James Hudson

AHOSKIE n James Thomas Hudson, 74, a native of Hertford County, died May 27, 2005.

A memorial service was conducted Monday at First Baptist Church, Ahoskie, by Dr. Jessie Croom and the Rev. Tommy Kiker. Memorial contributions may be made to the Military Care Fund, c/o First Baptist Church, PO Box 649, Ahoskie, NC 27910. Sykes Funeral Service, Rich Square, was in charge.

Hudson was a member of First Baptist Church, Ahoskie, a member of the Lions Club of Ahoskie, as well as being a Mason and Shiner. He retired from the Army as a Sergeant First Class. He also retired from Basnight in Ahoskie.

Survivors include his wife, Jean Hudson; one daughter, Joyce Brantley of Ahoskie; two brothers, Billy Hudson of Phoenix City, Ala, and Allen Hudson of Hyattsville, Md.; and one grandson.

Frank H. Britton Jr.

AULANDER – Frank Harvey Britton Jr., 75, a native of Hertford County, died May 27, 2005.

Britton was a member of St. John’s Baptist Church where he was a deacon and a choir member. He retired after 37 years as a tax collector/assessor for Hertford County. He was a retired farmer, an Army veteran of the Korean conflict and was a charter member of St. John’s Fire Department, serving from 1964 until his death.

Survivors include wife, Myrtie; three daughters, Denise Britton Thompson of Ahoskie,

Jennifer Peede of Greenville, and Heidi Jenkins of Murfreesboro; a son, Tim Turner of Murfreesboro; a sister, Geraldine Edwards of Aulander; six grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at St. John’s Baptist Church in Ahoskie by the Rev. Woody Copeland. Burial will be in Highland Memorial Gardens. Garrett Funeral Home is in charge.

Melba H. Blowe

MURFREESBORO – Melba Hedspeth Blowe, 69, a loving and devoted mother, died May 27, 2005, at Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Greenville. A native of Northampton County, she was a member of Meherrin Baptist Church in Murfreesboro. Her focus in life was to inspire her children to want to learn and to offer them activities that would guide them in their adult lives. She taught a Sunday school class and headed various youth organizations and activities. An avid reader, she was honored to have served on the board of directors for the Murfreesboro Public Library.

Survivors include her husband, Raleigh H. &uot;Junior&uot; Blowe of the home; a son, William Richard Blowe of Eure; two daughters, Deborah B. Edwards and husband Tom of Murfreesboro and Rhonda B. Runfola and husband Bob of Wake Forest; four grandchildren, Bret Edwards, Autumn Edwards, Ashley Runfola and Blake Runfola; a sister, Pat H. Smith of Milwaukee; and a brother, Billy Hedspeth of Raleigh.

A funeral was conducted Sunday at 2 p.m. in Meherrin Baptist Church by the Rev. Billy Sellers. Burial followed in the Town of Conway Cemetery. Bridgers Funeral Home Inc., Conway, was in charge.

Jimmy T. Tidwell

SEVERN n Jimmy Thomas "Jack" Tidwell, 77, a native of Northampton County, May 28, 2005, at Wake Medical Center, Raleigh.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Massey Funeral Home, Roanoke Rapids, by the Rev. John Horrell and the Rev. Tim Hogan. Burial will be in Crestview Memorial Cemetery with military honors. The family will receive friends at Massey Funeral Home, Roanoke Rapids, Tuesday from 7 until 9 p.m.

Tidwell was a retired foreman with Weldon Veneer and assistant chief for the Weldon Fire Department. He was an Army veteran and served his country during WWII and also the Korean War.

Survivors include his wife, Una Plyler Tidwell; his daughters, Jackie Wheeler of Roanoke Rapids and Debbie Britt of Severn; his son, Danny Thomas Tidwell of Severn; a sister, Connie Moore of Rocky Mount; three grandchildren; and three stepgrandchildren.

Helen W. Evans

COLERAIN – Helen White Evans, 87, a native of Bertie County, died May 28, 2005, at her home. She was the widow of

Layton Gray Evans Sr.

