countability over popularity —.
Brabble said citizens should try to
inform themselves on issues and
See COUNCIL On Page 3-A
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