The Charlotte County Board of Supervisors recently passed a resolution requesting the naming of a portion of Virginia Scenic Byway 47 as the Curtis W. Tharpe Memorial Bridge.

Tharpe, 71, died on Thursday, Feb. 18 after an almost two-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

“As all of you know, a few months ago … this board passed a resolution in December to name the bridge … on Roanoke Creek (as) The Curtis Tharpe Bridge,” said Haywood Hamlet, chairman of the board of supervisors.

He said the details were still in the works for the bridge when Tharpe died, which led the supervisors to override the previous resolution to request that the bridge be named the Curtis W. Tharpe

Memorial Bridge.

The resolution stated that the county would be responsible for the cost of making and installing all signage for the naming of the bridge.

The resolution notes Tharpe’s lifelong residency in Charlotte and his owning Curtis Tharpe Trucking Co. and BMC Rock.

Supervisors sought to honor Tharpe for his contributions to the economic development of the county, according to the resolution.

According to Beverley Tharpe Kunath, Tharpe’s daughter, her father owned and operated Curtis Tharpe Trucking for 44 years and BMC Rock Quarry for nine years.

The location of the bridge on Virginia Scenic Byway 47 is “situated adjacent to Curtis W. Tharpe’s family home and adjoining property,” stated the resolution.

Supervisors said that the local businesses operated by Tharpe have provided employment opportunities for local citizens, opportunities for other enterprisers and services to the county.

For many years, the bridge has been known as the Roanoke Creek Bridge.

A motion was made to approve the resolution by Drakes Branch Supervisor Garland Hamlett, and was seconded by Keysville Supervisor Robert Shook.