W. Vann Whitehead

BRANCHVILLE, Va. – Warner Vann Whitehead, 83, departed this life on January 6, 2005. He leaves to cherish his memory a loving wife of 57 years, Blanche Vaughan Whitehead; three children and their spouses, Robert V. Whitehead and wife, Brenda of Roanoke Rapids, NC, Augustus (Gene) Whitehead and wife, Connie, of Branchville and Beverly W. Stewart and husband, John of Newsoms; five grandchildren, Warner V. Whitehead, III, Michael L. Whitehead, Adam E. Whitehead, Rachel R. Stewart and Jeremy W. Stewart; four great-grandchildren and his sister, Irene W. Smith of Fort Wayne, Ind. He was predeceased by his parents, Augustus C. and Margie Vann Whitehead, two sons, Warner V. Whitehead, Jr. and Wayne L. Whitehead and three brothers, Wallace, Arthur and Delbert Whitehead.

Mr. Whitehead was a longtime Southampton County farmer and retired as Security Supervisor after 23 years of service with the Southampton Correctional Center. He was an Army veteran of WWII having served in the England General Hospital as a technician 5th Class Sgt. He was a member of the Branchville American Legion and Branchville United Methodist Church.

A funeral service was held in the chapel of Wright Funeral Home, Boykins, on Monday, January 10, 2005 at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Edward Johnson and the Rev. David Henson officiating. Burial with military honors was held in Beechwood Cemetery. The family received friends at the funeral home on Sunday evening from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Boykins Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 347, Boykins, VA 23827 or the American Cancer Society, c/o Mrs. June S. Cooley, 112 Sunset Dr., Franklin, VA 23851.

Robert E. Grant

BRONX, N.Y. – Robert Earl Grant, 69, a native of Newport News, Va., died January 1, 2005.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Hunter’s Funeral Home Chapel, Ahoskie, by the Rev. Willie Haddock. Burial will be in Cumbo Chapel Church Cemetery.

Grant was a retired truck driver.

Survivors include three brothers, Floyd Grant and Walter Grant, both of Rich Square and Nathan Grant of Poughkeepsie; and two sisters, Essie Eason of Mt. Vernon and Ida Haddock of Las Vegas, Nev.

Lela Parker

WELDON – Lela Parker, 79, died January 7, 2005 at Halifax Regional Medical Center.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete. H.D. Pope Funeral Home, Roanoke Rapids, is in charge.

Meta J. Sutton

WINTON – Meta Jane Sutton, 79, a native of Bertie Count, died January 5, 2005 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

A funeral was conducted Saturday at Rountree Temple by Bishop J.C. Watford. Burial was in the church cemetery. Hunter’s Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, was in charge.

Mrs. Sutton was a member of Roundtree Temple.

Survivors include four sons, James Sutton and Ernest Sutton Jr., both of Winton, Carlton Sutton of Cofield and Donald Sutton of Ahoskie; 10 daughters, Ann Nixon of Ahoskie, Bertha Watson of New York, Shirley Bennett of Philadelphia, Pa., Geneva Taylor of Powellsville, Lucy Watford of Cofield, Alma Hall of Aulander, Joyce Jones of Windsor, Phyllis White, Catherine Rountree and Gloria Moore, all of Winton; nine sisters, nine sisters, Mildred Williams of Merry Hill, Thelma Cooper of Windsor, Lether Askew of Ahoskie, Sarah Dixon of Norfolk, Va., Virginia Cooper and Margaret Parker, both of Windsor, Dorothy Lamb of Virginia Beach, and Iris Simmons of Roxobel, Minnie Newsome, all of Ahoskie; one brother, Edward Webb Jr. of Washington, D.C.; and a host of grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.

Kevin D. Byars

WILLIAMSTON – Kevin Dale Byars, 54, died January 7, 2005.

A memorial service will be conducted at a later date. Wilkerson Funeral Home, Greenville, is in charge. Memorial contributions may be made to the Martin County Law Enforcement Association, c/o Terry Holliday, P.O. Box 662, Williamston, N.C. 27892.

Byars was a retired police chief.

Survivors include two daughters, Heather B. Vitale and Holly Byars; a son, Dain Byars; a sister, Denice B. Miller of Eure; and a grandson.

Gertharee Vaughan

PENDLETON – Gertharee Vaughan, died January 9, 2005 at Halifax Memorial Hospital, Roanoke Rapids.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday at Severn First Baptist Church by the Rev. Elijah Barnes. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Mrs. Vaughan was a member of Severn First Baptist Church.

Survivors include her husband, Jarvis Vaughan of Pendleton; one daughter, Janett V. Walker of Conway; and one sister, Nellie Taylor of Rich Square.

Brenda P. Parsons

HERTFORD – Brenda Darlene Powell Parsons, 55, a native of Gates County, died January 8, 2005, in Albemarle Hospital, Elizabeth City.

A funeral will be conducted at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Cool Spring Baptist Church by the Rev. Roger Kiker. Burial will be private in Greenlawn Cemetery, Portsmouth. Friends may join the family Tuesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Miller Funeral Home, Gatesville, and other times are the residence. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Cool Spring Baptist Church, c/o Merwin Bauerle, 460 US 13 S., Eure, NC 27935. The family will assemble at the church at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in preparation of services.

Mrs. Parsons was a Baptist, she had worked as a nurse’s assistant.

Survivors include her father, Sam Henry Powell of Portsmouth; three sons, Herbie Williams of Edenton, David L. Williams and Paul T. William, both of Hertford; a brother, Sam Howard Powell of Elizabeth City; and five grandchildren.

Louise Moore

NORFOLK, Va. – Louise &uot;Slim,&uot; &uot;Miss Louise&uot; Moore, 77, a native of Ahoskie, died January 6, 2005, at home.

A funeral will be conducted at noon Wednesday in First Calvary Baptist Church, 813 Henry St., by the Rev. Charles Springs. Burial will be in Roosevelt Memorial Park. Graves Funeral Home is in charge.

Mrs. Moore worked as a waitress for Toy-Sun Chinese Restaurant formerly on Church Street and Chinese Tea Garden in Downtown Plaza. She was a member of First Calvary Baptist Church

Survivors include a Mary L. Simmons of Chesapeake; two sisters, Julia Cooper of Norfolk and AnnaL. Shell of Cleveland, Ohio; a brother, Lee H. Moore of Suffolk; and five grandchildren.

Evelyn M. Ott

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Evelyn Mitchell Ott, a native of Aulander, died January

8, 2005. She was the widow of Robert Pully.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Epworth United Methodist Church in Norfolk, with the Rev. Phyllis Early. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 20 Interstate Corporate Center, Norfolk, VA 23502. Cremation & Funeral Services of Tidewater is in charge.

Mrs. Ott founded the Evelyn Ott School of Dance in 1940 and worked there until her retirement in 1980. She was a lifetime member of the Dance Masters of America; a lifetime member of the Dance Educators of America; a member of the Sarah Constant Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Tidewater Daughters of the American Revolution Regents Club; a member of the Virginia Symphony League; and a former board member of the Algonquin House.

Survivors include a niece, a nephew; and a great-nephew.

Dupont L. Davis

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Dupont L. &uot;Duke&uot; Davis, 90, a native of Ahoskie, died January 6, 2005, in Riverside Regional Medical Center.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Zion Baptist Church, Portsmouth, by the Rev. H. Edward Whitaker. Interment will be in the family cemetery in Ahoskie. The body will be taken to the church at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday for the procession to the church. Corprew Funeral Home, Portsmouth, and Reynolds Funeral Home, Ahoskie, is in charge.

Davis was a retired driller from Norfolk Naval Shipyard after 35 years of service. He was a member of Zion Baptist Church, Portsmouth, for many years. He was an U.S. Navy veteran.

Survivors include his wife, Celestee S. Davis; two daughters, Terry D. Jackson

and Rhonda Michelle Davis, both of Newport News; one sister, Syble Riddick of Bronx, N.Y. four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Willis Carter

GATESVILLE – Willis Carter, 72, died January 6, 2005, in Albemarle Hospital.

A graveside service was conducted Sunday in the Carter Family Cemetery. Miller Funeral Home, Gatesville, is in charge.

Delpha C. Kersey

GATES – Delpha Clark Kersey, 91, a native of Teton, Idaho, died January 6, 2005, in Obici Hospital. She was the widow of Clarence Eldred Kersey.

A funeral will be held in Sacramento, Calif. Miller Funeral Home, Gatesville, assisted the family with local arrangements.

Mrs. Kersey was a homemaker and she was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ahoskie.

Survivors include four sons; two daughters including Barbara Winslow of Gates; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors is a sister, Marian C. Woolard of Washington.

Emily L. Sheely

MURFEESBORO – Emily Lassiter Sheely, 79, a native of Potecasi, died January 9, 2005 at Albemarle Hospital.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. T. R. Miller. Burial will be in New Hollywood Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the residence. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First United Methodist Church Organ Fund, P.O. Box 401, Elizabeth City, NC 27907 or a charity of one’s choice. Twiford Funeral Home, Elizabeth City, NC is in charge .

Mrs. Sheely was a member of First United Methodist Church, where she sang in the church choir for over forty years, a member of the altar guild, a past circle leader for the United Methodist Women, taught church sponsored kindergarten, a graduate of Meredith College, a docent for the Museum of the Albemarle, and a member of the North Carolina Museum of History Associates.

Survivors include her husband, Raymond M. &uot;Buddy&uot; Sheely; three daughters, Martha C. Sheely, Laura J. Sheely, and Betsy Sheely Pfenning, all of Raleigh; and a sister, Josie Lassiter Hill of Murfreesboro.

Jimmy Ridley Jr.

ROCKY MOUNT – Jimmy Ridley Jr., a native of Hertford County, died January 9, 2005.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete. Hunter’s Funeral Home, Murfreesboro, is in charge.

David L Winston

COLERAIN – David L. Winston, 77, a native of Bertie County, died January 8, 2005 at his residence.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday at Piney Wood Chapel Baptist Church. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Hunter’s Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Survivors include seven sons, James and Dwayne Winston of Philadelphia, Pa., Ronnie Winston of Powellsville, William Winston of Colerain, Jeffery Winston of Lewiston, Vernon Winston of Ahoskie and Calvin Winston of Aulander; seven daughters, Sarah Winston, Sandra Holley and Rendy Winston, all of Colerain, Bettie Watford of Powellsville, Janice Mills of Aulander, Carolyn Jenkins of Philadelphia and Shelia Winston of Atlanta, Ga.; one brother, Joseph Watford of Winton; four sisters, Josephine Hopkins and Gertrude Askew of Philadelphia, Namomi Mulky of Pleasantville, N.J., and Cora Lee Speller of Portsmouth, Va.; 32 grandchildren; and a host of great-grandchildren.

Kie’Shawn Jacobs

RICH SQUARE – Kie’Shawn Jacobs, infant son of Theresa Jacobs and Kenyatta Smith, died January 6, 2005 at Pitt Memorial Hospital.

A funeral will be conducted at noon Wednesday at the Jacobs family cemetery, Rich Square. Hunter’s Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge.

Other survivors include his maternal grandparents, Katie Jacobs of Paterson, N.J., and Jimmy Powell of Scotland Neck.