Daily Press from Newport News, Virginia • Page 20

Sunday, Jan. 31, 1993 LOCAL STATE Daily Press Velma M. Brooks HAMPTON Velma M. Brooks, 76, a Peninsula resident for 44 years, died Wednesday, Jan. 27.

A native of Wallace, Mrs. Brooks retired in 1976 as a nurse's aide after 30 years at the Hampton Veterans Administration Medical Center. She was a member of the Disabled American Veterans Auxillary 6 and the Shedrick Kahn Interdenominational Choir. Mrs. Brooks was a member of Gethsemane Baptist Church, where she was a member of the nurse's unit and served as senior advisor to the Young Adult Nurses and Candy Stripes.

She was also a member of the missionary society, the evangelism team, the church school, mass choir and senior choir. Survived by two daughters, L. Patricia Travis of Hampton and Charlene Walters of Hattiesburg, a son, Alexander M. Brooks Sr. of Hampton; three foster sons, Frank Hargrove, Willie Brown and Everett Hollins of Hampton; a sister, Linda D.

Sims of Mobile, seven grandchildren and a greatgrandchild. Viewing from noon to 6 p.m. today at Cooke Bros. Funeral Chapel. Funeral at noon Monday at Gethsemane Baptist Church by the Rev.

Dwight Riddick. Body placed in church by 10 a.m. Assemble at 93 Jordan Drive by 11:15 a.m. Burial in Hampton Memorial Gardens. Annie A.

Brown HAMPTON Annie A. Brown, 66, a native of Ferriday, and a Peninsula resident for 15 years, died Thursday, Jan. 28. Mrs. Brown was a homemaker and a member of Christ Church Apostolic PAW.

Survived by her husband, Otha Brown three daughters, Doris Fleming, Laura Armstead and Peggy Brooks, all of Hampton; seven sons, Michael Brown of Hampton, Carey Brown and Ronnie Armstead, both of Newport News, Joseph Brown of Terrell, Texas, Isiah Brown of Trenton, N.J., Donnie Armstead of Queens, N.Y., and Otha Brown 23 of West Haven, grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Funeral 1 p.m. Tuesday at Christ Church Apostolic PAW by the Rev. Robert Baker. The body will be placed in the church by 11 a.m.

Assemble by noon at 112 Doolittle Road. Burial in Greenlawn Cemetery, Newport News. Arrangements by Franklin Funeral Home, Newport News. James Cheseman NEWPORT NEWS James Earl "Coassie" Cheseman, 65, a native of Warwick County and a lifelong Peninsula resident, died Friday, Jan. 29.

Mr. Cheseman was a former laborer with Newport News Parks and Recreation. He was a member of Colossian Baptist Church. DEATHS BROOKS, Velma M. BROWN, Annie A.

CHESEMAN, James E. GSELL, William H. HARLOW, Robert B. Il LAYNE, Robert E. Jr.

McLEAN, Lula B.A. PANZER, Shirley R. The Daily Press publishes obituaries free of charge as local news. Funeral homes usually provide notification and obituary information, but the newspaper welcomes the help of family members or friends. Please call 247-4730 or one of our news bureaus.

Survived by four sisters, Lottie Wright and Rachel Fuller of Newport News and Nettie Rainey of York County and Hattie Blevins of Indianapolis; and a brother, George Cheseman of Forestville, Md. Visitation from 7 to 8 p.m. today at Carter Funeral Home, Denbigh Chapel. Funeral 2 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home chapel by the Rev.

Irving D. Melvin. Burial in Gloucester Field Cemetery, Gloucester. William H. Gsell William H.

"Billy" Gsell, 68, a native of Norfolk and a Peninsula resident most of his life, died Friday, Jan. 29. Mr. Gsell retired in 1984 as a records clerk after 43 years with Railway Co. He was an Army veteran of World War II and a member of the Retired Men's Club.

Survived by his Sue V. Gsell; two sons, News and Mickey P. Gsell R. of Newport Scotty Gloucester; two brothers, Albert P. Gsell of Gulfport, and George G.

Gsell of Orlando, and six grandchildren. Visitation from 3 to 4 p.m. today at Peninsula Funeral Home. Graveside service noon Monday in Peninsula Memorial Park by the Rev. Mark Stanley.

