CAPRON—Franklin-Southampton Futures Inc. has hired its first executive director.

Capron resident Kay Pope, who began work last month, said she is &uot;anxious to see the city and county work together on projects where there will be savings for taxpayers.&uot;

Pope’s part-time position is

being funded by a combination of grants.

According to a press release by the group, Futures is an offshoot of the work that produced Franklin-Southampton Economic Development Inc. — a collaborative effort among the city, county, Franklin-Southampton Area Chamber of Commerce, Franklin Southampton Charities and the Camp Foundation, to &uot;find ways that the two local governments can work together beyond economic development.&uot;

Futures has not advocated a merger.

Pope is active in the local Chamber of Commerce and is vice chairman of Virginians Against the Outlying Landing Field.

She ran unsuccessfully against Moses Wyche in the November election for the Capron-Sebrell District seat on the Southampton County Board of Supervisors.

&uot;I am very active in my church,&uot; she said of Capron United Methodist. Pope formerly served as Sunday School superintendent for many years and currently serves as financial secretary.

She has been human resource manager at Southampton Correctional Center in Capron for 10 years and has 31 total years of state service, from which she plans to retire in September.

Before working at Southampton Correctional, she was human resource manager at Deerfield Correctional Center in Capron. She is also active in the national Society for Human Resource Management.

She attended Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C., and Pan American Business School in Richmond.

As executive director of Futures, she will be &uot;charged with guiding the board of directors in its mission.&uot;

President Chuck Lilley said, &uot;We welcome Kay to our board, and we are excited that she will be a part of our team whose mission is to enhance the quality of life for all citizens within our region by promoting cooperative efforts between the two governments.&uot;

According to Futures officials, selecting an executive director was the next step in the growth of the organization.

&uot;Futures Inc. simply wants to take advantage of synergies that will improve the standard of living for all citizens,&uot; said board member Jane Riddick-Fries.

Pope said the next project she would like to see come to fruition is implementation of a joint Junior ROTC program in

the city and county schools.

&uot;I think it would be a great benefit to the young high school students,&uot; she said.

Pope and her husband, James D. Pope Jr., have two adult sons, Jim Pope and wife, Robin, and children, Betsy, 9, and Ashby, 4; and Joe Pope and wife, Suzanne, and children, Kendal, 11, and Austin, 8, all of Capron.

Futures’ current board of directors includes Lilley, Vice President June Fleming, Secretary Doug Boyce, Treasurer Lynne Rabil, Brian Hedgepeth, Ernest Claud Jr., Edna King, Riddick-Fries and John Smolak as an ex officio member representing Franklin-Southampton Economic Development.