Jesse C. Nelson

PORTSMOUTH, Va. n Jesse Carlton "J.C." Nelson, 78, of the 200 block of York Drive, died January 26, 2005, in a Portsmouth hospital.

A native of Conway, NC, he retired as a Supervisor in the Supply Department of Norfolk Naval Shipyard and was a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II. He was an avid deer hunter and was, fondly known as "Running Buck" by the Conway Hunt Club of which he was a member. Also, he was an active member of the Conway Ruritan Club, known to the members as "Whitetail."

Survivors include his wife of almost 54 years, Jean M. Nelson of the home; two daughters, Ruth Perkins and her husband, Billy, of Virglina, Va., and Pauline Sitterson and husband, Jimmy of Portsmouth, Va.; a son, Jesse G. Nelson of Portsmouth; and a grandson, Douglas Perkins of Virglina, Va.

The family will be receiving friends at Bridgers Funeral Home, Inc. in Conway, Saturday, January 29, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and a graveside service will follow in the Town of Conway Cemetery, at 2 p.m. The Rev. Willie McLawhorn will conduct the service.

Robert L. Walker Sr.

ELIZABETH CITY n Robert Lee Walker Sr., 71, a native of Gates County, died January 25, 2005.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church by the Rev. J. Boone. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Stallings Funeral Home, Elizabeth City, is in charge.

Survivors include his wife, Audrey Mae Riddick Walker of the home; one daughter, Yevette Wilkins of Charlotte; one son, Robert Lee Walker Jr. of the home; four brothers, William Walker and Abraham Walker, both of Sunbury, Henry Walker and Lester Walker, both of

Riverhead, Md.; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Elihu Harrell Sr.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. -Elihu Harrell Sr., 78, a native of Ahoskie, died January 23, 2005.

Harrell was a U.S. Navy veteran and a member of St. Joseph AMEZ Church. He was a carpet installation mechanic for more than 40 years.

Survivors include two brothers, Eugene and Louis Slaughter of Portsmouth; 11 children, Ester Harrell of Detroit, Eva Bond and Cora Williams of Norfolk, Iva Brewer, Belinda Burnell, Janet Harris, William Burnell and Anita Burnell of Chesapeake, James Burnell of Virginia Beach, Ella Burnell and Elihu Harrell Jr. of Ahoskie; 44 grandchildren; and 30 great-grandchildren.

A funeral with military honors was conducted Friday at St. Joseph AMEZ Church, Chesapeake, by the Rev. Lorenzo Meekins. Fitchett Funeral Home was in charge.

Leroy J. Evans

MERRY HILL – Leroy Jenkins Evans, 82, a native of Hertford County, died January 26, 2005, at Chowan Hospital Edenton.

Evans was a member of Bethany Baptist Church, Perrytown, a member of the Woodmen of The world, and a retired mechanic, and a Navy veteran of WWII.

Survivors include his wife, Vallarie Baker Evans; one daughter: Rhonda E. Hemingway, Elizabeth City; three sisters: Bernice Mae Kosier, Newport News, Va., Jean Coggans of Milledgeville, Ga., and Iris McNaney, Durham; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be conducted at 3 p.m. Saturday at Bethany Baptist Church by the Rev. Tommy Tripp. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery in Colerain. The family will receive friends at the residence.

Garrett Funeral Home Ahoskie, is in charge.

Cornelia Harris

ROCKY MOUNT n Cornelia Harris, 87, died January 26, 2005 at South Village Nursing Home, Rocky Mount.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday at St. James Baptist Church by the Rev. Cornolius Moore. Interment will be in Northeastern Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday with family receiving friends from 7 to 8 p.m. in the chapel of H.D. Pope Funeral Home, Rocky Mount.

Dorothy M. Holley

SUNBURY n Dorothy Marie Holley, 92, a native of Gates County, died January 25, 2005 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital.

Survivors include her children, the Rev. Joe Louis Holley of Philadelphia, Pa., James Holley of Bethlehem, Willis Holley Jr. of North Augustus, S.C., Mary Hodges of Suffolk, Va., Rosa Sessoms of Ahoskie, Annie Norfleet of Chesapeake, Gracy Duck of Glen Arden, Md., Sarah Nowell and Phyllis Bond, both of Sunbury; four sisters, Maggie Williamston and Shirley Harrell, both of Norfolk, Lois Harrell of Corapeake and Mildred Roberts of Suffolk; four brothers, Melton C. Harrell of Norfolk, Delmar Harrell of Harrellsville, Jimmie Harrell of New York and Percy A. Harrell of Corapeake; 22 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Sunday at Zion Tabernacle Baptist Church, Corapeake, by Pastor Solomon Norman. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Family and friends will assemble at 280 Highway 32 South, Sunbury, on the day of service. Hertford County Undertakers, Winton, is in charge.

