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Solace in the midst of tragedy
The mother of Robert Law Jr. prefers to dwell on what she
remembers most about her son who was brutally murdered.
By Tawana Lee
AUGUSTA FOCUS Staff Writer
AUGUSTA
For Henrietta Avery, losing her
only son has presented an oppor
tunity for her to reflect on cher
ished memories rather than be
weighed down by grief. While tell
ingstoriesreminiscent of herson’s
life, there was no sadness in her
eyes. As she spoke of her son,
Barney, there was a smile on her
face -- at times she would even
laugh out loud. She appeared to be
at peace.
“We have memories of Barney
to last us a lifetime. We’re blessed
to have all of the good times. His
death was almost like a burden
had been lifted from all of the
anticipation,” said Ms. Avery.
Robert “Barney” Augustus Law
Jr., age 25, died on Sunday March
30, 1997 at the Medical College of
Georgia Hospital. He was the vic
tim of a drive-by shooting.
Ms. Avery sees her son’s death
as an act of revenge connected to a
fight which occurred in early 1996.
Barney’s cousin, Martise Williams,
was beat up by a group of people at
a South Augusta nightclub. With
theintent of ensuring the incident
between Martise and the group
was settled, Barney approached
theattackers, Ms. Avery said. This
confrontation resulted with
Barney beating up some of the
attackers.
Ms. Avery believes that since
going to his cousin’s defense, her
son’s life was in danger. She and
Barney’s father, Robert Law Sr.,
had a discussion with Barney ask
ing him to “lay low” for awhile.
“He had been living in isolation
for the past year — knowing some
one wanted him dead. This was
really difficult for him because he
was a real outgoing person,” she
said.
Hiding out from assassins was a
nearimpossible task for Barney.
“He couldn’t take it anymore. He
told me,*Mama, ifthey’re goingto
kill me, they’re going to kill me.’
He was brave. Even death did not
scare him,” she said.
Now as Ms. Avery looks back, it
appears as though Barney knew
his days were numbered judging
by his actions.
Westside High
principal asked
to stay home
B Argument with
security officer led to
brief suspension of
Principal Gayle
McGhee. Sources say
inappropriate racial
remarks may have
spurred incident.
By Gloria Nelor
AUGUSTA FOCUS Staff Writer
AUGUSTA
Westside High School principal,
Gayle McGhee, was placed on ad
ministrative leave for two days
beginning Thursday, April 3 for
allegedly engaging in a “debate”
with a Richmond County public
safety officer. ,
School Superintendent con
firmed the suspension in published
reports this week.
The reported cause of the sus
pension stems an argument be
tween Ms. McGhee and Major Mike
g‘:;relll ofbtl:xe Richn:lond County
00l public safety department.
Farrell mmre:ly a call on April
2 at the school to make an arrest
of a student who had brought a
9mm pistol to school. Reportedly,
Farrel and McGhee had words over
the way in which the incident was
reported to the media.
Sources close to Westside, how-
FOCUS your local news in our paper!
Fax to (706) 724-6969.
o 2 “ w
:1 \3 '
g i&8 Robert
* Y “Barney”
vt N
F ' ready
with a
: ® smile.
“The night of his death, he had
his jewelry all laid out. The most
ironic thing was that he had his
Bible opened, and it had a passage
in Job 14 highlighted. The verse
says, ‘Man that is born of a woman
is of few days, and full of trouble.’
It was almost like he was prepar
ing for it and expecting it to hap
pen,” said Ms. Avery.
The Paine College Chapel was
packed for Barney’s funeral, leav
ing only standing room for loved
ones wanting vo say their final
farewells. From 2 p.m. until about
4p.m. the streets of Augusta were
blocked off due to the crowd, caus
ing traffic jams throughout the
heart of the city.
Barney, who wore jersey #55,
was a star Glenn Hills High School
linebacker and letterman. Barney
received several trophies for being
an outstanding team player.
“His daddy was a star football
player and Barney wanted to be
just like him,” said Ms. Avery.
Not only did Barney excel in
football, he was also an outstand
ingdßOTC member at Glenn Hills,
a great dancer winning talent
shows ever since his middle schools
years at Morgan Road Middle
School; and participated in sev
eral productions with the drama
club.
He went on to the Marine Corps
after high school, serving with se
curity forces in militagy fnissions
in Somalia and the Persian Gulf.
