Bernice M. Taylor

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Bernice M. Taylor, 83, died October 3, 2004.

Interment will be private. A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday in Conway Baptist Church, Conway.

Mrs. Taylor was a homemaker.

Survivors include her husband, Stanley; sons, Barry of Sylvania, Ohio and Ronald Taylor of Columbus; a daughter Jill of Columbus; a sister, Lucille Futrell of Chesapeake, Va.; and two grandchildren.

Emma H. Parker

DURHAM – Emma Hayes Parker, 94, a native of Gates County, and formerly of Ahoskie (Menola), died October 24, 2004. She was the widow of Uriah Vaughan &uot;Fitzhugh&uot; Parker.

A graveside service was conducted Tuesday in Menola at the Parker Family Cemetery on the Fitzhugh Parker Road by the Rev. John Dutton. Hudson Funeral Home, Durham, was in charge.

Mrs. Parker was a member of Ahoskie United Methodist Church.

Survivors include her daughter, Mexie Parker Green; a brother, Garland C. Hayes of Arlington, Va.; two grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

Roger J. Knight

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Roger Judson Knight, 85, a native of Corapeake, died October 25, 2004, in a Norfolk hospital.

A funeral was conducted Wednesday in Sturtevant Funeral Home, Portsmouth Blvd. Chapel, by Stephen Kaung. Burial was in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Richmond Christian Fellowship, 4424 Huguenot Road, Richmond, VA 23235.

Knight was the owner of Wayside Real Estate & Wayside Building Inc., a former member of the Gideons and a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.

Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth Knight; two sons, Steven R. Knight and of Virginia Beach and Wayne H. Knight of Chesapeake; two sisters, Janice Williams of Lake Jackson, Texas, and Virginia Blair of Portsmouth; and four grandchildren.

Ernest R. Faison

AHOSKIE – Ernest Randolph &uot;ET&uot; Faison, died October 25, 2004 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

A funeral will be conducted at 12 noon Saturday at Canaan Missionary Baptist Church, Ahoskie, by the Rev. Franklin Williams. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Faison was a member of Soul Saving Station.

Survivors include his wife, Rosetta B. Faison of Ahoskie; six sons, Ernest R. Benthall of Ahoskie, Larry D. Benthall of Woodland, Gregory P. Benthall of Durham, Jeffery Benthall of Hampton, Va., Harvey M. Kearny of Leesburg, Va. and Michael J. Powell of Ahoskie; four daughters, Etta J. Harvey, Viola R. Benthall and Faye B. Lewis, all of Ahoskie and Kate Brown of Baltimore, Md.; one brother, Andrew Faison of Murfreesboro; five sisters, Maeroni Harrell of Aulander, Clarene Lassiter and Mildred Powell, both of Murfreesboro and Agnes Saunders and Josephine Simmons, both of New York; 20 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Larry D. Lasssiter

POWELLSVILLE – Larry Donnell Lassiter, 51, a native of Bertie County, died October 25, 2004 at Guardian Care Nursing Home, Ahoskie.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday at Wilder’s Funeral Home Chapel, Aulander, by the Rev. Vernon Lassiter. Burial will be in the Wilder-Cherry Family Cemetery.

Survivors include a son, Renato Lassiter of Aulander; four daughters, Katrina Lassiter of Powellsville, Sheila Lassiter, Glenda Lassiter and Melissa Lassiter, all of Raleigh; one brother, Milton Ray Lassiter of Aulander; and three grandchildren.

Elizabeth Lewter

PLEASANT HILL – Elizabeth Ann Boone Lewter, 61, a native of Halifax County, died October 25, 2004 at Halifax Regional Medical Center, Roanoke Rapids.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday at Massey Funeral Home, Roanoke Rapids, by the Rev. Carol Taylor and the Rev. Randy Baisey. Burial will be in Crestview Memorial Cemetery, Roanoke Rapids. The family will receive friends at Massey Funeral Home, Roanoke Rapids, from 7 until 9 p.m. Thursday and other times at the home. Memorial contributions may be made to Concord United Methodist Church or Saint Andrews United Methodist Church.

Mrs. Lewter was a member of Concord United Methodist Church.

Survivors include her husband, Joe Lewter; daughters, Mary Lewter Pair and Tammy Lewter, both of Pleasant Hill; a sister, Nancy W. Love of Pleasant Hill; and three grandchildren.

Jasper Turner

GASTON – Jasper Turner, 75, a native of Southampton Co., Va., died October 25, 2004 at Guardian Care, Scotland Neck.

A graveside service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday at Beechwood Cemetery, Boykins. Massey Funeral Home, Roanoke Rapids, is in charge.

Turner was a retired farmer.

