Small Town of Sharpsburg Dealing With Grief

While there is a sense of relief because the suspected killer of ChiefWayne Hathaway and Gloria Nicholson has been caught, but grief looms evenlarger.

The town with only one stop-light now has no police chief. Hathawaydied doing the job he was hired to do nearly 25 years ago. FormerSharpsburg Mayor J.D. Barkley remembers that Hathaway wanted to stay withthe force until he retired.

The town is in mourning and is trying to cope with its loss. Citizenssay their final memories of Hathaway are good ones. Police CommissionerPeggy Joyner says he left the office with a smile on his face.

The suspect, Abner Nicholson, faces two murder charges. His othervictim Tuesday was his own wife, Gloria. Hathaway was responding to adomestic violence call from her when he, too, was killed.

Memorial funds have been established at the same bank for both victims. You can send donations to both the Wayne Hathaway Memorial Fund and theGloria Nicholson Memorial Fund in care ofTriangle Bank, P.O. Box123, Sharpsburg, NC, 27878.

Donated money will be used for the benefit of the victims' children.Hathaway was a divorced father of one son. Gloria Nicholson had two youngchildren.

Photographer:Mark Copeland