Barney was also selected to attend
Federal Bureau of Investigations
(FBI) school in Quantico, Va. Upon
his departure from the military,
Barney was well decorated with
metals for merit, marksmanship,
good conduct and service.
While in high school, Barney’s
ever, have told Augusta Focus that
the incident had racial overtones.
Although Ms. McGhee and Mr.
Farrel are both white, Mr. Farrel
reportedly took issue with the way
the principal was talking about
his superior officer who happens
to be black. The statements were
inappropriate and racial in nature,
the source reported Mr. Farrel as
saying.
The incident underscores a ra
cial problem that exists at Westside
High, sources say — problems that
Ms. McGhee finds a way to
exascerbate.
Sources tell Augusta Focus that
campus security had to be beefed
up to offset a possible racial inci
dent in the wake of an article that
appeared in the school newspaper
written by a white student object
ing to Black History Month obser
vances at the school. While a con
frontation was averted, the anger
among the black students of the
school was no secret. It was not
reported in the media, however.
In addition, Augusta Focus, has
learned that EEOC complaints
alleging unfair treatment have
been filed against Ms. McGhee by
at least one black faculty member.
ee’s su ‘ n
vestigation, according to published
statements made by Dr.pl'.l-rb. It
is not known at this time whether
further disciplinary action will be
needed.
7,:, GG Ri b e 4?% ] 8 o i
Lot % h e
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’ 7 o g 5 it ?»
Henrietta Avery, Robert Law’s mother, is at peace. His son,
DeVante Claiborne, shares his father’s joy in living.
Photo by Tawana Lee
sense of humor won him the Se
nior Superlatives Most Wittiest
an Most Aggravating.
“He always wanted people to
feel a part of the crowd. If there
was someone off to themselves,
Barney pulled them into the cen
ter of things with him. At one of
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- E . —including one of only three children’s rehabilitation special
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- N
i R .V all over, with cerebral palsy, developmental delays and other
conditions, or those who've been hurt in accidents. Because there’s nothing
quite like seeing one of these youngsters smile again.
Sure, Augusta’s got a great golf course. But it’s also got a great
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To learn more about our special place, call us. : FYroE 8919
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our dances, there was a girl stand
ing in a corner because no one
would dance with her. So, Barney
went and made her dance with
him so she could feel comfortable
and have fun just like everyone
See A MOTHER, page 6A
e Siels
Caught in the act
An Augusta man was charged
with littering.
According to reports, Jerry
Beeland oof 1914 Dabney Drive was
seen attempting to throw a black
trash bag away in a wooden area
off of a dirt road.
Beeland was followed into the
woods by the attending officer who
photographed theincidentand then
charged Beeland with littering.
Man charged with
simple battery
On Friday, April 4, an Augusta
man was charged with simple bat
tery.
Reportsshow that Melvin Atkins
of 1022 Kent Street assaulted his
sister, Mary Sanford, after a ver
bal altercation.
Sanford reportedly said the fight
began after the water was turned
offin their home, she defecated in
abagand left the bagin the floor of
the house.
*Atkins then struck Sanford with
his fist.
Catch the CSRA Black Expo ’97 on Saturday, April
12, 1997 at the Augusta State University Sports Com
plex on Wrightsboro Rd. Look for parking across the
street and catch the shuttle up to the complex!
11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
See the vendors, entertainment, seminars,
job fair and kid’s fair!
Visit the Augusta Focus table!
AUGUSTA FOCUS APRIL 10, 1997
(The following information is
based on area law enforce
ment reports and press
releases.) -
Mailbox thief on
the prowl 3
On Friday, April 4 an Augusta
man reported that his mailbox had
been stolen. .
According toreports, Jack Lesher
of 976 Heard Avenue stated that
an unknown person took a white
cast iron antique mailbox with a
locked door in the rear valued at
$450. The mailbox was dug wup
from the ground and contained no
mail. No arrests were made.
Milkshake used in
battery case
An Augusta woman was charged
withsimple battery. A
According toreports, Corey Wil
liams, of 1002 Greene Street, stated
that he and his girlfriend, Chris
tina Berrian, were engaged in a
verbal fight. :
Berrian then threw a milkshake
in Williams’ face and punched him
in his left eye. Williams pushed
her away at which time she at
tacked him with a knife.
3A