Stella G. Squire

ROANOKE RAPIDS – Stellar Garner Squire, 62, died August 3, 2003, at Halifax Regional Medical Center.

A funeral was conducted Wednesday in the Roanoke Rapids Chapel of H.D. Pope Funeral Home by the Rev. Wayne Welch. Interment will be in Squire Memorial in Gaston.

Martha Purnell

ROANOKE RAPIDS – Martha Purnell, 69, died August 3, 2003 at her home.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday at the True Way Church of God in Christ Jesus, Weldon, by Bishop Moses Williams. Interment will be in Oakridge Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday and family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. at the chapel of

H.D. Pope Funeral Home, Roanoke Rapids.

Eugenie B. Smith

PORTSMOUTH, Va. – Eugenie “Genie” Britton Smith, 90, a native of Pendleton, died August 4, 2003. She was the widow of Edward Garland Smith Sr.

A graveside service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday in Olive Branch Cemetery by the Rev. Larry Adams. The family will receive friends at Sturtevant Funeral Home, Bennetts Creek Chapel, Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Court Street Academy, 447 Court St., Portsmouth, VA 23704.

Mrs. Smith was a salesperson for more than 40 years for several stores retiring from The Famous after 20 years. She attended Aldersgate United Methodist Church.

Surviving are two daughters, Audrey S. Griswold of Ormond Beach; and four grandchildren.

Jesse A. Matthews

COLERAIN – Jesse Allen Matthews, 69, a native of Bertie County, died August 4, 2003 in Roanoke Chowan Hospital.

Matthews was a farmer and member of Wakelon Baptist Church, Wakelon. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army having served during the Korean Conflict.

Survivors include his wife, Edna Morris Matthews; a daughter, Rhonda Barber of Chesapeake, Va.; a son, Jeff Matthews of Colerain; a sister, Mary Jane Ruegger of Raleigh; two brothers, R.D. Matthews and Spencer Matthews, both of Ahoskie; and four grandchildren, Bianna Matthews, Candace Barber, Alex Barber and Justin Matthews.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday in Garrett Funeral Home, Ahoskie, by the Revs. Jim Cox and Burke Holland. Burial will be in Highland Memorial Gardens, Ahoskie. Memorial donations may be made to Colerain Rescue Squad, Colerain, NC 27924.