Lonnie Gabriel Hodges, a 15-year-old Nansemond River High School sophomore, was recently chosen to shadow Herman. M. White at White’s bus service.

During his observation and training at H.M. White Bus Service on East Washington Street, Hodges will serve the company as its assistant promotional director.

He will help coordinate advertising promotional ads, select and prepare business photos and articles for the media, coordinate local and long distance bus trips, organize drivers’ DOT Classes and health records, inspect buses making sure that they are passenger friendly, check charter orders prior to and after a trip for mileage in-state and out-of-state destination routes, and obtain signatures of drivers and sponsors on charter orders.

White said he has known and has been observing Hodges for some time and that he has the potential for becoming a good bus driver some day even though he does not drive at this time.

&uot;I also need someone who can help me with the business aspect of the business from time to time so I thought that I would give him a title. I think that he will be good for this company in the future so I just wanted to get him started in some way,&uot; said White.

Hodges is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie Hodges, and has an older sister, Rhonda. He is also the maternal grandson of Mrs. Jean Richardson and the late Lonnie Richardson; the paternal grandson of the late Dorothy and Lonnie Joe; and paternal nephew of Juanita Yates.

Hodges attends Mt. Calvary Baptist Church where he serves as a junior usher. He enjoys all types of sports, spending time talking to people and is actively involved in Junior ROTC.

His future plans include completing high school, attending college and becoming an Air Force officer.