SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - James W. Brackett, 67, a demographer who headed the Demography Division of the U.S. Agency for International Development for 15 years, died Thursday, Nov. 26, 1998, of cancer at his home in Shepherdstown.
After undergraduate and graduate studies in demography and mathematical statistics at the University of North Carolina, he headed the Estimates and Projections Branch of the Foreign Demographic Analysis Division at the U.S. Bureau of the Census. During this period, he wrote extensively on the population of the Soviet Union and on the applications of computer technology to demography. He also personally designed and wrote the first computer software for demographic projections and analysis.
In 1967, he joined the staff of the newly established Population Office U.S.A.I.D., serving as chief of the Demography Division until 1982. While heading the Population Office, he planned and directed a comprehensive demographic and statistical program which included the World Fertility Survey and the Contraceptive Prevalence Survey.
From 1982 to 1987, he worked at the Population Institute on Project 1990, a study of the cost of expanding family planning services in the nations that account for half of the world's population growth. That study was distributed to delegates to the International Conference on Population in Mexico City in 1984. Other major accomplishments included serving as a consultant to the United Nations Population Division and Statistics Office, and as demographer for a study of world food problems for the President's Science Advisory Committee.
Since retiring and moving to Shepherdstown, in 1989, he had continued to work as a consultant and writer. Among his numerous publication credits is a booklet, "Population and Birth Control in the Soviet Union's Successor States," issued by the Population Institute.
At the time of his death, he was working on a book on the politics of international population policy.
His career in population policy spanned more than 45 years and included more than 30 years of government service. His work often took him to third world countries. In 1987 through 1988, he spent a year in Indonesia developing a national population strategy.
He was a past treasurer of the Population Association of America; Shepherdstown Men's Club; Jefferson County Democratic Association; and National Association of Retired Federal Employees.
He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Maura Hurley Brackett; two sons from a previous marriage, Nathaniel Brackett of Vienna, Va., and Benjamin Brackett of Palm Court, Fla.; and a brother.
A memorial service will be scheduled in the future.
Memorial donations may be made in his memory to Population Institute, 107 Second St. N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002; or Hospice of the Panhandle Inc., 2015 Boyd Orchard Court, Martinsburg, W.Va. 25401.
Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Home, Martinsburg, W.Va.
Ruth H. Jones
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Ruth Hoover Jones, 79, of Martinsburg, died Thursday, Nov. 26, 1998, at City Hospital, Martinsburg.
Born Oct. 13, 1919, in Virginia, she was the daughter of the late Philip and Clara McFarland Hoover.
She retired in 1981, from Corning Glass Works. She also was a seamstress.
She was a member of St. Luke's United Methodist Church.
She is survived by two daughters, Melody McCauley of Martinsburg and Roxanne Staubs of Ranson, W.Va.; a son, Carl "Ed" Jones of Hedgesville, W.Va.; two sisters, Frances Shade and Lucille Busey, both of Inwood, W.Va.; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Virginia Aikens; and a brother, Russell Hoover.
Services will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Brown Funeral Home, 327 W. King St., Martinsburg. The Rev. Louise Barrett, a longtime friend, and the Rev. Kenneth Reed will officiate. Burial will be in Pleasant View Memory Gardens.
The family will receive friends Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Cedric W. Costello
RANSON, W.Va. - Cedric Wayne Costello, infant son of Timothy and Dorothy Crawford Costello of Ranson, died Tuesday, Nov. 24, 1998, at Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, W.Va.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his maternal grandparents, Richard and Shirley Crawford of Kearneysville, W.Va.; his maternal great-grandmother, Esther Crawford of Kearneysville; his paternal great-grandmother, Edith Costello of Charles Town, W.Va.; aunts and uncles.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Charles and Betty Costello.
Private graveside services will be held at Pleasant View Memory Gardens.
Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Home, Martinsburg.
Herschell G. Henrietta
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Herschell G. Henrietta, 84, of Martinsburg, died Sunday, Nov. 1, 1998, at Canterbury of Shepherdstown (W.Va.).
Born Aug. 25, 1914, in Fairmont, W.Va., he was the son of the late Charles D. and Emma Howard Henrietta.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Nina Henrietta.
He is survived by a close friend, Ethel T. Price of Martinsburg.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Charles A. Henrietta.
Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Home, Martinsburg.
Virginia A. Haletsky
CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Virginia Atlee Haletsky, 79, of Charles Town, died Friday, Nov. 27, 1998, at Shenandoah Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Charles Town.
Born Feb. 27, 1919, in Covesville, Va., she was the daughter of the late John F. and Josie A. Critzer Long.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Anthony Daniel Haletsky.
She worked as a PBX operator and receptionist at WTOP-TV, Channel 9, in Washington, D.C.
She was of the Catholic faith.
She is survived by a daughter, Rosemarie Walsh of Ranson, W.Va.; a son, Chris Haletsky of Kearneysville, W.Va.; two grandsons, Robert Daniel Walsh and James Robert Walsh; and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a great-granddaughter, Colleen Haun.
Private services will be held at Arlington National cemetery, Arlington, Va.
Arrangements are by Jefferson Chapel Funeral Home, Ranson.
Helen E. Fulk
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Helen Elizabeth Fulk, 78, of Martinsburg, died Sunday, Nov. 29, 1998, at her home.
Born Aug. 10, 1920, in Martinsburg, she was the daughter of the late G. Carl and Mary W. Byrd Hammill.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Julian R. "Buddy" Fulk.
She was a 1939 graduate of Martinsburg High School.
She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, an elder and a former Sunday school teacher.
She was a member of Golden Rule Chapter 69, Order of Eastern Star, United Daughters of the Confederacy, and a member of City Hospital auxiliary.
She is survived by one nephew, Charles B. Ropp; one great-niece and one great-nephew.
Services will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home, 327 W. King St., Martinsburg. The Rev. Robert S. Hill Jr. will officiate. Burial will be in Rosedale cemetery.
The family will receive friends today from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 220 S. Queen St., Martinsburg WV 25401.
