Powhatan Today, May 26, 2021
Page 5A
Three Powhatan students place in VSBA Art Contest
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Mike Courtois, co-owner of Courtois Signs, stands by his new workshop, which was rebuilt after a fire.
Company rebuilds after fire PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
By Laura McFarland Editor
POWHATAN – A Powhatan sign company that is celebrating 47 years in business this month is also happy to say they are almost back to normal after a fire in 2020. In October 2020, a fire destroyed the external workshop at Courtois Signs, Graphics, Screen Printing and Embroidery, which is owned by Mike and Carol see COURTOIS, pg. 7
BARTON Continued from pg. 1
nance directors, and numerous staff members. She has run in five elections – two with opponents. Powhatan County has changed a great deal during that time, she said. When Barton first started working for the county, the population was closer to 8,000 people. The treasurer’s office had four employees, including Barton, who worked part-time in those days. The county collected real estate taxes and personal property taxes once a year, and, at the time, the treasurer’s office wasn’t as persistent about collections as it is today. “It was only 8,000 people and it is hard to collect from your neighbor,” she said. As the county has grown and the treasurer’s office took on more responsibility, the staff has changed along with it. The office now has one part-time and seven full-time employees who stay busy collecting taxes twice a year and doing proration on a monthly basis, she said. In her time as treasurer, Barton said she came to understand
SECOND ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH
Powhatan County Public Schools had three students place in the VSBA Art Contest. Winning artists are Luke Forkey, left, with his artwork ‘Zentangle Bunny,’ top left; Kasia Smith, not pictured, who made ‘Moonlight,’ top right, and Savannah Hall with her piece ‘Snow Owl.’
Contributed Report Powhatan County Public Schools recently announced that three students won Southside Regional Awards in the 2021 Virginia School Boards Associa-
that while her office deals in hard numbers, the job is often about working with people, especially those going through a difficult time. “That is the hard part of this job but it is part of this job. It is important, because, if you don’t collect it, you have to write it off and that falls as a burden on other taxpayers,” Barton said. At the same time, the treasurer said she was willing to work with people who were struggling with bills so they didn’t lose their homes. “You have to be a servant to do this job because you are going to meet all kinds of people that walk through that door. Whether you agree with what they believe in it is your job to help them to the best of your ability,” she said. Barton credited her staff members with so much of that work in serving the public. “I wish I had more time here because I do think the world of them. I think I am going to miss them even more when I am gone than I already am. I haven’t had time to think about it. But I am excited about this next chapter because I will have more time with my husband,” she said.
tion (VSBA) Art Contest. Nineteen school divisions are members of the Southside Region. PCPS students won at all three levels: elementary, middle, and high school. Congratulations to the artists and their teachers.
Pauline Evans, deputy treasurer III, has worked for Powhatan County for 36 years. She started out in 1985 in the building inspector’s office and transferred to the treasurer’s office in 1995. Evans said it has been wonderful working with Barton since coming to the office. The two have butted heads through the years, Evans said, but she described Barton as “one smart lady.” “She stands her ground when she knows it is right and she knows what is good for this office. She will stand up to anybody and fight for her girls in this office,” Evans said. Evans agreed with Barton’s self-assessment about being precise about her figures down to the last penny. “If it takes her a day and a half to find that penny, she is going to find it. If anything is off, she will find it. She doesn’t stop until she finds it. We all know that,” Evans said with a smile. When Barton announced she was retiring, Evans said she was initially sad but was still happy that her boss would have more time with her husband. Barton asked Evans, who was considering retirement, to stay until her
term was up back when she thought she would be there until July 1. Evans’ last day will be June 30, which will take her to 36 years and one month of service to the county. “It has been wonderful. We had some rough patches but we got through it and I am still here. You have your bad days. People don’t always agree. You’ve got to put it behind you,” Evans said. “I have enjoyed working with all the people and the knowledge I am coming out with of how an office is supposed to be handled.” Linda Jones, former human resources manager, worked for the county from 1999 to 2018. She said Barton was very welcoming when she first started with the county – almost aggressively so. “She was almost like a Mack truck. She wouldn’t take no for an answer. She was like come on we are going to lunch,” Jones said with a laugh. The two women worked closely together through the years on payroll issues. Jones said she could tell Barton made her decisions with the county’ financial interest as her top priority, but she was also reason-
Sunday School 9:45-10:45 Sunday Morning Worship will begin at 11:00 a.m.
Holly Hills Baptist Church
5680 Cartersville Road Powhatan, Virginia 23139
(Independent Bible Believing)
Pastor Gregory L. Beechaum Sr. “The church where Jesus is Alive”
www.HollyHillsBaptist.org
Randy Blackwell, Pastor Sunday School - 10:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship - 11:00 a.m. Youth Ministry 6:00 p.m. Adult Bible Study 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Prayer Meeting 7:30 PM
379-8930 1659 Anderson Highway 3½ miles east of Flat Rock
9:00 a.m. ---- Sunday School 9:45 a.m.----- Prayer & Praise 10:00 a.m.--- Sunday Morning Worship 5th Sunday at 11 a.m. Hour of Power 7:30 p.m. ---- Tuesday Night Worship & Bible Study
Baptist Church “A Church Where Love Never Fails!” Pastor Otis B. Lockhart, Jr.
