The Board of Supervisors recommended in July of 2022 that the bridge on Chalk Level Road crossing U.S. Highway 29 in Chatham be named the “Deputy Sheriff J. Holland Thomas, Sr. Memorial Bridge."

In October of 1952, Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Deputy Holland was attempting to arrest a man who was wanted for killing his employer. Thomas was shot in the chest and abdomen with a 12-gauge shotgun. He underwent several surgeries to have the pellets removed, but one that remained caused a fatal infection four years later.

The Board of Supervisors will formally rename and dedicate the bridge in December of 2022. 

The Board of Supervisors recommended in May of 2022 that the Route 57 Bridge east of Chatham be named the "Trooper Henry Noel Harmon Memorial Bridge." 

Trooper Henry Harmon was a Virginia State Trooper stationed out of Chatham. While arresting a drunk driver on Route 761 near Long Island in January of 1960, Harmon was shot in the back of the neck, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down for the remainder of his life. He died in 1995 as result of the gunshot wound he suffered 35 years prior.

The Board formally dedicated the "Trooper Henry Noel Harmon Memorial Bridge" in August of 2022. 

The Board of Supervisors recommended in May of 2022 that the U.S. 29 North Bridge in Hurt be named the "Trooper Henry Murray Brooks, Jr. Memorial Bridge." 

Trooper Brooks was stationed in Gretna beginning in 1953. In June of 1956, Brooks was investigating a crash on U.S. Highway 29 about three miles south of Altavista when another car crashed into the parked vehicle, Brooks, and three others. Brooks was taken to the hospital, where he died of his injuries. 

The Board formally dedicated the "Trooper Henry Murray Brooks, Jr. Memorial Bridge in August of 2022. 

The Board of Supervisors recommended in early 2021 that the bridge on Route 29 Business North in Blairs be renamed the "William H. Pritchett Memorial Bridge." That request was approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board and the bridge was officially renamed in September of 2021. 

Mr. Pritchett was the first Black Supervisor in Pittsylvania County's history and represented the Banister District from 1992 to 2011. He served in the capacities of chairman and vice-chairman for seven of his years on the Board. During his tenure on the Board of Supervisors, Pritchett advocated for the improvement of the county's solid waste infrastructure, including the replacement of open-top trash receptacles with compactor sites. He also supported the Southern Virginia Mega Site at Berry Hill. 

The Board of Supervisors recommended in January of 2021 to name the Chatham South Bridge (entering Chatham on U.S. 29 Business) as the "Clyde L. Banks, Sr. Memorial Bridge." That request was granted by the Commonwealth Transportation Board and the Bridge was officially renamed in July, 2021. 

The late Mr. Banks was a renowned community leader and Civil Rights activist who played a key role in the local integration of schools, securing equal pay for black and white teachers, and advocating for Black people in the local Sheriff's Office. 

The Board of Supervisors recommended in December of 2019 that the Chatham North bridge (entering U.S. 29 North from the Town of Chatham) be named the "Roy P. Byrd, Jr., Memorial Bridge." The bridge was officially dedicated in October of 2020. 

Byrd spent time serving on the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors, as the Mayor of Chatham, on the Industrial Development Authority, and on various other County and Town boards. He also served on the State Transportation Board, playing a key role in improving transportation infrastructure in Pittsylvania County. 

The Commonwealth Transportation Board approved a Board of Supervisors request in January of 2005 to name the Route 29 Bridge over the Staunton River bypass the "Dr. James P. Kent, Sr. Bridge." Signage was installed in May of 2005.

Kent was a former Mayor of the Town of Hurt and a Navy Pilot in World War II. He was named the 1996 Pittsylvania County Citizen of the Year Award for his outstanding leadership and dedicated community service. He served on a variety of Boards and Commissions in the community, including on the Board of Directors for Staunton River Medical Center. 

The Commonwealth Transportation Board approved a request in January of 2005 to rename the Route 58 bypass over the Dan River the "James Lester Tramel Bridge." Signage was installed in May of 2005.

