James L. Askew Sr.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. – James L. Askew Sr., 70, a native of Roxobel, died September 25, 2004, in Sentara Nursing Center, Portsmouth.

A funeral will be conducted at noon Saturday in Macedonia Church of God in Christ, Portsmouth, with Elder Theodore Cutler. Burial will be in Roosevelt Memorial Park, Chesapeake. The family will be at the residence. The body will be placed in the church at 11 a.m. Saturday. Fisher Funeral Home, 1520 Effingham St., Portsmouth, is in charge.

Askew retired from civil service after 32 years and was formerly employed by Diversified Concepts, Portsmouth. He attended St. James COGIC in Portsmouth and was an Army veteran of the Korean conflict.

Survivors include his wife, Romell L. Askew; five daughters, Gwendolyn Mitchell, Wanda Haskins, Andrea Peebles, Katrina Tabb and Cenith Byrd; a son, James L. Askew Jr.; four sisters, Mildred Lee, Catherine Grant, Linda Askew and Madeline Askew; six brothers, Eugene Askew, Fred Askew, Vernon Askew, Ervin Askew, William Askew and Cluster Askew; 16 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren.

George Vinson

MURFREESBORO – George Vinson, 87, a native of Hertford County, died September 29, 2004, at Guardian Care Nursing Home.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at Hunter’s Funeral Home Chapel, Ahoskie, by the Rev. Robert Richardson III. Burial will be in Carver Park Cemetery.

Vinson was a retired loader from Georgia Pacific. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Murfreesboro.

Survivors include a daughter, Edith Brown of Norfolk, Va.; and two grandchildren.

Watson Drew Jr.

RICH SQUARE – Watson Drew Jr., 62, died September 30, 2004.

A funeral will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Branches Chapel Baptist Church, Rich Square, by the Rev. Tony Flood. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Smith-Whidbee Funeral Home, Rich Square, is in charge.

James C. Smith

COFIELD – James C. &uot;JC&uot; Smith, died September 19, 2004, at his residence.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Monday at Philippi Baptist Church by the Rev. William Clark. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Smith was a member of Philippi Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Cora Estelle S. Smith of Cofield; five sons, James Smith of Newport News, Va., Melvin and William Smith, both of Hampton, Herbert Smith of Cofield and Joseph Smith of Ahoskie; seven daughters, Mamie Louise Irby of Boston, Mass., Bessie Burke, Vivian Holmes and Wendy Thompson, all of Newport News, Gloria Fennell of Cofield, Sarah Askew of Rocky Mount and Dorothy Jernigan of Hampton; two sisters, Elouise Poole of Baltimore and Sarah Ballard of Eure; two brothers, Ponnie G. Smith of Ahoskie and Alfred Smith of Hampton; 99 grand, great and great-great-grandchildren.

Ralph Jordan

AHOSKIE – Ralph Jordan, died September 29, 2004, at his residence.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Sunday at Piney Wood Chapel Baptist Church, Ahoskie, by the Rev. Matthew Silver. Burial will be in the family cemetery. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Survivors include his wife, Nora Jordan of Ahoskie; two sons, Ralph H. Jordan Jr. of Boise, La., Aaron G. Jordan of Ahoskie; two daughters, Cornelia Jordan of Burlington and Carrie Strickland of Ahoskie; one sister, Dionet Franklin of Richmond, Va.; and six grandchildren.

Madie Freeman

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Madie Freeman, a native of Bertie County, died September 25, 2004, at Inner Faith Medial Center.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at Reynolds Funeral Home Chapel, Ahoskie, by the Rev. James W. Freeman. Burial will be in First Baptist Church Colerain Cemetery. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Dorothy Saunders

AHOSKIE – Dorothy Freeman Saunders, died September 30, 2004 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie. She was the widow of Henry &uot;Boot Boy&uot; Saunders.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Ahoskie, by Brother Holley. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery, Ahoskie. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Mrs. Freeman was a member of Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall.

Survivors include three sons, Nathaniel M. Saunders of Hampton, Va., Dwight L. Saunders of Portsmouth and Dominic H. Saunders of Savannah, Ga.; one stepson, William Burke of Ahoskie; two daughters, Diane S. McNair of Gary, Ind., and Brenda Saunders Moultrie of Richmond; one brother, G. Hobert Freeman of Ahoskie; three sisters, Mollie James and Ida Everette, both of Ahoskie and Laura Dean Freeman Lassiter of Ocean Pines, Md.; 15 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.