THE TIMES-NEWS
★ ★ ★ ★
THE ROANOKE-CHOWAN TIMES — Established 1892
THURSDAY, Sept. 20, 1973
Northampton County's Only Advertising and News Medium ★ ★ ★
☆ THE NORTHAMPTON COUNTY NEWS — Established 1926
Rich Square, N. C.
10c Per Copy
14 Pages
County's Most Noted
Author Dies In Durham
Three File
Posts
On Municipal Boards
SEABOARD —
Northampton County’s most
noted literary figure, Bernice
Kelly Harris, died last
Thursday in a Durham rest
home.
Funeral services were held
at 2 p.m. Saturday at
Seaboard Baptist Church for
“Miss Kelly,” 79.
Mrs. Harris had been in the
convalescent home for five
months prior to her death.
Author of a number of books
and plays, Mrs. Harris was
widely acclaimed in state
literary circles.
She was winner of the
master playwright award of
the North Carolina Drama
Association, winner of the
North Carolina Award for
Literature and holder of the
first Mayflower Cup, which was
bestowed her in 1939 for
authorship of Purslane,
published by the University of
North Carolina Press, the first
novel ever published by the
Chapel Hill organization.
Mrs. Harris was the first
woman to serve as a president
of the North Carolina Literary
and Historical Association and
she was convenor of the
Roanoke-Chowan Group.
Honorary doctorates were
awarded Mrs. Harris by the
University of North Carolina
at Greensboro and by Wake
Forest University. She has
been called “North Carolina’
first lady of letters.”
Mrs. Harris taught for 10
years a creative writing class
at Chowan College.
She was a native of Wake
County, born in the Mount
Moriah community. She
graduated from Meredith
College in Raleigh.
Mrs. Harris first came to
Northampton as a school
teacher at Seaboard. R was
there she met her husband,
the late Herbert Kavanaugh
Harris.- ^.
• -■•rtr^fioiiTooer flib. bbWL
Purslane, Mrs. Harris wrote
often, by means of friendly by
well-written letters and other
communications.
“She stood by and valued
her friends like Sam Ragan,
Richard G. Walser,
Bernadette Hoyle and Thad
Stem who wrote a tribute to
her published in the News &
Observer in October 1964.
“Through her membership
and influence as a member of
the North Carolina Writer’s
Conference and the Chowan
creative writing class, there
are many authors and would-
be authors who shall be
forever grateful to Miss Kelly
for sharing her experiences
and insights and for nudging
them forward in the
development of their own
creative writng impulses and
skills.
“Dr. Harris was a church-
woman, unashamedly and
unabashedly so. Her friends
inform me that when in town
and her health would permit,
she was not only present at the
JACKSON — Only three
candidates have filed for
municipal elections in
Northampton since Friday
when candidates could first
file. =
In Jackson, the first woman open there,
ever to enter a political race in Stanley Davis Jr. of
the county seat has entered Garysburg has entered the
the race for town commissioners race there in
commissioner. the first election ever held in
Jerri. G. Boone, wife of a Garysburg.
enter the commissioners race
in Seaboard.
Broadnax, who is also a
farmer and cucumber buyer,
is a native of Seaboard and is
seeking one of three seats
Ralph David Britt
service station operator and
secretary to Jackson Attorney
Felton Turner Jr., is running
for one of the three seats up
for grabs on the town board.
School teacher Melvin
Broadnax was the first to
NCHS Senior Is
Nafionol Merit
Semifinalist
CREEKSVILLE— Ralph
David Britt, a senior at
■
, _ L/dViU Diiii) a ociiiv* MV
worship services of the Northampton County High
church, but was active as a School, has qualified as a
semifinalist in the 1974
National Merit Scholarship
Program.
Britt is the son of Mr. and
Mrs. Ralph Britt of Severn. He
will compete for one of the
3,100 merit scholarships to be
Bernice Kelly Harris, Author
surrounding
Mrs. Harris organized the
Northampton Players, a
drama group that became
well known and won
numberous dramatic awards.