A dairy and tobacco farmer, Tramel (1895-1974) served on the Board of Supervisors, spent time on numerous boards and Commissions, and was well-respected and held in high esteem by the community. 

The Board of Supervisors voted in July of 2015 to rename the overpass of State Route 360 East over U.S. 29 Business as the "Irvin C. Burton Memorial Bridge." 

A quiet but determined advocate for public education for all Pittsylvania County students and one of the founders of Pittsylvania County Community Action, Irvin C. Burton Sr. helped drive significant social change in Pittsylvania County. Burton fought for increased voting access, teaching many Black Pittsylvania County residents how to register. Burton was also a leader in the Blairs Civic League and Pittsylvania County NAACP. Burton died in 1998. 

The Commonwealth Transportation Board approved a request in January of 2005 to name the Southbound Route 29 Altavista bypass over the Staunton River as the "W.C. "Pete" Daniel Bridge." These signs were installed in May of 2005.

Daniel served as the Mayor of the Town of Hurt for 14 years, served as a Navy Pilot in World War II, and received numerous citizen awards. 

The Commonwealth Transportation Board approved a request from the Board of Supervisors in October of 2003 to rename Route 58 East bypassing the City of Danville the Archer T. Gammon Highway.  

A Chatham native, Gammon (1918-1945) received the Medal of Honor for his actions in World War II. In 1942, Gammon, who had earned the role of Staff Sargent, destroyed a German machine gun and killed several other infrantryman before he was eventually killed by a tank. Gammon is buried at the Mountain View Cemetery in Danville. You can learn more about Gammon on our notable County residents page. 

The Commonwealth Transportation Board approved a request from the Board of Supervisors and Danville City Council to rename the Route 58 bridge bypassing Route 58 Business West the "Frankie Lynn Betterton Memorial Bridge." 

Betterton, a Deputy with the Pittsylvania County Sheriff's Office, lost his life in the line of duty. Betterton was shot in the head while making a traffic stop on Route 58 near the City of Danville on May 17, 2002. 

The General Assembly renamed a bridge on Route 29 over the Banister River just south of Chatham as the Rawley White Martin Memorial Bridge in 1942. 

Martin (1835-1912) was a physician who served as a Lt Col in the Confederate Army Fifty-third Virginia Regiment. He led his regiment in Pickett's historic charge at Gettysburg in 1863, during which he was wounded and captured. 

The Commonwealth Transportation Board voted in 2000 to rename the Route 640 Bridge over the Banister River in Pittsylvania County the "Leonard Lawson Edwards Memorial Bridge."

While serving in the United States Army during World War II, Edwards was captured during the Battle of the Bulge and spent months as a prisoner of war. Edwards was widely known as a decent, hardworking person. 

The Commonwealth Transportation Board voted in January of 1993 to rename Route 29 from Business Route 29 north of Danville to State Route 360 at the North Corporate Limit of Danville as "Dan Daniel Highway." 

Born in Chatham in 1914, Wilbur Clarence “Dan” Daniel had a successful career at the Dan River Mills, served in Virginia and National politics for more than 30 years, and as completed a term as the Commander of the National Legion. You can learn more about Daniel on the notable Pittsylvania County residents page. 

The General Assembly approved the naming of Route 29 from Business Route 29 North of Gretna to Business Route 29 South of Gretna as the "Robert C. Vaden Highway" in 1991. 

A businessman and member of the Senate of Virginia for 21 years, Vaden was born in Chatham in 1882. Vaden served as the mayor of Gretna for 15 years before getting elected to represent the 13th District in the Virginia Senate. 

In 1940 the General Assembly renamed the Route 40 Bridge over the Pigg River West of Gretna as the Stanhope Hurt Bridge. 

Originally born in Halifax but raised in Hurt, Stanhope Scott Hurt served as the elected Clerk of Court in Pittsylvania County for 63 years. Up until his record was broken in 2021, Hurt held an elected office for longer than any other known person in the United States. He retired in 1931 and died 10 days later. You can learn more about Hurt on the notable County residents page.