Geraldine Dickens

RICH SQUARE n Geraldine Dickens, 71, died April 7, 2005.

A funeral was conducted Monday at Chapel Hill Baptist Church. Burial was in the Bell family cemetery. Smith-Whidbee Funeral Home, Rich Square, was in charge.

Eliza M. Davis

ROANOKE RAPIDS n Eliza Marie Davis, 71, died April 8, 2005 at her residence.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete. H.D. Pope Funeral Home was in charge.

Pearl Lorick

ROCKY MOUNT n Pearl Lorick, 101, died April 7, 2005.

A funeral will be conducted Tuesday at St. Paul Baptist Church by the Rev. Dennis Jones. Interment will be in the Hines family cemetery. H.D. Pope Funeral Home is in charge.

Bruce Askew

COLERAIN n Bruce Askew, 50, a native of Bertie County, died April 5, 2005.

A funeral was conducted Sunday at New Holley Grove Baptist Church by the Rev. Roosevelt Askew. Burial was in Harrellsville Chapel Church Cemetery. Hunter's Funeral Home, Ahoskie, was in charge.

Askew was retired from the U.S. Army. He was a member of New Holley Grove Baptist Church.

Survivors include two sons, LaBruce Askew and Calvin Askew, both of Colerain; three daughters, Danielle Askew, LaShonda Askew and Shontia Askew, all of Colerain; three brothers, John Askew of Brooklyn, N.Y., Ernest Freeman of Yonkers, NY and Charles Freeman of Georgia; seven sisters, Willie Mae Freeman and Barbara Freeman, both of Brooklyn, Shirley Gaston of Yonkers, Florence Perry of Texas, Pearl Rankins of Harrellsville, Peggy Palmer of Cofield and Donna Outlaw of Ahoskie; and six grandchildren.

Bonnie Boone

GATES n Funeral services for Bonnie Boone will be conducted at 12 noon Wednesday at Stoney Branch Baptist Church by the Rev. Linwood Boone. Burial will be in the Eure family cemetery. Hunter's Funeral Home, Ahoskie, is in charge.

John T. Harrell

MERRY HILL n John Thomas "J.T. Harrell, 82, a native of 230 Mt. Gould Road, died Sunday, April 10, 2005 at his home. He was born in Bertie County on May 22, 1922, to the late Richardson Pearce and Myrtle Miller Harrell and was predeceased by his first wife of 31 years, Rosalie Casper Harrell and a sister, Doreen Maranger. Mr. Harrell was a member of Riverside Baptist Church, a farmer and Army Veteran of World War II attached to the 20th Combat Engineers.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 12, 2005 at Riverside Baptist Church at 2 p.m. by the Rev. Al Jarrell. Burial will follow in Hillcrest Cemetery, Colerain with military rites.

Survivors include his wife, Ercel Belch Harrell of Boulder, CO; a son, Richard Harrell and wife Sarah of Merry Hill, NC; two sisters, Betty Bunch of Edenton, NC and Lucy Byrum of Elizabethton, TN; and grandchildren, Lyman and Rosanna Harrell of Merry Hill, NC.

The family received friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, April 11, 2005 at Walker Funeral Home and at other times from the home of Richard Harrell, 234 Mt. Gould Rd., Merry Hill. Memorial gifts may be made to either Riverside Baptist Church or the American Cancer Society.

Fara Britt Outland

CHARLOTTE – Mrs. Outland, 82, of Charlotte, passed away April 7, 2005 at Carolinas Medical Center-Mercy.

She was born May 4, 1922 in Seaboard, NC, a daughter of the late George Washington Britt and Ida Victoria Allen Britt.

Faye was a longtime member of Saint Andrews United Methodist Church for over 42 years. She loved her church and was very involved. She also was a member of Mecklenbugs Camping Club.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Fara "Faye" Britt Outland was held at 11 a.m. Monday, April 11, 2005 at St. Andrews United Methodist Church officiated by Pastor Gary Royals.

