Family wonders what became of missing woman

Al Barksdale dreamed his sister-in-law walked into a gathering of family and friends, past long tables full of food.

He dreamed Hattie Brown, who disappeared six months ago, came home.

As Christmas approaches, the missing 5-foot-4 retired Army sergeant has left a void in the family.

“No words can describe the not knowing, being unable to understand the situation, where she’s at and where she could be,” said Preteasta “Tee” Barksdale, of Campbell County, Hattie’s sister.

“It’s an empty feeling. I have an empty pit in my stomach. Everyone is in their place but one person.”

Hattie disappeared on May 16, a Saturday. She had been helping plan a bridal shower for Barbara Brown, who was marrying into the large family. When she didn’t show up that day, her family became concerned.

“It wasn’t like her to leave the others holding the bag, especially since she was the matron of honor,” Barbara said.

There was still no word from the Halifax woman the next day; she hadn’t called to check on her Chihuahua.

“When she didn’t call to check on Grasshopper, we knew something was terribly wrong,” said Hattie’s brother, Randy Brown, who lives in Forest.

Investigators said Hattie left her house without her purse and medication. None of her accounts have been touched.

Hattie was last seen at the South Boston Sheetz at about 2:33 a.m. on May 16. Investigators believe Hattie’s nephew was with her and he was named a person of interest, but no charges have been filed.

Almost two months later, on July 7, the burned shell of Hattie’s 2003 silver Volkswagen Jetta was discovered behind a barn near Virgilina, which is about 22 miles south of Halifax. State and local authorities conducted ground and air searches for two weeks.

Hattie’s 49th birthday was Sept. 21. Almost two months after her birthday, divers searched water near where her car was found. They came up empty. Another search of the ground found nothing; another is planned.

The hardest part for the Brown family is not knowing what happened.

“It’s an empty feeling,” Randy said. “We still have hope, even after they found the car all burnt up. Someone did something they didn’t have any business doing. She didn’t deserve this.”

The Desert Storm veteran is described as an outgoing woman — adventurous, kind and willing to help anyone.

“She had a beautiful spirit,” Barbara said.

Hattie was the first female sergeant in her platoon. She retired in 1998 and a few years later moved back home to help care for her ailing mother.

“The biggest thing we need is some kind of peace,” said Al Barksdale.

Randy said the family’s faith has helped them go on in hopes of finding some peace.

“We’ve still got a lot of hope,” he said. “Something has to turn up. We pray something will happen every day.

“We can’t get any breaks … There ain’t no peace in that. One way or another, we can start to have some closure.”

The family believes there is someone who saw something out of place that hasn’t come forward. Maybe the person lives out of the area and doesn’t know Hattie is still missing. There is someone out there who holds the key.

The Brown family still has hope that she’ll come home. They’ve been through so many scenarios — maybe she’s hurt and can’t remember who she is; maybe someone’s holding her captive; maybe they will finally know what happened.

“Her words are, ‘It’ll be all right’ and she never told you bye,” said her sister Tee. “She said, ‘In a minute.’

“’In a minute’ she’ll be returning and ‘it’ll be all right.’”

Hattie Gertrude Brown is a black woman with brown eyes and black, shoulder-length hair. She is about 5 feet, 4 inches tall, weighs 155 pounds and was last seen wearing a sleeveless top and pants with side stripes.

Anyone who might have information about her disappearance is asked to call the Virginia State Police at (800) 552-0962, (434) 352-7128 or e-mail troy.larue@vsp.virginia.gov , the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office at (434) 476-3334 or the South Boston Police Department at (434) 575-4271.