NEWPORT NEWS Robert Harlow II GLOUCESTER Robert Bleakie Harlow II, 50, a native of Hyde Park, and a resident of Gloucester for 20 years, died Saturday, Jan. 30. Mr. Harlow was a crane operator for many years with John Henry Steel Erectors, Richmond. He was a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church.

Survived by his wife, Rita Trammell Harlow; four sons, E. Kent Trammell and B. Keith Trammell, both of Gloucester, Robert B. Harlow III and Edward B. Harlow, both of West Virginia; his mother, Elsa Harlow of Massachusetts; two sisters, Penny Rose of Massachusetts and Ann Simmons of Pennsylvania; and two grandchildren.

Visitation from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. today at Bristow-Faulkner Funeral Home, Saluda. Funeral 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home by the Rev.

Mike Adams. Burial in Windsor Gardens Cemetery, Dutton. Memorials to Rappahannock General Hospital Oncology Fund, Connie Deagle, P.O. Box 1449, Kilmarnock 22482. Robert Layne Jr.

NEWPORT NEWS Robert Emmett Layne a native of Clifton Forge and a resident of Newport News, died Friday, Jan. 29. Mr. Layne retired from the Railway Co. as an electrician.

He was a Catholic and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Survived by his wife, Helen Potter Layne; a daughter, Lynda Carter of Newport Nwes; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Visitation from 7 to 8 p.m. today at Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge.

Graveside service 2 p.m. Monday in Allegheny Memorial Park, Low Moor, by the Rev. Stainslasus Chmura. Lula B.A. McLean LENOIR, N.C.

Lula Belle Andrews McLean, 88, mother of Belle Hearn of Cobbs Creek and Winnie Askew and Jane Harmon of Hampton, died Saturday, Jan. 23. Also survived by her husband, Eddie J. McLean; a son; three grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren. Funeral was Tuesday at Globe Baptist Church.

Burial was in the church cemetery. Memorials to Blowing Rock Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 823, Blowing Rock, N.C. 28605. Arrangements by Pendry's Lenoir Funeral Home.

Shirley R. Panzer Shirley Ruth Panzer, 56, a native of Port-Aux-Basques, Newfoundland, Canada, died Friday, Jan. 29. Mrs. Panzer was the branch manager for the Langley Federal Credit Union, NASA branch.

She had previously worked as a loan officer for the Hampton Roads Educator's Credit Union and as a bookkeeping supervisor for United Virginia Bank. A singer in a number of local churches, she had auditioned for the Metropolitan Opera in New York and sang with the opera in Honolulu. She played lead roles in Hanzel and Gretel, the Bartered Bride and La Traviata for the Peninsula Civic Opera. Survived by her husband, Edmund Panzer; a son, Shawn W. Panzer of Houston; a sister, Patricia Pilgrim of St.

John's, Newfoundland, Canada; and a brother, Howard Furlong of St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. Visitation from 7 to 8:30 tonight at Lawrence B. Wood Funeral Home. Funeral 11 a.m.

Tuesday at the funeral home chapel by the Rev. Judson Shackleford. Burial in Parklawn Memorial Park. Compiled by Nelda Knemeyer Roerich, -born artist; painted portrait of Gandhi The Associated Press black-and-white era, had no chil- painter in pre-revolutionary RusNEW DELHI, India dren. sia.

He died in 1947. Russian-born painter Svy- The artist was best known for In May, the Karnataka state atoslav Roerich, who made India his portraits, including paintings government said it planned to his home nearly six decades ago of Indian nationalist leader take over the couple's 457-acre after marrying a film star, died Mohandas Gandhi and Jawahar- estate to "preserve the Roerich Saturday after a prolonged illness. lal Nehru, India's first prime min- heritage in India." He was 89. ister. Other well-known works are The government plan, opposed Mr.

