Suffolk News-Herald

Cheer Fund donations are rising higher than ever with Wednesday’s total for the day of $13,825.75. This brought the grand total to $32,619.90 with a difference of only $7,380.10 to be collected to reach its goal of $40,000 for 2003.

Organizations and associations are also taking advantage of the fund’s fantastic offer to have pictures made and to publish information of their choice along with their pictured donation of $100 or more.

On Tuesday Ulysses Whitfield, treasurer of the Suffolk City School Bus Drivers Association and James Blair, treasurer for the Kingsboro Civic League came in the Suffolk News-Herald office to make $100 donations each for their particular organizations.

Whitfield has been driving school busses for 49 years and has not ever received a traffic ticket nor has he ever had an accident. He was also named School Bus Driver of the year in 1988 and 1986.

The association was organized on May 15, 1977 and began to operate with about 25 school buses. Today Whitfield said that number has more than tripled with about 200 buses on the road.

He said that discipline is a very important trait for students to have on the school bus in order to avoid accidents. He also said that a good school bus driver has respect for students so that students can have respect for him, is always on time, is never in a hurry and obeys traffic laws.

&uot;The way that I keep good organization and discipline is when students enter the ninth grade in high school, I assign a seat to each student. That student keeps that seat for the four years that he or she is in high school or until he or she graduates. That way the student knows exactly where to sit in the morning and afternoon and I know if the student rode the bus on a particular day,&uot; said Whitfield.

The supervisor of the Suffolk City School Bus Assoc .is Bob Cere Jr. Other officers are president, Gladys Knight; vice president, Fred Wadley II; and secretary, Dana Carr; The director is Dorothy Carter who was the first president when the association was organized.

In 1979 Whitfield was made permanent treasurer and in March 2003, Whitfield was presented with a new bus by Cere which Cere labeled as bus No. 1.

Kings Civic League sponsored Christmas in the Park on Saturday, Dec. 20, and James Blair, treasurer of the organization, said that the proceeds went to needy families and the Suffolk Cheer Fund.

&uot;We are an organization who believes in helping people in the neighborhood and when there is no need in our district, we seek out those who may need help in other districts,&uot; said Blair.

The league meets at 7 p.m. in the Dining Room on Pinner St. the first Thursday of every month and Blair said that they are always looking for new members.

Other officers are president, Bob Grady; two vice presidents, Harry Chavis and Roy Haskins; and secretary, Linda Gomer.

We thank these two organizations for their gifts and all donations from other organizations like these and individual contributions no matter how large or small.

Please make out your tax-exempt donation to the Suffolk News-Herald Cheer Fund by stopping by the office at 130 S. Saratoga Street or mailing it to P.O. Box 1220, Suffolk, Va. 23439.

Balance Brought Forward $18,794.15

Donations on Wednesday, Dec. 24

In loving memory of Godfrey Wells Stancill by his family: $200

In loving memory of William T. Nelson: $50

In honor of the memory of Ms. Mary Rose Shambley; from her Family: $50

From Joseph Hall: $20

In loving memory of husband, James Riddick; mother, Ruth Haskins; sister, Elizabeth Haskins; brother, Roosevelt Haskins; From Mildred Riddick: $25

In memory of Lynell; Love &uot;Pop&uot;: $100

In loving memory of loved ones; from Mattie C. Rawls:$20

In memory of Jerry L. White; from anonymous; $100

In memory of our parents Clarence & Inell Ashburn, Geneva, Moses, James &uot;Buck&uot; Daughtrey & grandson Howard L. Goode III; from Ashburn & Goode families: $40

In memory of Leslie Barnes Jr., Lucy Bynum & Nello Bynum; from Shirley and Ricky Barnes: $25

The Lamercetts in memory of Alma Boone and Catherine Cooper: $25

In memory of Josephine Langston, Orabelle Langston and Georgia Ruby Hedgepeth; $50

In memory of Arthur &uot;Red&uot; Peace, Essie Rodgers and Earnest Rodgers; $20

Anonymous; $10

For the Glory of God: $300

Got has truly blessed us throughout the year. It is only fair that we give something back. Happy Holiday; love Barbara and William: $20

In memory of Janet Kello: $25

In memory of Christopher D. Walker: $20

From Ruth G. Gordon: $10

Suffolk Chapter of Las Amigas: $100

Suffolk Lions Club: $2,461

Nansemond Suffolk Academy Upper School Faculty & Administration: $327

Nansemond Suffolk Academy Multi Cultural Diversity Club: $129.75

Anonymous: 200

In memory of Betty Jean Jones: $25

From Houston, John Bott, Taylor & Elizabeth: $25

In honor of Nancy & Joe Webb from anonymous: $30

Chubbies Cheese Steaks LLC: $233

From Willie J. Boykin: $25

The Pruden Foundation: 2,500

Kingsboro Civic League: $100

Boy Scouts of America, Pack 50: $60

Wayne, Joyce & Ashley Carroll: $25

In memory of Curtis Wills: $50

Bethlehem Ruritan Club: $100

Chuckatuck Ruritan Club: $100

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. :$50

John C. Holland Enterprises Inc. Landfill: $5,000

Bankers Title of Hampton Roads: $100

Suffolk City School Bus Drivers Association: $100

In honor of all Santa’s Helpers: $250

Nansemond Credit Union Inc.: $250

Harvesters Missionary Circle-Metropolitan Baptist Church: $25

First Federal Employees: $100

From Mr. & Mrs. George Y. Birdsong: $100

Saunders, Babineau & Brewbaker LLC/Attorneys at Law: $250

Total For Today: $13,825.75

Total To Date: $32,619.90