Essie Hart

CORAPEAKE n Essie Mae Baker Hart, 59, a native of Gates County, died January 26, 2005 at her residence.

Survivors include her children, Luther Hart Jr. of Sunbury, Anthony J. Hart, Maggie Outland and Allie Aretha Hart, all of Gates, Ruth Hart Baker of Colerain and Angela Hart Harrison of Corapeake; sisters and brothers, Joe Baker Jr., Larry Baker, Lloyd Norman, Betty Baker, Deloris Jones and Carrie White, all of Gates, James Baker of Connecticut, Lenora Harrell of Eure and Venora White of Suffolk, Va.; 22 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at 3 p.m. at Union Branch Baptist Church by the Rev. Nathaniel Thomas. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Hertford County Undertakers, Winton, is in charge.

Marion J. Baker

CHESAPEAKE – Marion Justena Baker, 78, a native of Cypress Chappell, died January 25, 2005, at her daughter’s home in Chesapeake. She was the widow of Walter Baker.

Mrs. Baker was co-owner of M&W Drywall and Plastering Co. She was a member of Zion Tabernacle Baptist Church, Corapeake.

Survivors include two sons, Walter Baker Jr. of Norfolk and Linwood Morris of Newport News; four daughters, Diane Bumpers and Lesa Williams of Chesapeake, Beverly Jackson of Alexandria, Va., and Karen Weathers of Virginia Beach; a sister, Beulah Brown of Portsmouth; 14 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at noon Saturday in Zion Tabernacle Baptist Church in Corapeake by the Rev. William Norman. Crocker Funeral Home, 900 E. Washington St., Suffolk, is in charge. Visitors will be received by the family at 304 Paperbark Trail, Chesapeake.

Charles Green Jr.

GATES – Charles Green Jr., 5, a native of Suffolk, Va., died January 24, 2005, in Little Rock, Ark.

Charles was a student at Buckland Elementary School.

Survivors include his parents, Charles and Barbara Green; adoptive parents, Melvin and Iris Green; sister, Crystal M. Green of Gates; brothers, Melvin Green III of Shreveport, La., Marcus Green of Alexandria, Va., and Cameron and Kamanie Davis, both of Suffolk.

A funeral will be conducted at 3 p.m. Saturday in Little Mount Zion Baptist Church. Interment will be at the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at 114 Crosstown Road, Gates. Crocker Funeral Home is in charge.

Sarah V. Hill

FRANKLIN, Va. – Sarah Vaughan Hill, 94, a native of Conway, died January 27, 2005, in Southampton Memorial Hospital. She was the widow of Edward Carson Hill.

During World War II, she worked for the Navy at the Norfolk Naval Yard and retired from Belo Stores. Following retirement, she attended Paul D. Camp Community College and became a private duty nurse’s aide. Mrs. Hill was a member of Franklin Congregational Christian Church.

Survivors include two daughters, Mary Leigh Kitchen of Norfolk and Peggy H. Toler of Franklin; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday in Franklin Congregational Christian Church with the Rev. James Hyatt. Burial will be in Southampton Memorial Park. Wright Funeral Home is in charge. The family suggests memorials be made to Franklin Congregational Christian Church, 412 N. High St., Franklin, VA 23851.

Willie B. Morris

PHILADELPIA, Pa. n Willie Bell "Pudding" Morris, 75, a native of Bertie County, died January 18, 2005 at Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at Zion Hill Baptist Church. Burial will be in Ashland Baptist Church Cemetery. Hunter's Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Survivors include her husband, Leon Morris; one son, James Lee Morris; three daughters, Lular Morris, Ann Morris Upchurch and Betty Morris Rascoe of Kelford; one sister, Hattie Ward of Norfolk, Va.; 15 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Madie White

COLERAIN n Madie White, died January 25, 2005.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday at Zion Hill Baptist Church, Colerain, by the Rev. Nathaniel Thompson. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Survivors include one son, Clarence White Jr. of Ahoskie; two daughters, Verna Perry of Colerain and Julia Miller of New York, NY; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.