Roerich died in the south- "Lush Valley of Kulu" and "Lofty by the Roerichs, was blocked ern city of Bangalore where he Himalayas." when the couple's friends set up and his wife, Devika Rani, owned Born in 1904 in Russia, Mr. an international trust managed by a sprawling estate. Roerich was trained in Britain and Russian President Boris Yeltsin Press Trust of India news agen- the United States. In the mid- and the former Soviet Union's cy, which reported Mr. Roerich's 1930s, he settled in Bangalore, president, Mikhail Gorbachev, to death, gave no details of his ill- about 1,000 miles south of New look after the estate.

ness. He and his 83-year-old wife, Delhi. Mr. Roerich's father, The property is said to be a popular Hindi film actress of the Nicholas, was a noted landscape worth about $625,000. FUNERALS Today Monday Hampton Memorial Gardens.

GSELL, William Noon in Peninsula CLARKE, 3 p.m. at Waverly Congre- BROOKS, Velma noon at Gethse- Memorial Park, Newport News. gational Church; burial in Waverly burial mane in Baptist Hampton Church, Memorial Hampton; Gar- WALKER, Ruth 2 p.m. in PeninsuCemetery. dens.

la Memorial Park, Newport News. Grove Evelyn Church; p.m. burial Piney CARR, Moses: p.m. at Roberson JOHNSON, 1 at Carver Baptist Memorial Cemetery. in Missionary Baptist Church, Rober- Tuesday sonville, N.C.; burial in Council BROWN, Annie 1 p.m.

at Christ Baptist JOHNSON, Church; Susie burial 2 in p.m. at church Gilfield Cemetery, Hassell, N.C. Church Apostolic PAW, Hampton; COLLEY, Oscar 11:30 a.m. at burial in Greenlawn Cemetery, Newcemetery, Charles City. Riverside Funeral Home, Newport port News.

MOORE, Benjamin noon at Rock News; burial in Hampton Veterans CHESEMAN, James 2 at Spring Baptist Church, King William; Memorial Gardens. Carter Funeral Home, Denbigh p.m. burial in church cemetery. DUNSMOOR, Cora 10 a.m. in Chapel; burial in Gloucester Field STYLES, Erma 3 p.m.

at West Arlington National Cemetery. Cemetery, Gloucester. Point First Baptist Church; burial in HARLOW, Robert Bleakie Il: 11 a.m. PAZER, Shirley 11 a.m. at Sunny Slope 1 at Bristow-Faulkner Funeral Home, Lawrence B.

Wood Funeral Home, Cemetery. WARREN, Rosa p.m. at Shiloh Saluda; burial in Windsor Gardens Hampton; burial in Parklawn MemoGilfield Baptist Church, Windsor; burial in Cemetery, Dutton. rial Park, Hampton. Baptist Church Cemetery, LAYNE, Robert E.

2 p.m. in Ivor. Allegheny Memorial Park, Low Moor. Wednesday WOODLEY, Malvin T. 2 p.m.

in MITCHELL, James 1 p.m. at CASTLE, Hal 1 p.m. in Arlington Clark Cemetery, Fox Hill. Franklin Funeral Home; burial in National Cemetery. Jailhouse jazz reaches inmates Lynn, writer, TV executive Jack Lynn, 67, a novelist and former television executive, died on Jan.

20 at his home in Albuquerque, N.M. He died of leukemia, his family said. Mr. Lynn wrote four novels: "The Professor" (Dell, 1970), "The Turncoat" (Delacorte, 1976), "The Factory" (Harper Row, 1982) and "The Hallelujah Flight" (St. Martin's, 1990).

He started in television as a writer, producer and director in the 1950s. He was appointed as the film buyer-manager of Dumont Broadcasting and its WABD-TV station in New York and later was the station's program director. In 1971 he began freelancing for American networks and other companies and devoted more time to his novels. He lived in France from 1972-85. Laufkotter, leading tenor Karl Laufkotter, a tenor who sang at the Metropolitan Opera in the late 1930s and early 40s, died on Dec.

14 at his home in Ojai, Calif. He was 93. Edyth Wagner, a friend, notified The New York Times about his death in a letter that arrived Friday. Mr. Laufkotter was born in Dusseldorf, Germany.

He sang with companies in Berlin and Stuttgart and then internationally from 1923 to 1950, specializing in German opera. He was engaged by the Metropolitan in 1936 and was a leading lyric tenor. His most celebrated role was Mime in Wagner's "Siegfried." Thomashevsky, theater producer Harry Thomashevsky, a producer and director in Yiddish theater, died on Thursday in Los Angeles. He was 97. Mr.