Survivors include his wife, Lillie Mae Price Turner; his daughters, Linda Turner Acree of Roanoke Rapids, Vickie Mae Turner of Gaston and Cindy Turner McCorkle of Cary; his sons, Jasper Turner Jr. and Michael Wayne Turner, both of Gaston; brothers, Reuben Turner of Roanoke Rapids, Bill Turner of Seaboard and Leslie Turner of Emporia, Va.; sisters, Ruth Turner Barnard of Roanoke Rapids and Rose Turner Edwards of Seaboard; nine children; and five great-grandchildren.

Flossie F. Wilson

PORTSMOUTH, Va. – Flossie F. Wilson, a native of Woodland, died October 24, 2004, in a hospital. She was the widow of Woodrow Wilson.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday in Noble Street Baptist Church by Pastor Henry P. Jones. Burial will be in Lincoln Cemetery. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at J.T. Fisher Funeral Services Inc., 1080 N. George Washington Hwy., Chesapeake. The family will assemble at the church at 12:15 p.m. Friday. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.jtfisherfuneralservices.com .

Mrs. Wilson retired from the naval base and was a member of Noble Street Baptist Church. She graduated from W.S. Brown High School in Winton.

Survivors include a sister, Ethel Beverley; and two brothers, James Fennell and J.D. Fennell.

Mary L. Harrell

CONWAY – Mary Lee Harrell, 86, a native of Northampton County, died October 25, 2004, at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. John AME Church by the Rev. James P. Baker. Burial will be in the Deloatch family cemetery, Conway. Hertford County Undertakers, Winton, is in charge.

Survivors include her children, Mable Jeffries of South Floral Park, N.Y., Queenie Harris of Como and Malinda Grant of Washington, D.C.; a brother, Ralph Deloatch of Conway; a sister, Bernice Powell of Charlotte; 11 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Dolly S. Harrell

AHOSKIE – Dolly S. Harrell, 66, died October 26, 2004, at her home.

A graveside service will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Ahoskie Cemetery by the Rev. Robert May. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at 412 Rhue St., Ahoskie. Massey Funeral Home, Aulander, is in charge.

Mrs. Harrell was a retired seamstress.

Survivors include her husband, William M. Harrell; two sons, William H. Harrell Jr. of Tampa, Fla., and Jimmy D. Harrell of Mountain City, Tenn.; three sisters, Sue Johnson of Smithfield, Pattie Brooks of Provident, RI and Peggy Ann Seal of Bristol; three brothers, Frank Seal of Franklin, Va., Hugh and Bill Seal, both of Provident; and three grandchildren.

William Smith

AHOSKIE – William Smith, died October 25, 2004, at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at Newsome Grove Baptist Church. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Survivors include his wife, Lula Smith of Ahoskie; two sons, Leslie Holley and Wayne Smith, both of Ahoskie; two daughters, Shirley Smith of Philadelphia, Pa., and Deborah Boyd of Ahoskie; two brothers, Jupiter Smith Jr. of Colerain and Horace Smith of Ahoskie; and 12 grandchildren.

Martha S. Vann

COFIELD – Martha Sue Vann, died October 26, 2004 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Sunday at Philippi Baptist Church, Cofield. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Mrs. Vann was a member of Philippi Baptist Church.

Survivors include two sons, John C. Vann of Hampton, Va., and James D. Vann II of Suffolk; daughters, Amelia Earley and Barbara Boone, both of Cofield, Maurice Vann, Vivian Davis and Bertha White, all of Ahoskie and Vanessa Anthony of Hampton; 18 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Matokie Askew

AULANDER – Matokie Askew, died October 26, 2004, at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

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

Earline S. Staples

AHOSKIE – Earline Sawyer Staples, 70, of Ahoskie, passed away on Monday, October 25, 2004 at Pitt County Memorial Hospital.

She was a retired nurse from Roanoke Chowan Hospital and a member of Brantley’s Grove Baptist Church of Ahoskie. She was predeceased by her husband, Tommie Staples, and her son, William Thomas Staples.

Survivors include three daughters, Mary S. Chambers of Tunis, Sue S. Vinson of Ahoskie and Janet S. Worthington of Windsor, NC; five brothers, Roy Lee Sawyer, Dennis Sawyer and Dallas Sawyer, all of Trenton, GA, Ray Sawyer of South Mills, NC and Rex. Sawyer of Camden; one sister, Ramona Pugh of Camden; three grandchildren, John Long of Ahoskie, Allison Gupton of Claremont, VA, and Tammy Chambers of Reidsville; and five great-grandchildren, Meghan Powell, Justin Thompson, Kasey Stroud, Daniel Long and Billy Long.

She was also blessed with many friends.

The family received friends at Garrett’s Funeral Home from 7 until 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 27, 2004.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 28, 2004 at Garrett’s Funeral Home of Ahoskie, with the Rev. James C. Ward, officiating.

Burial will follow in Highland Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association.