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Powhatan, Virginia
The hometown paper of N. Thornton
Vol. XXVII No. 51
December 31, 2013
W.E. Maxey Jr. – one of a kind By Ben Orcutt News Editor
The Courthouse Village area was William E. Maxey Jr.’s domain. It’s where he was born, served as Powhatan County Circuit Court Clerk for more than 56 years and where he died at home on Sunday, Dec. 22, as the clock struck noon. In the days since his passing, those who knew him
best spoke about his dedication as Circuit Court Clerk and his love for Powhatan. “We worked together for over 32 years,” said retired 11th Circuit Court Judge Thomas V. Warren. “He was the consummate clerk.” Maxey was a stickler for accuracy, Warren said. “He was just meticulous in everything that he did,” Warren said. “He always made sure he was in court
on the day court was held from the time he became clerk in the 1950s up until maybe eight years ago when his health every now and then wouldn’t permit it. He was always very careful about not answering a question quickly or commenting quickly. In fact, sometimes you would think maybe he wasn’t going to reply at all and then he would come out with something that was ab-
solutely dead on. He had an uncanny ability to do that.” Maxey was born upstairs over Maxey’s store, which is now the building that houses the Four Seasons Restaurant, Warren said. It was not uncommon for Maxey to arrive at work at 7 a.m. and stay until 8 p.m., Warren said, adding that Maxey would often work on
2013 TOP 10 The people. The places. The stories.
By Ben Orcutt News Editor
The resignation and death of longtime Powhatan County Circuit Court Clerk William E. Maxey Jr. is the top news story for 2013. His story is running separately from the remainder of the Top 10 news stories for 2013. The year was filled with incoming and outgoing county officials, tragic deaths, criminal prosecutions and the opening of the highly anticipated Powhatan State Park.
see Maxey page 3A
W.E. MAXEY JR.
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PHOTO BY KENNY MOORE
David Johnson, left, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation director; Joe Elton, director of State Parks for the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; Barry Hodge, chairman, Powhatan County Board of Supervisors; Gov. Bob McDonnell and Del. Lee Ware, R-Powhatan, participated in the official opening of Powhatan’s state park.
The remaining Top 10 stories for Southeastern Powhatan. Each first-de2013 are: gree murder charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. 2. Overbey found competent Documents on file in Powhatan County Circuit Court say that both men to stand trial appeared to have been shot in the head An Amelia County man charged with with a shotgun. Court documents also the 2011 shooting say that Overbey admitted to shooting deaths of two PowMoore and Mann and took authorities to hatan County resiwhere he had placed the shotgun. dents was ruled According to court records, Mann competent to stand and Overbey worked for Moore. Overtrial. bey was ruled competent to stand trial in Jason Merritt October. Overbey, 34, of Earlier this month, Powhatan Circuit Overbey 13421 West Lane, Court Judge Pamela S. Baskervill grantAmelia, is charged ed a motion by court-appointed defense with two counts of first-degree murder attorney Reed C. Amos of the Goochand two counts of the use of a firearm land law firm of Amos & Amos that during the commission of a felony for Overbey be granted another evaluation the May 22, 2011, shooting deaths of as to his sanity at the time of the offensKenneth William Moore Jr., 47, and es. Robert Linwood Mann Jr., 42. Assistant Powhatan CommonThe shootings took place on Moore’s wealth’s Attorney Richard K. Cox is family’s farm at 1309 Stavemill Road in handling the prosecution.
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A jury trial is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Jan. 29 and Baskervill asked Amos to make sure that Overbey is evaluated in plenty of time before the trial so that both attorneys can adequately prepare. Overbey is being held without bond at Piedmont Regional Jail in Farmville.
3. Amelia man to serve life in prison for brutal attack James Lee Wolfe Jr., 31, of 17061 Leidig St., Apt. 4, Amelia, was sentenced to life in prison plus 85 years in July for crimes he committed against Mary Lee Anderson when he attacked her with a meat cleaver on Jan. 25, 2012, at her former Wolfe home on Academy
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see Top 10 page 4A
Christmas: ’Tis the season for resident Daniel LeMaster, 21 By Ben Orcutt News Editor
PHOTO BY BEN ORCUTT
Daniel LeMaster is on a first-name basis with Santa, whom he visits every year when the Jolly Old Elf stops at the Powhatan County branch of Central Virginia Bank each Christmas season.
While he’s not a name dropper, Powhatan County resident Daniel LeMaster is on a first-name basis with Santa Claus. Daniel, 21, has been seeing Santa at Central Virginia Bank in Powhatan since 1994 and on Dec. 21, Daniel made his annual visit when Santa
stopped at the Powhatan branch this year. “Oh, I love it,” Santa said of seeing Daniel. “Every year I come and see him grow up.” Asked if Daniel had been good this year, Santa replied, “Oh yes, Daniel’s been awesome.” Chris LeMaster, Daniel’s mother, said Daniel tried to visit Santa at a local mall when he was a year old, but it
was too overwhelming. “He was crying,” she said. “He was over stimulated and so we had to go home.” However, when she found out the next year — 1994 — that Santa was going to be at CVB near their home in Powhatan, Mrs. LeMaster thought there wouldn’t be as many people and it would be a more see Season page 5A
Inside
Sports
Index
A8 Cause of house fire on Huguenot Trail still under investigation
B1 Big Rivalry a big success Area’s best high school football players compete in first annual all-star game
Calendar Classified Crossword Horoscope Letters
A2 B6 A7 A7 A6
Obituaries Opinion Quotes TV Listings
A7 A6 A2 B4-5