Faye is survived by her two children, Becky Walters and husband, Keith of Charlotte and Howard B. Outland, Jr. of Charlotte; a sister, Millie Ricks of Richmond, VA; four grandchildren, Donna Outland, Irene Walters, Robert Gettys, and Christen Outland, all of Charlotte; close friend, Cathy Sanders of Charlotte; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by her loving husband of 53 years, Howard B. Outland; five siblings, Woodrow Britt, Clayton Britt, Bernice Britt, Randall Britt, and Freida Pendleton.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Children's Home Society of NC, P.O. Box 14608, Greensboro, NC 27415.

Arrangements were in the care of McEwen Funeral Service, Charlotte Chapel.

Haywood M. Madison Sr.

SUFFOLK, Va. – Haywood McCoy Madison Sr., 72, a native of Nansemond County, died April 8, 2005, in Obici Hospital.

Madison retired as a construction worker. He was a member of Lakeview Missionary Baptist Church, where he served on the senior usher board.

Survivors include his wife, Mable L. Madison; five daughters, Dorothy Perry, Patricia Moore and Joyce Madison, all of Suffolk, Evelyn Porter of Sunbury, and Sondra Madison of Lynchburg; a son, Haywood Madison Jr.; two goddaughters, Delana Dantigance and Regina Copeland, all of Suffolk; four sisters, Apostle Deborah Copeland, Barbara Willie and Bernice Scott, all of Suffolk, Brenda Wave of Chicago, Ill.; three brothers, Deacon Johnny Morris, Edward Morris and the Rev. William Morris, all of Suffolk; 12 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Lakeview Missionary Baptist Church by Dr. John Jones. Interment will be in Carver Memorial Cemetery. Crocker Funeral Home, Suffolk, is in charge.

Elma N. Smith

SEDLEY, Va. –

Elma Newsome Wade Smith, 93, a native of Bertie County, died April 8, 2005, at Southampton Memorial Hospital. She was the widow of her first husband, Sam Wade.

Mrs. Smith was a member of Sedley Baptist Church since 1926 and its Ladies Bible School Class.

Survivors include her husband, Oscar Lynn Smith; a daughter, Sylvia Henson of Lithonia, Ga.; two sons, William R. &uot;Billy&uot; Wade and John R. Wade, all of Sedley; two stepchildren, Rose Marie Myers of Baltimore, Md., and Helen Sumner of Chesapeake; four sisters, Jonnie Eley of Franklin, Mary Edwards of Newport News, Elien Isom of Tucson, Ariz., and Sally Kordulak of Virginia Beach; a half brother, Shirley Newsome of Bumpass; a stepsister, Irene Epperson of North Carolina; two grandchildren;

two great-grandchildren; 23 stepgrandchildren; and two stepgreat-grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Sedley Baptist Church. Burial will be in Rosemont Cemetery. Wright Funeral Home, Franklin is in charge The family suggest memorials be made to Sedley Baptist Church, 17494 Johnsons Mill Road, Sedley, VA 23878.

Michael Battle

AHOSKIE – Michael Due Wayne Battle, died April 6, 2005.

A funeral was conducted Monday in Missouri Baptist Church, Suffolk, Va. Harris Funeral Home Inc., Suffolk, was in charge.

John A. Nowell

AULANDER – John A. Nowell 79, a native of Bertie County, died April 7, 2005 at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. He was the widower of Della Evans Nowell.

Nowell had retired from the parts department at Charles H. Jenkins, Co., was member of the Davie Masonic Lodge #39 A.F.& A.M., a member of the Sudan Shrine Temple, New Bern, a member of the Roanoke Chowan Shrine Club, a member of the Ahoskie Chapter of the Easter Star # 291, and a member of Aulander Baptist Church.

Survivors include a sister; Louise N. Deans, Greensboro; and a brother, Hamp Nowell Sr. of Norfolk.

