Former College of Education faculty Willa Bazemore and Dwight Newell die

Willa Spruill Bazemore, 78, an associate professor of education at Old Dominion from 1973 to 1988, died Aug. 12 in Norfolk.

She earned both bachelor's and master's degrees from Hampton University and a doctorate in education from the University of Virginia in 1975.

Before joining the Old Dominion faculty, Bazemore was employed by the Norfolk City Public Schools for two decades as a teacher and guidance counselor. From 1980 to 1992, Bazemore served on the Chesapeake City Council, including six years as vice mayor. She was the first African American woman to hold this position.

Survivors include her husband, Merritt McCoy Bazemore Sr. and their four children, Cynthia Elaine Moore, Joyce Cheatham and Gloria Toni Bazemore, all of Chesapeake, and Merrit McCoy Bazemore Jr. of Petersburg, Va.; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Benjamin Spruill Jr. of Chesapeake and John Henry Spruill of Portsmouth.

Memorials may be made to Hampton University.

Dwight H. Newell of Roseville, Calif., professor emeritus of educational leadership and services, died May 22.

Newell had worked in education for more than 40 years when he retired as the Constance and Colgate Darden Professor of Education in 1984.

A World War II veteran, Newell came to the university in 1972 from San Francisco State College, where he had served as professor of educational administration and dean of the School of Education (1968-72). At Old Dominion, he served as dean of the Darden School of Education from 1972-78. He was named Darden Professor of Education in 1976.

His teaching areas included public school law, organization and administration of public school programs, theory of educational leadership, and law and higher education.

He was predeceased by his first wife, Ruth E. Newell, and brothers, Theodore and Irving Newell.

Survivors include his second wife, Dorothy Newell; his sister, Marian Paper; and his daughters, Mary Anne Stergion, Margaret McCleary and Elizabeth Sulzmann.