Dr. Edward R. Ferro

AHOSKIE – Dr Edward Robustiano Ferro, 82, a native of Cuba, died February 2, 2005 at Roanoke Chowan Hospital.

Dr. Ferro was a retired dentist and a graduate of Loyola University of New Orleans. He was also a member of the North Carolina Dental Society and a member of the Ahoskie Rotary Club.

Survivors include his wife, Marjorie Durel Ferro; one daughter, Marcelle Marie Ferro of Statesville; one son, Edward Raymond Ferro of Elon; two sisters; Rosita Perez and Marie Antoinette Nunez, both of Miami, Fla.; one grandchild; and two step-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be conducted at 3 p.m. Saturday at Garrett Funeral Home Chapel, Ahoskie, N.C. by the Rev. John Dutton. The family will receive friends from 2-3 p.m. prior to services at the funeral home and they request flowers be omitted, with donations going to the American Heart Association c/o Mrs. Betty Rhea, Treasure, 138 E. Modlin Rd. Ahoskie, N. C. 27910.

Hattie Cherry

AHOSKIE n Hattie Cherry, 81, a native of Hertford County, died January 30, 2005 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at New Bethany Baptist Church by the Rev. William C. Clark. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Hunter's Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Mrs. Cherry was a retired cook for Guardian Care Nursing Home. She was a member of New Bethany Baptist Church.

Survivors include four sons, Jeffery Cherry of Jamestown, George Cherry Jr. of Silver Springs, Md., Howard E. Cherry of Joliet, IL and Carl M. Cherry of Hopkins, S.C.; two daughters, Brenda Askew of Norfolk, Va., and Hattie L. Hatcher of Joliet; two brothers, C.L. Beasley and Clarence Beasley, both of Ahoskie; two sisters, Ruth Rawls of Powellsville and Lois Keemer of Ahoskie; 24 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Minnie Cary

RICH SQUARE n Minnie Cary, 93, a native of Northampton County, died February 2, 2005 at Autumn Care of Roanoke Valley Nursing Home.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday at Chapel Hill Baptist Church by the Rev. Tony Flood. Burial will be in the Moore family cemetery, Rich Square. Wilder's Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

She was a homemaker and a member of Chapel Hill Baptist Church.

Survivors include three sons, Jessie Cary, George Cary Jr. and Linwood Earl Cary, all of Rich Square; nine grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Margaret H. Jordan

PORTSMOUTH, Va. – Margaret H. Jordan, 78, a native of Gates County, died January 28, 2005, at her residence.

She was the former director and founder of Jay’s Kindergarten at St. John Baptist Church and was a teacher’s assistant at the Parent Center with the Portsmouth Public Schools. She was also a member of St. John Baptist Church where she served on the Relief Usher Board, Pastor’s Aid, choir member, church founder of Family and Friends Ministry and was affiliated in many other capacities in the church.

Survivors include two daughters, Shearer Stephens Sawyer and Laural J. Armstrong; a son, Darryl E. Jordan of Detroit, Mich.; a sister, Lucille Perry; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at noon Saturday in St. John Baptist Church by the Rev. Robert Earls. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, Chesapeake. The body will be placed in church at 11 a.m. Saturday. The family will be at the residence. Condolences may be sent to www.fisherfuneral.com .

Jack E. Griffin

GATES – Jack Edward Griffin, 74, a native of Marlinton, W.Va., died February 1, 2005. He was the widower of his first wife, Helen Griffin.

Griffin retired from the Norfolk Naval Shipyard Fire Department as a dispatcher and had been the owner and operator for 32 years of Little City TV in Portsmouth. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served during the Korean conflict.

Survivors include his wife, Margaret &uot;Peggy&uot; Griffin; a son, Jeffery Griffin of Suffolk; three daughters, Linda Mason of Gates, Emily Martin of Fayetteville, N.C., and Anne Marie Semple of Franklin, Va.; two brothers, Marvin Griffin of Norfolk and John Griffin of Staunton, Va.; two sisters, Elizabeth Amos and Mary Mathison, both of Portsmouth; six grandchildren; and a great-grandson.

A funeral was conducted Friday in the Sidney F. Harrell Chapel of Harrell and Hill Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA 23058-5216.

Melba P. Boyce

RICHMOND, Va. – Melba Parks Boyce, 75, a native of Jackson, died February 1, 2005.

Survivors include her husband, Tommy Boyce; a daughter, Sheryl Boyce Goodrich; and a granddaughter.

Mrs. Boyce was a member of the Jackson Woman’s Club, Derbyshire Baptist Church in Richmond and Bayside Chapter 181, OES, Virginia Beach.

A funeral was conducted Thursday at the Masonic Home of Virginia, with interment following at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Those wishing to do so may make memorial contributions to the Century Fund, Masonic Home of Virginia, 4101 Nine Mile Road, Richmond, VA 23223. Woody Funeral Home was in charge.