Her plays have been
produced in Chapel Hill,
Norfolk and Raleigh.
Strange Things Happen and
Southern Home Remedies
were anthologies compiled by
Mrs. Harris’ creative writing
class ct Chowa'h Colleg^e.
rursiane, mrs. nar.is wrote Dr Bruce E. Whitaker
Portulaca that was published Chowan, said of
by Doubleday. Other books Mrs Harris: . .
were Sweet Beulah Land, ^ “R was our privilege and
Sage Quarter, Janey Jeems, honor to know her and to count
Wilde Cherry Tree Road and her among our loved ones and
Hearthstones. friends. She was
Her novel Southern Savory, affectionately known and
a book primarily about Her addressed by all who knew her
life, is considered her most endearingly as ‘Miss Kelly’ or
popular and best work. At her ‘Dr. Kelly’ Reflecting her
death she was working on a modesty, she preferred ‘Miss
sequeal. Kelly’.
The Santa on the Mantle and “She was a great human
The Very Real Truth About being, a real humanist in the
Christmas, childrens novels, best sense of the word. She
were also works of Miss Kelly, had a genuine interest in
Plays were Miss Kelly’s persons — whether of high or
favorite works. She felt it was low estate, rich or poor, black
necessary to develop a or white. She looked upon all
character and conversation human beings as persons, in
for novels through plays. A her words, ‘to be treated with
group of one-acts. Folk Plays dignity.’
of Eastern Carolina, was “She won a lasting place not
authored by Mrs. Harris after only in the hearts of her
she completed playwrighting friends and acquaintances in
instruction in Chapel Hill. this rural village and
Two Killed In
Gaston Wreck
GASTON — An Ebony, Va., Roanoke Rapids police
man faces two counts of received a complaint about a
manslaughter following a car spinning wheels. Cooper
double fatality that occurred said. They tried to stop the
near here Tuesday afternoon, vehicle but lost it just before it
George Davis, 24, was crossed the Roanoke River
charged with two counts of bridge, heading in the
manslaughter and driving direction of Gaston.
leader and teacher in Training
Union and in Sunday School
among other things.
“If I have any criticism at
all of Dr. Kelly it was that she
was too timid; it always
embarrassed her if she were ihchl aunuiaitu
singled out from among her awarded in the spring of 1974.
friends and neighbors as one xhe semifinalists were the
who had special abilities and highest scorers in each state
made almost unique on the Preliminary Scholastic
contributions to the life of the Aptitude Test — National
j- « fMir and the spirit of man. Merit Scholarship Qualifying
surrounding ^ But even this somehow made Test, administered last
throughout the sta , ^ choice October to over one million
and world th g personality and a cherished students in about 17,000
writings. She was a great ^ nationwide,
humanitarian.
“She had a great capacity
for friendship. She had a sense
of the appropriate. Among her
friends were people in high
government circulars^ the
literary world, the educational
family, the city, the village,
the town, the farm. She used
her ability to express herself.
friend. schools nationwide.
“We thank Dr. Harris for Semifinalists must qualify
sharing her mind and spirit as finalists to advance in
with us. We, and all who knew competition for merit
her, either personally or scholarships. To become
through her writing, are the finalists, the students must
wiser and better for having fulfill requirements that
had this encounter in life. include receiving the
“I commend the spirit and ct-.ftor-ser-tcnt of his schools,
the worthwhile life ol Bernice confirming his high PSAT—
Kelly Harris.” NMSQT scores on a second
Burgwyn Will Plead Case
Before State ABC Board
examination and providing
evidence of his academic and
other accomplishments.
Ninety percent or more of
the semifinalists are expected
to become finalist.
A selection committee,
made up of experienced
college admissions officers
and secondary school
guidance counselors, will
judge all information about
each finalist in combination
high school academic record,
accomplishments, leadership
qualities, extracurricular
activities, as well as test
scores.