Mrs. Evans was a charter member of Elm Grove Baptist Church, a retired farmer and homemaker.

Survivors include daughters, Dale E. Mulder of Colerain and Bonnie Evans of Washington; sons, Bernard Evans of Colerain, Roger Lee Evans of Ahoskie and Donnie Ray Evans of Colerain; nine grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Elm Grove Baptist Church by the Rev. Paul LaPrevotte and the Rev. Preston Jernigan. Burial will be in Highland Memorial Gardens, Ahoskie. Walker Funeral Home, Windsor, is in charge.

Memorial gifts may be made to Bertie County Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 74, Windsor, NC 27983.

Walter E. Bryant

RICH SQUARE n Walter Edward Bryant, age 84, died May 28, 2005 at Pitt Memorial Hospital, Greenville.

A graveside service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Cedar Lawn Cemetery, Rich Square, by the Rev. Steve Weaver. The family will receive friends following the service at the cemetery. Massey Funeral Home, Jackson, is in charge.

Survivors include his daughters, Betty Jo Slozak of Goldsboro and Nancy Phillips of Rocky Mount; a brother, Herbert Bryant of Potecasi; and three grandchildren.

Keith Barnes

SUFFOLK, Va. n Keith Barnes, 41, a native of Hertford County, died May 27, 2005 at Sentara Norfolk General.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church Murfreesboro by the Rev. Robert Richardson III. Burial will be in Carver Park Cemetery. Hunter's Funeral Home, Inc., Murfreesboro is in charge.

Barnes was a mortician. He was a member of First Baptist Church Murfreesboro.

Survivors include his wife, Jackie Barnes of Suffolk; one son, Kenny Hoskins of Suffolk; his mother, Helen Barnes of Murfreesboro; and two sisters, Susan Williams of Murfreesboro and Sharon Barnes of Ahoskie.

Curtis A. Bethel

AHOSKIE n Curtis A. Bethel, 39, a native of Hertford County, died May 27, 2005 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday at Elm Grove Baptist Church. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Hunter's Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Bethel was a cook at Bojangles. He was a member of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church.

Survivors include a son, Kiemo White of Colerain; his mother, Annie Bethel of Ahoskie; and two brothers, Michael A. Bethel of Edenton and Brian Miles of Winton.

Mary Wilson

KELFORD n Mary H. Roane Wilson, 74, a native of Bertie County, died May 29, 2005 at Autumn Care Nursing Home, Rich Square. She was the widow of J.V. Roane Jr. and Charles E. Wilson.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Kelford Baptist Church by the Rev. Doug Spivey. Burial will be in Roxobel-Kelford Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Sykes Funeral Service, Rich Square, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kelford Baptist Church, Kelford, N.C.

Mrs. Wilson was a member of Kelford Baptist Church.

Survivors include three daughters, Rosemary Hester of Gloucester, Va., Cindy Albertson of Wicomico and Cannie Hull of Gloucester; a son, Keith Roane of Rocky Mount; one sister, Julia Cahoon of Kelford; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and three step-grandchildren.

Esther P. Wethington

WOODLAND n Mrs. Esther Parker Wethington, age 82, a native of Northampton County, died May 28 at her home in George.

Mrs. Wethington was a retired school teacher; she taught and coached in various school districts in North Carolina and Delaware. She was a graduate of Woodland-Olney High School and East Carolina Teachers College, class of 1943. She was a lifelong member of Cedar Grove Fiends Meeting in Woodland, NC. She was named an Elder in 1998. She enjoyed all sports; at various times she was an avid golfer, tennis player, bowler, and as a youth, she was an outstanding basketball player. As a part of her multi-faceted coaching career, during World War II, she coached football at Raeford High School in Raeford, NC.

Her parents, William Edgar and Ruth Peele Parker, her husband of 53 years, Ben C. Wethington; a sister, Mary P. Litrell and a brother, Jesse Parker, preceded Mrs. Wethington in death.