A funeral service was conducted Sunday at Garrett Funeral Home, Ahoskie. Burial was in Hoggard Memorial Cemetery, Lewiston-Woodville. Memorial donations may be made to the Shriners Childrens Hospital, Greenville, S.C. 29605 or a favorite chairty.

Cleo C. Simmons

NEW BERN — Cleo Carpenter Simmons, 87, formerly of Winton, died April 9, 2005.

She was the widow of Tolar Vardell Simmons Sr.

Mrs. Simmons was a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Ahoskie.

Survivors include three children, Tolar Vardell Simmons, Jr., Rita Simmons Sears and Steve Thomas Simmons; three sisters, Virginia Carpenter Church, Pauline Carpenter McLauchlin and Madge Carpenter Carmichael; and three grandchildren.

A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church in New Bern.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the American Heart Association, St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Ahoskie or First Baptist Church in New Bern.

Patricia Parker

CONWAY n Patricia Parker, 39, formerly of Northampton County, died April 4, 2005 at Central Carolina Hospital, Sanford.

A graveside burial was conducted Saturday in the Deloatch family cemetery in Conway by the Rev. Willie Parker. Hood Funeral Home was in charge.

Robert C. Benton Sr.

SCOTLAND NECK n Robert "Bob" Carl Benton Sr., 70, died April 9, 2005 at Nash General Hospital.

A funeral will be conducted at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Strickland Funeral Home Chapel, Wendell. A private burial will be held at a later date in Evergreen. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the NC Lyme Disease Foundation, 7405 Louisburg Rd., Raleigh, NC 27616.

Benton was formerly employed by Electrical Wholesale Supply.

Survivors include his wife, Brenda Hunt Benton; his mother, Louise Moody Benton of Raleigh; daughters, Rebecca Doyle of Knightdale, Shannon Hardy of Raleigh and Heather Librizzi of Raleigh; sons, Robert C. Benton Jr. of Buies Creek and Charles Penny of Raleigh; a brother, William Benton of Ahoskie; and six grandchildren.

Annie B. Coleman

ROANOKE RAPIDS n Annie B. Coleman, 90, died April 10, 2005 at Halifax Regional Medical Center.

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

Thelma C. Eason

ELIZABETH CITY n Thelma Cherry Eason, 82, a native of Hertford County, died April 7, 2005 at Albemarle Hospital. She was the widow of Gussie Edwards.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Twiford's Memorial Chapel with Brother Kenneth Swyers. Burial will be in West Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery.

Mrs. Eason was a retired housekeeper at R.L. Vann High School and a retired NC State employee and a Baptist.

Survivors include her husband, James Eason of Ahoskie; five daughters, Thelma Sherrod of Elizabeth City, Barbara Edwards of White Plains, NY, Sharon Ann Edwards of CT, Gloria Edwards and Gail Eason, both of Ahoskie; six sons, Gussie Edwards Jr., Lawrence Edwards and Gary Eason, all of Ahoskie, Tommy Edwards and Levarn Edwards, both of Ossining and Timmy Eason of Rocky Mount; three sisters, Annie Ruth Sessoms of Colerain, Shirley Johnson and Foy Cherry, both of New York; one brother, Sherman Cherry of Georgia; 46 grandchildren; and 44 great-grandchildren.

Frances H. Harris

COMO n Frances Harrell Harris, 71, a native of Bertie County, died April 10, 2005 at her home. She was the widow of Carlton Harris.

A graveside service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Roberts Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery by the Rev. Ralph Brabban. Friends may join the family from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in Miller Funeral Home, Gatesville, and all other times at the residence. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, in care of the Hertford-Gates Relay for Life, 437 NC 561 W., Aulander, NC 27805.

Mrs. Harris was a waitress at various restaurants in Murfreesboro and she had worked 17 years at the former Heritage Restaurant and later retired from the housekeeping department of Hertford County Middle School. She was a member of Buckhorn Baptist Church and its WMU.

Survivors include one daughter, Juanita Williams of Gates; one son, Michael Harris of Easley, SC; and four grandchildren.