Winners may be awarded
the one-time $1,000 grants, or
the renewable four-year
scholarships that could
amount to $6,000 over four
college years. Names of
winners will be announced in
April and May of 1974.
Young Britt was the
academic leader in' his class
fast year and served as chief
marshal at commencement.
He is also a member of the
Beta Club. He attended
Davis is a native of the town
and a farmer. He is running
for one of five seats on the
town board.
Candidates have until noon
Oct. 12 to enter municiapl
races.
Prospective candidates
must file with the
Northampton Board of
Elections in Jackson Monday,
Wednesday and Friday for
town elections in all towns but
Rich Square, Severn and
Gaston which are conducting
their own elections.
Gladys Futrell, Rich Square
town clerk, urges persons who
are registered with the town
but not with the county to get
their names on county books.
Voters must be on the county
books in order to vote in the
Nov. 6 general election.
There are no county offices
up for election; however,
Northamptionians will voice
their opinion on liquor-by-the
drink legislation and on a
record $300 million school
bond issue.
Filing fees are $5 in every
town with the exception of
Rich Square and Gaston
where the fees are $10.
Candidates
Mrs. Boone is the daughter
of Almond Buxton and Eula
Stephenson Gay of Garysburg.
She grew up in Garysburg
and attended Weldon schools.
Mrs. Boone has been
employed previously by the
county in the Register of
Deeds office and she has also
worked for the Soil and Water
Conservation Service.
She is the mother of one
daughter, Evelyn.
A member of Jackson
Baptist Church, Mrs. Boone’s
hobby is poetry. One of her
poems has been set to music
and used by church choirs
nationwide.
Broadnax, 43, is a graduate
of Coates School in Seaboard.
He received his
undergraduate degree in
science from Shaw University
in 1955. He earned his masters
in science education at North
Carolina A & T University in
Greensboro. He was awarded
an honorary doctorate from
Shaw in April.
Broadnax, who says he has
a keen interest in Seaboard
and would like to work for the
betterment of the town, is
married to the former Ruth
Bracy of Garysburg. They
have a daughter, Melvetta, 13.
Davis, the father of six, is a
neWcomer to politics. Davis
said he is pushing for
annexation of territory north,
south and east of Garysburg.
Davis attended
Northampton Training School
and is married to the former
Hattie Vick of Enfield. Their
children are Stanley Jr., 22,
Brenda, 21, Maurice, 20,
Gwendolyn, 17, Edna, 14, and
Gregroy, 10.
Meeting Set Oct. 8
JACKSON - The
Northampton County Council
on Aging will hold a second
organizational meeting Oct. 8
at 7:30 p.m. in Jackson.
The place of the meeting
Governor’s School last will be announced at a later
summer in the field of science, date. , . t-. • r
He is active in 4-H work. According to John Foriest ot
Rich Square, secretary of the
newly formed Council’s
executive Committee the
committee feels it needs more
input from the county’s aging.
All interested elderly are
urged to attend the meeting,
stated Harold Rumfelt,
president of the Council.
under the influence of alcohol
when his car ran off N.C. 48
and crashed into a tree
Tuesday.
Dead on arrival at Halifax
Memorial Hospital in Roanoke
Rapids were Calvin
Drumgoole, 16, of Rt. 2,
Gasburg, Va., and Calvin
Orville Jackson, 20, of White
Plains, Va.
They were passengers in the
Davis car, which sideswiped a
car driven by Silas Moody, 63,
of Rt. 1, Garysburg and
crashed into a tree,
according to a report by State
Highway Patrolman B. R.
Cooper.
Cooper said Davis was
thrown out of the car before it
crashed.
The highway patrolman Corps counselor will be
said the Davis’ car was interviewing interested
“hopped up,” and that agencies and individuals
Roanoke Rapids police had helping with Job Corps
been chasing a car fitting its recruiting next week in Rich-
description shortly before the Square,
fatal accident. Hazel Taylor will be
The two deaths increase interviewing in the Choanoke
Northampton County’s list of Area Development
highway accident fatalities to Association branch office in
14 for the year. Rich Square all day Sept. 28.