Thomashevsky, the eldest son of Boris and Bessie Thomashevsky, founding members of the Yiddish theater in the United States, made his theatrical debut in New York City at 13 in "The Pintele Yid." Later he was a director of the Federal Theater's Yiddish Theater Project. He also staged productions of the classics, including "Macbeth" for young audiences. From wire service reports The family of Clarence "Bubba" Brooks wishes to express our love and gratitude for cards, your prayers, donations, visits, floral expressions, food, and other acts of kindness shown during the passing of our loved one and 1 during our period of bereavement. May God bless and keep each of you. Wife, Children, Brother Family The Family of the Late JAMES A.

RICHARDSON Wishes to thank friends, Neighbors and Church family for every act of Kindness, the heartfelt Prayers, the beautiful flowers that were sent, the monetary gifts and cards that were given, the nourishing food that was prepared or whatever you did to console our hearts. We sincerely thank you and pray that God's blessings will surround you and your family. Mrs. Louise N. Richardson Wife Mrs.

Lula L. Holley Mother 0028852014 and Family The family of the Late CLARENCE H. PAGE Would like to thank friends, neighbors, and church family for each act of kindness, the heartfelt prayers, the touching songs that were sung, the beautiful flowers that were sent, the kind words spoken, the food that was prepared, or whatever you did to console our We thank you sincerely. May God bless and keep each of you in His care. Mrs.

Rosa Page and Family Card of Thanks The Family of the Late REBECCA M. ESTES Wishes to express sincere appre-, ciation to everyone who showed, their love through cards, flowers, visits a and any other kindnesses shown during the illness of their loved one and the bereavement. In Loving Memory of Edward L. Grubbe Jan. 31, 1991 I miss you since you went away, I miss you more and more each day.

I miss that funny little grin of yours, That twinkle in your eye. I miss that look that you would have, When caught in a little white lie. I miss the sound of your laughter, Your foot steps on the stairs. I miss you even more, when I see your empty chair. I miss you and I loved you, as all could plainly see.

Just wait beyond the sunset, and wait there just for me. Your Stara 'Chosen Few' hope to play outside The Associated Press POWHATAN Aazim Sulaymaan played jazz before he turned to drugs and crime and ended up with a 96-year prison sentence. But he's convinced he'll be given a chance to return to the outside world because music has changed his life. Sulaymaan is leader of the Chosen Few, a jazz band he and his codefendant who has been released started 14 years ago when they arrived at the Powhatan Correctional Center. "Next to my belief in the Lord, the band is my life," said Sulaymaan, who was convicted of abduction, burglary, breaking and entering and firearms charges.

"The band has been like family to me." Sulaymaan, 45, was a drummer, but learned saxophone while in prison. He goes up for parole annually, and says, "I know I will be back on the street." Through becoming involved with the band, he has been able to reach other inmates through music, and in turn has helped himself. "We've tried to become a positive contributor to society," he said. The 14-member Chosen Few gets together twice a week for intense three-hour practice sessions that members say require discipline and dedication. As with bands outside, the Card of Thanks My heart was broken and my holidays saddened after the death of my beloved brother ALLEN THOMAS.

I give special thanks to all friends and family that supported me during my hours of sorrow. Barbara Thomas Garrett 002886001A The Family of the Late John H. Smith Wishes to express their sincere thanks and appreciation for the many acts of kindness shown during our time of bereavement. May God's Best Be Yours The Family The Family of the Late ELNORA E. COOPER Wishes to extend their sincere thanks to everyone for all acts of kindness during the illness and passing of our loved one.

May God continue to bless each of you. The Cooper Family In Loving Memory of JOHN ENOS Dec. 13, 1930 Jan. 31, 1992 Certain chance occurrences caused our paths to meet Destiny that joined our hearts And made our lives complete That something rare that happened And life's giving us a chance Because there was something natural And true in our Romance The days were all so great The times special; Our minds free We knew our love was real And we were meant to be God says with time He'll heal my wound And this I know is true So rest in peace my precious John And know that "I'LL ALWAYS LOVE Love always and forever Your Wife Melda 002689001A In Loving Memory of my Husband SYDNEY M. O'NEIL Departed January 30, 1992 Remember, Lord Thy Servant, Give Him Eternal Rest And Peace In Thy Heavenly Kingdom.

