Jan. 31, 1964

Staff

Published Friday, January 30, 2004

Stories featured in the Suffolk News-Herald on this date 40 years ago include:

Viet Cong hits U.S.

military compound

SAIGON, Vietnam (AP) - Two guerrillas were killed and one U.S. officer wounded today in the first Viet Cong raid on an American military compound since the Vietnamese war began.

The grenade attack on headquarters of a detachment of 130 officers and men was launched at 4:30 a.m. in the mountain city of Kentum, 260 miles northeast of Saigon.

Demonstrations at

Obici threatened

Some 100 blacks attending a Sunday afternoon joint meeting of the Independent Voters League and the Coordinating Committee heard a pledge that "there will be demonstrations at Obici - that's where they will start in Suffolk."

The group yesterday endorsed the efforts of Local 26, Retail Wholesale and Department Stores Workers Union, AFL-CIO, to gain wage increases for non-professional employees at Louise Obici Memorial Hospital and in protesting certain "discriminatory" conditions said to exist at the hospital.

Making the pledge of demonstrations was Lock J. Parker, president of Local 26. He said demonstrations were planned within a matter of days, unless a meeting was set up with hospital officials to discuss wages, working conditions and segregated conditions.

Mrs. Bettie Davis,

retired nurse, dies

Mrs. Bettie S. Davis, retired public health nurse for Suffolk and Nansemond County, died today at 9:30 a.m. in her home, 301 Wellons St.

Nurse Davis, a registered nurse, organized the first maternity clinic in Suffolk about 25 years ago in the parish house of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

...She is survived by her husband, Benjamin Davis Sr.; a son, Benjamin Davis Jr.; a sister, Mrs.Gertrude Young; a brother, Harry Southall; and a grandson and niece.

Diane Churn is named Suffolk valedictorian

Suffolk High Principal Arthur Jones today announced that Miss Diane Westcotte Church is valedictorian of the Class of 1964.

Miss Churn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S.B. Churn of 100 S. Broad St., has a 4 1/2 year average of 97.44.

...Salutatorian of the class with an average of 95.62 is Miss Brenda Faye Darden, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James F. Darden of 197 S. Main St.

Raiderettes close on Feb. 14

Suffolk High School's feminine basketball team will close out its abbreviated 1963-64 schedule Feb. 14 with a game at Great Bridge.

The Raiderettes played one of their better games of the season last Friday, in a 53-42 loss to Norfolk Catholic, perenially one of the top girls teams in Tidewater and the state.

Coach Kathy Peters' girls even led the Catholic team for two quarters before finally going down.

The Raiderettes led after one quarter of play, 14-12, and were still in front. But Suffolk's offensive output dwindled to seven points in the third period and Catholic went ahead 36-31.

Brenda Draper's 16 points led the Suffolk scoring. Jean Dail was a close runner-up with 14, and Nancy Jones pitched with seven.

-Compiled by Allison T. Williams

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