Ernestine L. James

CLEVELAND, Ohio n Ernestine L. James, a native of Hertford County, lived in Ohio for the past fifty-five years, died March 25, 2005.

A funeral was held March 29, 2005 at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church by the Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, Jr. E.F. Boyd & Sons Funeral Home was in charge.

Ernestine was the daughter of the late Rev. J.E. and Gussie James of Murfreesboro, N.C.

Survivors include a devote and caring son, Craig Williams; two grandchildren, Craig Jr. and Danielle; three sisters, Doris James (Richmond, Virginia), Olivia Gibbons (Como, NC) and Loretta Atkins (Herman) Cleveland, Ohio; one brother, David Carl James (Susan) Chicago, Ill., three nieces, four nephews, one great-nephew and a host of cousins and friends.

Ray C. Rountree, Jr.

GATESVILLE – Ray cooper Rountree, Jr., 84, of the 200 block of Court St., died April 12, 2005 at Pitt County Memorial Hospital.

He was a native of Gates County, N. C., the son of the late Ray Copper and Lucy Perry Rountree, Sr.

He was the widower of Mary Bazemore Rountree.

Rountree had retired as head of Maintenance of the Gates County Office Buildings, was a member of Eure Baptist Church, a licensed Lay Minister for 31 years, and a member of the men's adult Sunday School Class. He was an Army Aircore Veteran of WW II. Besides his wife and parents he was predeceased by a sister Junita Riddick.

Surviving are a sister, Margaret Forehand, Ahoskie, N.C.; two nieces and three nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 14, 2005 in Eure Baptist Church, with Rev. Dr. Wayne Proctor and Rev. Gene Asbell Officiating. Burial will follow in the Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at # 20 Eure Loop Rd. Eure, N.C. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of choice.

Garrett Funeral Home, Ahoskie, N.C. is serving the Rountree family.

Eliza Davis

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

A visitation will be conducted from to 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday with the family receiving friends from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Roanoke Rapids Chapel of H.D. Pope Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church, Roanoke Rapids, by Chaplain Joshua L. Pair. Interment will be in Crestview Memorial Cemetery.

Ella Smith

BROOKLYN, N.Y. n Ella Smith, a native of Gates County, died in Brooklyn.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at New Hope Baptist Church by the Rev. James K. Brown. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Hunter's Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Bonnie Boone

GATES n Bonnie Boone, 93, a native of Gates County, died April 7, 2005 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital.

A funeral was conducted Wednesday at Stony Branch Baptist Church by the Rev. Linwood Boone. Burial was in the Euro family cemetery. Hunter's Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, was in charge.

Boone was a retired logger and a member of Stony Branch Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Helen Boone of Gates; four sons, Larry Boone of Gatesville, Grafton Boone, Bonnie Boone Jr. and Patrick Boone, all of Gates; three daughters, Mary Magdalene, Mabel Lee Dillard and Helen L. Boone, all of Gates; one brother, Otis Powell of Ahoskie; 19 grandchildren; and a host of great-grandchildren.

Robert W. Edwards

EMPORIA, Va. n Robert Wayne Edwards, age 66, died April 12, 2005.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Louise Pair Edwards; one daughter, Julie Brickhouse and husband, Buddy of Kill Devil Hills, NC; one stepdaughter, Linda Whiteside of Emporia, Va.; one son, Jamie Edwards and wife, Judy of Nags Head, NC; two stepsons, Benjamin Whiteside of Tampa, Fla., and Robert Whiteside of Raleigh, NC; one sister, Arlene Traylor of Crewe, Va.; two brothers, Clifton Edwards and wife, Susan of Seaboard, NC, and Marshall Hudson of Blackstone; three grandchildren, Jacob Brickhouse, Joshua Brickhouse and Jenny Edwards, and a special friend, Dale Davis of Emporia, Va..

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 14, 2005 at the Echols Funeral Home Chapel, Emporia, Va., with interment to follow in the family cemetery, Seaboard, NC, by the Rev. Barry Chambers will officiate.

Annie Coleman

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

A visitation will be conducted Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Roanoke Rapids Chapel of H.D. Pope Funeral Home. A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home by the Rev. Lynn Bradley. Interment will be in Crestview Memorial Cemetery.