Annie L. Hofler

GATES – Annie L. Hofler, 77, a native of Gates County, died July 31, 2003, in Autumn Care Suffolk. She was the widow of William Earnest Hofler.

A funeral was conducted Sunday in Crocker Funeral Home by the Rev. Junius Joe. Interment will be held in the Hofler Cemetery, Gates.

Mrs. Hofler retired from the Gates County public school system as a cook.

She is survived by three daughters, Marion Askew of Jessup, Md., Nancy Figgs of Gatesville, and Pamela Oliver of Clinton; three sons, Corbell Riddick of Chesapeake, Dwight Riddick and Willie C. of Gates; a sister, Pearl Dildy of Suffolk; four brothers, William Thomas Dildy of Suffolk, Seth Dildy of Corapeake, Leslie Dildy of Suffolk and Edward Dildy of Gates; four stepgrandchildren; 21 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren; and seven stepgreat-grandchildren.

Mary S. Minyard

NORFOLK, Va. – Mary Alice Spurrier Minyard, 78, died August 2, 2003.

She is survived by two daughters, Doris Roberts of Gates and Elizabeth Ann Scanlin of Norfolk; a son, Charles E. Napier of Suffolk; a sister, Bertha Pizer of Norfolk; two brothers, Bill Spurrier of Pennington Gap, Va., and Clarence of Indiana; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Tidewater Drive Chapel, by the Rev. Karl Sexton. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Tuesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com.

Orlean H. Purvis

WINDSOR – Orlean Hill Purvis, 71, a native of Bertie County, died August 1, 2003, at Pitt Memorial Hospital, Greenville.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Saint Francis Missionary Baptist Church, Windsor, by the Rev. Dennis M. Cherry. Burial will be in the family cemetery. Visitation will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Cherry’s Funeral Home Chapel.

Purvis was a member of St. Francis Missionary Baptist Church, Windsor.

Survivors include her husband, Benjamin Purvis; three brothers, Cofield Hill and Woodrow Hill, both of Windsor and Charles Hill of New York City; and one sister, Millie Williams of Bronx, N.Y.

Coy Warren

MERRY HILL – Coy Warren, died August 1, 2003, at Chowan Hospital, Edenton.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Ella L. Charles

RICH SQUARE – Ella Lee Charles, 84, died August 4, 2003, at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete. Massey Funeral Home, Jackson, is in charge.