MOUNT ZION
Muddy Creek BAPTIST CHURCH Baptist Church
Rev. Bryan Stevens, Pastor 11 a.m. – Worship Service 9 a.m. – Church School Wednesday Bible Study 10 a.m. & 7 p.m.
Sunday School - 9:45 am Worship - 11 am Wednesday Bible Study & Prayer Service - 7:00 pm Pastor Jeff Beard, MA, MBA 3470 Trenholm Road www.muddycreekbaptist.org
375-9212
Advertise in Powhatan Today’s Church Directory. Call 804-746-1235 ext. 2 for details.
804-375-9404
Hollywood
2591 Ridge Road Powhatan, Virginia 23139 804-598-2051
Graceland Baptist Church
Contemporary – 8:30 a.m. Sunday School – 9:45 a.m. Worship – 11 a.m. Children’s Worship – 11 a.m. Prayer/Bible Study – Wed. 6:30 p.m. 2095 Red Lane Road Children’s Worship (all ages) – 1/2 mile off Rt. 60 on Red Lane Road Wed. 6:30 p.m. 804-598-2455 New Generation Praise & Worship – www.redlanebaptist.org Sunday 6 p.m. Worship Service 9:00 a.m. Lighthouse Youth – Wed. 5:30 p.m. Small Groups 10:30 a.m. Miracles of God Sp. Needs Service: 2 p.m. the 2nd Sat. of each month Wednesday Night Classes for all ages at 6:15 598-3481 • 975 Dorset Road Dr. James Taylor, Pastor www.gracelandbc.org
Praise and Worship Service
Sunday School: 10:00-10:45 a.m. Worship Service: 11:00 a.m. 4731 Bell Road, Powhatan, VA 23139 804-598-5491
able when it came to working with people going through a rough patch. Outside of work, Jones said she is also happy to count Barton as a friend and recalled a number of fun trips they took with others in the office. “She just was very generous and a great hostess. I really can remember just rolling on the floor laughing,” Jones said. Karen Alexander, director of elections, said she has known Barton for 12 years. She worked with her whenever it was election time and Barton would need to come in and take care of paperwork. “As a candidate working with her, it was very smooth and easy because she understood the process and was very grateful from whatever help she received from me,” Alexander said. On a personal level, Alexander added that Barton is laid back, funny, and makes everyone around her feel important. “She would engage with you and took interest in you and was just incredibly friendly,” Alexander said. Laura McFarland may be reached at Lmcfarland@powhatantoday.com.
Dr. Ronald Wyatt, Jr., Pastor
Reverend Mark A. Divens, Sr. Pastor
“God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. We walk by faith and not by sight” – Pastor Darnell Carruthers
see VSBA, pg. 7
CHURCH DIRECTORY
1059 Dorset Road Powhatan, VA 23139
GREENBRIER BAPTIST CHURCH
First place elementary school winner: Luke Forkey, Zentangle Bunny, Pocahontas Elementary School. Teacher: Elizabeth Martin. Third place middle school win-
OLD POWHATAN BAPTIST CHURCH 3619 Huguenot Trail Powhatan, Virginia 23139 www.finecreekbaptist.org Sunday School: 9:45 a.m. Worship Service: 11:00 a.m. Traditional
2202 Old Church Road www.powhatanbaptist.org
“Your Community Church”
598-2763 Sunday School at 9:30 am Morning Service at 11:00 am Bible Study Every Wednesday Night at 6:30 pm 3964 Old Buckingham Road
Sundays 10:00 AM Wednesday 6:30 PM Experiencing the presence, power and person of Jesus Christ
Loving, Investing, Fulfilling, Empowering Senior Pastor Justin Wilson Sunday Service 10:30am 2410 New Dorset Circle www.Communitylifechurchpowhatan.org Feeding Powhatan Open 3rd Wednesday of the month
FIRST ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH
Sunday 10am, 11am & 6pm Wednesday 7pm
3920 MAIDENS RD., POWHATAN
804-598-2301
Evening Bible Study 7:00 p.m.
Service times are 8:30AM and 10:15AM Worship online at 10:15AM
Family Worship Center 2901 Judes Ferry Road Powhatan, Va 23139 804-379-8223
Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Service 11:00 a.m. Wednesday Mid Day Bible Study 11:30 a.m.
Brad Russell, Pastor 598-4241
Travis L. Keith- Pastor Church Office: 794.7054 1530 Cook Road (Rt. 636)
www.glbcpva.org
Just Across from South Creek Shopping Center!