Rose O'Neil A TRIBUTE TO UNCLE SYDNEY A loving smile A gentle touch Always dressed to a "tee" Interesting stories of childhood and Jamaica That's what he meant to me He always showed his feelings His tears he never spared He wasn't ashamed to let me know Just how much he cared Willing to help with the family No matter what the task If it was in his power to do All I had to do was ask I loved my Uncle Sydney I loved him with all my heart We shared the love of a father and daughter And with my memories 1 will never part I'll try not to be sad, Although he'll be sorely missed I'll remember our last visit together Of how we tenderly kissed He told me of his love of God, And how soon he'd see His face He was not afraid of dying In fact, he was at peace He's in another place now His soul without pain or care So, I'll hold on to my loving memories Until I meet him there. Mary Quarles 002826001 musicians had to pass tryouts. "People might think we're typical murderers, drug dealers or rapists, but you learn to read music, understand music. We learned to be a team," said Everitte Christian, a vocalist who entered prison in 1984 for unlawful wounding. "Irresponsibility brought us here, but you can acquire responsibility." The group covers contemporary jazz artists such as Grover Washington and Kenny G.

and does original songs written by members. Though the band is not allowed to perform outside prison grounds, it played at other prisons until funds for that program were cut. The band used to perform at the State Penitentiary in Richmond "to calm emotions before electrocutions," Sulaymaan said. The band currently plays at banquets and other events at the Powhatan prison. The band is not only a way to pass the time, members and prison officials say, but a form of therapy and rehabilitation.

"It keeps the inmates calm, it keeps them relaxed," prison recreation director Sam Moore said. "They're able to sit down and listen to something entirely different from what they listen to elsewhere." Moore said prison officials should give more support to the music program and classify it as treatment rather than just recreation. "It's also a way some of us might feed our face when we get out," Christian said. Captain Hal C. Castle, USN 71, of Newport News died Fri- day, Jan.

29, of heart failure. He was born Dec. 26, 1921 in Peoria, III. After attending St. Mary's College in Winona, for a year he won an appointment to the Naval Academy and was commissioned an ensign in June 1943.

His first duty station was the USS Phelps (DD-360), the first ship to anchor in Japanese territorial waters in World War II. Capt. Castle's post war duties included tours aboard the USS Bristol (DD-857) and the USS Dickson (DD-708). In 1948 he returned to the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and subsequently earned a MS in metallurgy from Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1951.

He obtained cruiser experience aboard the USS Worcester (CL144) as air defense officer and gunnery officer. After leaving the Worcester, he served for two years as assistant terminal ballistics officer at the U.S. Naval Proving Ground in Dahlgren. In July 1956 Capt. Castle became executive officer of the USS William M.

Wood (DDR-715) and then took command of the USS Strong (DD-758) in January, 1958. On leaving the Strong in December, he attended the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk and the Nuclear Power School at New London, Conn. Prior to reporting to USS Long Beach (CG(N)-9) as prospective executive officer in April, 1960, he received additional training in naval reactor prototype operations. As executive officer of the first nuclear surface ship, Capt. Castle participated in his first Mediterranean deployment and a Northern European cruise.

In early 1964 Capt. Castle reported to the director, naval reactors. Capt. Castle's last command was commanding officer of the USS Bainbridge (DLGN-25) from July 1964 until December 1966. During his tenure on the Bainbridge, Capt.

Castle participated in Operation Sea Orbit on April 28, 1964, through October 3. 1964, the world's first nuclear task force to circumnavigate the globe under nuclear power. Later duties included OPTEVFOR in Norfolk and NAVSEA in Washington, D.C. He retired from the Navy in 1973 and worked for Value Systems Engineering for five years. In 1979 he retired and moved to Newport News.

For nine years, Capt. Castle devoted much of his time as an active volunteer docent at the Mariners Museum. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Martha Shelton Castle; and three children, William A. Castle of Batavia, Katherine C. Swann of Midlothian and Christopher H.

Castle of Fullerton, and eleven grandchildren. Capt. Castle's oldest son, Lt. Hal C. Castle USN, a naval aviator, was killed in action in Vietnam in 1969.

Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday, Feb. 3., at 1 p.m. Peninsula Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements..