Dianne Garrett Blanton

Dianne Garrett Blanton, 55, of 5604 Sagebrush Trail died peacefully on Saturday, January 22, 2005 following a brief illness.

A memorial service will be held for Mrs. Blanton at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 in First Presbyterian Church. Inurnment will be in Ahoskie, NC.

Dianne was born on January 16, 1950 in Ahoskie, NC, the only daughter of the late Dan and Dolly Garrett. She graduated from Ahoskie High School in 1968 and from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro (UNC-G) in 1972. Dianne was married to John Blanton, Jr. on July 7, 1972. She was employed as the Chief Court Counselor, 18th District for the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Dianne served with the department for 31 years.

Dianne was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, friend and co-worker. She was a faithful member of the First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro.

She was preceded in death by her parents Dan and Dolly Garrett, her father and mother-in-law John and Betsy Blanton, all of Ahoskie, NC and her brother-in-law, Don Earley of Knightdale, NC.

Survivors include her beloved husband of 32 years, John Blanton of the home; daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth and Jay Gaffney and granddaughter, Sydney Grace Gaffney, all of Greensboro; sister-in-law, Nancy Earley of Knightdale, NC; nephew and niece, Jackson and Betsy John Earley of Greenville, NC; uncle, Melvin Earley and aunt Wilma Beamon, both of Ahoskie.

The family received friends from 6-8 p.m. Monday evening at Forbis and Dick North Elm Street and following the service in the Virginia Gilmer Room at the church.

Memorials may be made to the John and Betsy Blanton Memorial Nursing Scholarship in care of John Blanton, Jr., Trustee, 5604 Sagebrush Trail, Greensboro, NC 27409.

G.B. Warren Jr.

MURFREESBORO n Mr. Garnie Benjamin "G.B." Warren, Jr., age 83, died January 23, 2005 at his home after a brief illness.

Mr. Warren was an avid outdoors man, a member of Meherrin Baptist Church and a Mason where he was a member of the American George Lodge. He was the oldest inductee having become a Mason at the age of eighty. He was owner of G.B. Warren Heating and Air.

Survivors include his wife, Jeanette Burgess Warren; his children, Alice Warren, Ben Warren and his wife, Rachel, Clark West and his wife, Julie, all of Murfreesboro, NC, Linda Howell and her husband, Larry of Como, NC and Darren Bridgers and his wife, Meg of Lasker, NC; two sisters, Janet W. Liverman and Elizabeth W. Phillips, both of Murfreesboro, NC; seven grandchildren, Benjy Howell, Kristy Warren, Whitney West, Chris West, John Michael Timberlake, Megan Bridgers and Ashlynn Bridgers.

A memorial service will be held, Wednesday, January 26, 2005 at 2 p.m. at Meherrin Baptist Church with the Rev. Billy Sellers officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to University Hospice, Ahoskie, NC 27910 or to Meherrin Baptist Church Elevator Fund, Murfreesboro, NC 27855.

Massey Funeral Home in Jackson, NC is handling arrangements.

Pearl Mitchell

WINDSOR n Pearl Mitchell, died January 22, 2005 at her residence.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Burial will be in the Mitchell family cemetery. Gilliam Funeral Home, Windsor, is in charge.

Tony C. Elliott

GREENVILLE nTony C. Elliott, 41, died January 21, 2005 at Pitt Memorial Hospital, Greenville.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday at Bibleway Apostolic Church, Williamston. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Gilliam Funeral Home, Windsor, is in charge.

William Powell

AULANDER n William "Popeye Powell" Powell, 86, a native of Hertford County, died January 20, 2005 at his residence.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Mill Branch Baptist Church by the Rev. Ronald Dolberry. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Wilder's Funeral Home, Inc., Aulander, is in charge.

Powell was a retired paper carrier for the Roanoke-Chowan News Herald. He was a member of Mill Branch Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Willie Powell; daughters, Evelyn Bracy of Durham, Cleatris Fennell of Ahoskie, Shirley Evon Powell of Ahoskie, Angela Denise Powell of Aulander and Beverly Dawson of Chesapeake, Va.; sons, Claude Wayne Powell and Michael Powell, both of Ahoskie; a brother, Sam Shoulders of Norfolk; a sister, Ruth Walton of Suffolk; 28 grandchildren; 49 great-grandchildren; and 16 great-great-grandchildren.

Thomas B. Spence

HARRELLSVILLE n Thomas Bland Spence, 91, a native of Northampton County, died January 23, 2005 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Bridgers Funeral Home in Conway by the Rev. Hugh Mizelle. Burial will be in the Town of Conway Cemetery. The family will be receiving friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Spence had worked with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, served in the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Depression of the 1930's and early 1940's, and was a member of Christian Harbor Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Augustine F. Spence of their home; a son, Edward Fairless of Wilson; and a daughter, Elaine F. Lane of Durham.

William H. Parker

GREENVILLE n William Henry Parker, 69, a native of Southampton County, Va., died January 21, 2005 at Heritage Hospital, Tarboro.

A funeral will be conducted at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Jordan Grove Baptist Church by the Rev. Dr. James Shearn. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Hertford County Undertakers, Winton, is in charge.

Survivors include his mother, Betheye Parker of Plymouth; and two sisters, Gladys Stephenson of Winton and Mae Anna Sawyer of Cofield.

Diane Edmonds

KINSTON – Diane Edmonds died January 19, 2005.

A funeral was conducted Monday in Reynolds Funeral Home, Ahoskie. Burial was in Zion Hill Baptist Church Cemetery, Colerain.

Survivors include her husband, Joseph Melvin Edmonds of Cofield; two sons, Michael Edmonds of Kinston and Ricky O'Brien Edmonds of Norfolk, Va.; two daughters, Yvonne Riddick and Delbert Mullen, both of Kinston; and one grandchild.

Celia M. Holley

MERRY HILL – Celia M. Holley, 83, died January 19, 2005.

A funeral was conducted Sunday in Oxley Hill Baptist Church. Blair Funeral Service was in charge.