A hospital spokesman said
Davis was admitted to Halifax
Memorial Hospital and was in
satisfactory condition.
The accident occurred about
4 p.m. one mile north of
Gaston.
Roanoke Valley Rescue
Squad removed the bodies
from the scene and took Davis
to the hospital.
Job Corps
interviewing
RICH SQUARE — A Job
jACkSON — Bart R. Following the Sept. 10 order,
Burgwyn, controversial Burgwyn appeared before
chairman and supervisor of state officials at the ABC
Northampton’s Alcoholic office in Raleigh and
Beverage Control system, will requested the hearing,
be given an opportunity to State board member
defend his double position Oct.
1 in Raleigh.
The state ABC Board has
informed Burgwyn of the
chance to explain why he
should not relinquish one of the
posts as has been requested by
the state board.
Burgwyn was ordered Sept.
10 by Dr. L.. C. Holshouser,
chairman of the state board,
to give up one of his ABC jobs
on face a dismissal. The state
board’s request follows a
conflict of interest
investigation into county ABC
setiips across the state.
Burgwyn, whose salary is
$6,000 annually, claims he is
carrying out the duties of the
Northampton ABC Board
within the powers of the
board.
Holshouser, no relation to
Gov. Holshouser, stated that
Burgwyn is the highest paid
ABC board chairman in the
state. In Charlotte-
Mecklenburg the board
chairman earns only $3,600
per year, the state chairman
stated.
Marcus T. Hickman of
Charlotte said Burgwyn is
“going to have to make a real
case for hardship or the order
to drop part of his duties will
be upheld.”
Renovated County Home To
Be Occupied In Mid-October
TAPif^nN — Ort 16 is the Mrs. Jackson’s husband is 38-yard capacity
„ewSl=.e,„rocc„p..l.„ ‘if ”
Census Information
Being Compiled
JACKSON — The Bureau of
the Census is surveying a
sample of households in this
area this week asking about
immunization against
selected diseases, Joseph R.
Norwood, Director of the
Bureau’s Data Collection
Center in Charlotte,
announced.
The Immunization Survey,
conducted nationally every
year, provides data on
immunization against
influenza, smallpox, polio,
diphtheria, whooping cough,
tetanus, measles and mumps.
The survey this year will also
gather information about
chickenpox, diabetes and
certain chronic lung and heart
conditions. Results of the
survey provide information
needed for administration of
health programs geared to
disease prevention.
The health questions are in
addition to the usual ones
asked in the monthly survey
on employment and
unemployment conducted
nationwide by the Bureau for
the U. S. Department of
Labor.
Results of the monthly
survey provide data on
conditions in the labor force,
prime indicators of the
economic health of the
country. For example, the
(See CENSUS, Page 3)
Seaboard Man Gets
ECU Alumni Post
Gaston Man Gets Suspended
Sentence In Larceny Case
JACKSON — A Rt. 1,
Jackson man was handed a
suspended sentence
Wednesday by District Court
Judge Ballard S. Gay for
larceny of the rear end of a
car.
Raymond Harrell was
run, probable cause found;
driving under the influence,
$100 fine and costs; public
drunk, nol pros with leave.
Louis Edward of Gaston
reckless driving, $25 fine and special conditions
costs. Robert Louis Grant of
Edison R. Underdue of Jackson — reckless driving
and leaving the scene of a
Odom Prison — felonious
escape, waiver.
Joseph L. Blount of Rt. 1,
Seaboard — assault, 90 days
suspended on costs and
new lartiei uciLc lui . • rr ^
of the newly renovated county Her resignation is effective
home building by the Oct. 11.
Department of Social —Opened bids from two
Services companies bidding on a new
Northampton commiss- garbage compactor for th^e
ioners Monday decided to county solid Pcograim
consider final acceptance of flfr^
the building at the Oct. 1 submitted a bid of $32,642 for a
meeting.
When Social Services moves
to the remodeled structure,
the sheriff’s department will
occupy the present social
services building across from
the courthouse and an internal
alteration project is slated for
the courthouse to allow for
oth ”"nces has” beei
will be shifted wlthih the '’^^SasSSnt direct* of
‘'Talelgh ■ architects Paul al^mn^
Brown and Dave Arnold met ^fchiel Hoieil a 1972
SS^omdairfS The S
S'’KS1e'’ab
b£;"i/=?thari Si -va'EiM
cent complete. He added that of the
heating controls have not been raising activ ty
and the boiler hasn’t been former Rose Jean Drake of
inspected by the state. ' Lomo. ipnkins
Only minor poir^-' Dr. Leo W. Jenkins,
shutters, blinds
temperature controls are
holding up occupation of the
building.
Cost of remodeling the
building is over $250,000. The
county will receive an
estimated $33,000 in rent from LASKER — The newly
the state annually for use of organized Nc'rtheast Academy
the building. The state is Boosters C.lub is seeking
paying $300 per month for the membership in the club that
present facility on Jefferson has been formed to promote
truck and
Wilson is
bidcfing $32,081 on a 35 yard
capacity vehicle. Neither bid
was accepted.
—Approved attendance at a
computer and programming
school in Boston by Carolyn
Wheeler, clerk in the county
manager’s office.
commented, “This move was
made to bring about a greater
degree of coordination in our
total fund-raising program,
while at the same time
broadening the structure
within which we might expand
on the success already
experienced by our alumni
program.
“This should cause our
alumni and fund-raising
programs to reach new
heights as we attempt to
supplement state allocated
funds for further development
of University programs. We
urge all of our alumni and
friends to support these
ini"‘' alld chancellor® of East SoVina, Sort?” Jenkins'^Sd.'
Eagles Club Organizes
wreck, nol pros with leave.
James ^shby Sykes of
Garysburg - driving in the
wrong direction, costs.
James Dale Mosher of
handed six months suspended Henrico — speeding 82 in a 55
and fined $50 and costs on the zone, nol pros; no operator’s
misdemeanor conviction. license and drunk driving, six
He pleaded not gulity to the months suspended on a $100
charge of stealing the rear end fine and costs,
from a 1955 Chevy owned by Patricia Ann Taylor of Rich
Cornell Hawkins Aug. 26. The Square — fail to see Margarettsville — drunk
part was valued at $50. movement in safety, costs. driving, nol pros; no
Other cases heard and their Reginald Tryone Hockaday operator’s license, $25 fine and
depositions: of Roanoke Rapids costs.
Julius Peters of Gaston — speeding 75 in a 60, $10 fine Danny Keith Martin of Rt. 1,
assault with a deadly weapon and costs. oTTCPENnFD Paee 31
with intent to kill and hit and Robert Lee Edwards of (See SUSPENDED, Page 3)
Street
Social Services Director
Jim Clark told commissioners
his staff is ready to move but
explained that a move during
the first 10 days of the month
when the workload is heaviest
is not desirable.
In other matters, the board:
—Accepted the resignation
of Elaine M. Jackson of
Weldon, assistant
extension agent.
and finance the Northeast
athletic program.
The Eagles Club
membership is> open to all
adults who arc patrons of
Northeast and junior
membership is open to the
private school’s students.
Co-chairperson.s
of the
county membership drive' are Dr.
Julian Edwards and Claudie
W. Lassiter of Rich Square.
Mrs. Eugene Brown Jr. of
Rich Square is Eagles Club
secretary.
Community chairpersons
are Mrs. Carl Price and J. P.
Harrell, Jackson; Mrs. E. L.
Timberlake Jr., Woodland-
Potecasi; Crystal Whitley,
Murfreesboro; James Barnes
and Gumberry
Margarettsville Seaboard;
Aubrey Baird, Gaston; David
Baisey, Roxobel; A. D.
Woodard, Conway; Mrs. A. C.
Martin, Severn-Pendleton;
Bill Long, Garysburg-Weldon;
Mrs. J. V. Wade, Lasker.