A Boykins Girl Scout was this year’s top cookie seller for the Franklin/Southampton County Service Unit.

Indiyah Stephenson of Troop 5073 sold 1,164 boxes of cookies, helping her troop toward a total of 6,492 boxes in sales.

Indiyah, the daughter of Thaddeus and Darlene Stephenson of Branchville, is a Junior Scout whose troop is under the leadership of Kisha Watford.

The troop will use its profits for community service projects and is saving for an extended trip.

Many who purchased cookies, donate them for “Gift of Caring,” which goes to a local organization. For many years, the Boykins troop has given its donations to the residents at Courtland Health Care Center for Easter Baskets that include movies, games, toiletries and more.

• Franklin artist LaVerne K. Schmidt recently finished a watercolor painting of the former Parker Drug in downtown Franklin. The store closed July 27 after 123 years in business.

She hopes to sell the original 12- by 16-inch painting for $250 and plans to have prints made, which LaVerne will sell for $45 unframed.

A landscape and portrait artist, she has worked in advertising most of her life as an art director and freelance illustrator.

LaVerne can be reached at 556-6164.

As for Parker Drug, it will have new occupants. Liz and Herbert Britt, owners of Simply Divine Catering, plan to move their business from Armory Drive to that location.

• More than 260 pairs of socks, 30 boxes of powdered juice drinks, two fans, 22 coloring books, 14 boxes of crayons, “tons” of candy and $180 were donated during a drive on Aug. 28 at Fred’s restaurant. The money will be used to purchase items for Marines in Afghanistan.

The drive was held in honor of Cody Childers, a 19-year-old Marine from Chesapeake who was killed on Aug. 20 by enemy gunfire in Afghanistan.

Family friend Diane Casto of Carrsville said in his will Cody asked that people send fellow soldiers socks, powdered juice mixes and fans. For the children there, Childers wanted coloring books, crayons and candy sent.

“The community of Franklin can always be counted on to show support and generosity for its neighbors and a worthy cause,” Gayle Schmitz, owner of Franklin Art & Frameworks, said in response to the drive. “Diane considered Cody to be ‘just like my own son,’ and has known him since he was a little boy.”

Cody was a member of Meherrin Hunt Club in Brunswick County, where Diane is also a member.

A 2009 graduate of Grassfield High School in Chesapeake, Cody reported for training last August and deployed a little more than two months ago from Camp Lejeune. He was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division in the II Marine Expeditionary Force.

Anyone wishing to offer support to members of the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment in Afghanistan can send donations payable to Cody’s mother, Wendy Childers, who plans to send care packages overseas. Donations can be sent to the Lance Cpl. Cody Childers Memorial Fund, in care of Great Bridge Baptist Church, 640 S. Battlefield Blvd., Chesapeake, Va., 23322.