She is survived by a brother, George C. Parker (since deceased) and his wife, Elizabeth of Woodland, NC; a brother, James Parker and his wife, Margaret of Roanoke Rapids, NC; a sister, Ruth P. Linville of Oak Ridge, NC; and a sister-in-law, Ruth D. Parker of Roanoke Rapids; two sons, Stephen Asa Wethington of Lincoln, DE, Ben Carl Wethington and his wife, Stephanie of Hickory, NC. Also surviving are six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be conducted on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 at 2 p.m. at the Cedar Grove Friends Meeting in Woodland, NC. The burial will follow at the Parker Family Cemetery in Woodland, NC.

The family will receive friends at Cedar Grove Friends Meeting in Woodland, NC on Tuesday evening from 7-8:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Roanoke Chowan Hospice, the American Heart Association, or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Arrangements are being handled by Sykes Funeral Service of Rich Square, NC.

George C. Parker

WOODLAND n Mr. George C. Parker of Woodland, age 93, died on May 28 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital. He was the son of the late William Edgar and Ruth Peele Parker. Mr. Parker was a life long resident of Northampton County. He lived an active retirement for the past twenty-five years, continuing his career as a businessman, while broadening his involvement in organizations such as North Carolina Friends Historical Society. He was a birthright member of the Society of Friends and maintained a lifelong membership at Cedar Grove Friends Meeting. He was recorded as a minister in Rich Square Monthly Meeting in 1968 and served both the monthly, quarterly, and yearly meetings as clerk. After graduating in the inaugural class, 1929, of Woodland-Onley School, he attended Westtown School in Pennsylvania. He entered Guilford College where he graduated in 1935 with a science major, competing as a 3-sport athlete. In 1970 he was honored as a charter inductee in Guilford Sports Hall of Fame and with his wife Elizabeth, received the 1969 Distinguished Alumni Award. His support for the college continued throughout his lifetime. Mr. Parker served his local community, county and region as a member of civic organizations including Woodland Community Club Lions Club, school board, the Northampton County Education Foundation and the regional mental health organization. He served multiple groups as treasurer and maintained a life long commitment to public education.

His parents, William Edgar and Ruth Peele Parker, his brother, Jesse and sisters, Mary Lettrell and Esther Wethington preceded Mr. Parker in death.

Mr. Parker is survived by his wife of sixty-seven years, Elizabeth Gilliam Parker, one daughter, Elizabeth P. Haskins and her husband John of Evergreen Park, IL, four sons; W. Conrad Parker and his wife Nancy of Virginia Beach, VA, Elwood G. Parker and his wife Ellen of Greensboro, NC, G. Edgar Parker and his wife Sallye of Harrisonburg, VA and John G. Parker and his wife June of Roanoke Rapids, NC, one sister, Ruth E. Linville of Oak Ridge, NC, one brother, James Parker and his wife, Margaret of Roanoke Rapids, NC, one sister-in-law, Ruth D. Parker of Roanoke Rapids, NC. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A private burial will take place on Tuesday morning at 11 a.m., May 31 at the Parker Family Cemetery in Woodland, NC. Memorial services for friends and family will then be conducted at the Cedar Grove Friends Meeting in Woodland at 2 p.m.

The family will receive friends at Cedar Grove Friends Meeting on Tuesday evening from 7-8:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Cedar Grove Friends Meeting, Northampton County Education Foundation, George and Elizabeth Parker Family Scholarship Fund at Guilford College, or a charity of the donor's choice.

Ruth E. Bazen

MURFREESBORO – Ruth Etheridge Bazen, 62, died Saturday May 28, 2005, in her home.

Mrs. Bazen was born in Georgetown, SC, and was a member of the Pendleton Eastern Star Chapter #13.

She was an office manager.

Survivors include her husband, Freddie Lee Bazen Sr.; a daughter, Sharon Villers of Newbern; a son, Freddie Lee Bazen Jr., U.S. Navy, Bahrain; two brothers, Roger Allen Etheridge of Arkansas, and James Quinn Etheridge of Pawley’s Island, SC and seven grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, June 1, 2005, at 11:00 a.m. at Garrett Funeral Home, Murfreesboro. The family asks that memorial donations be made to the Pendleton Eastern Star Chapter #13, c/o Bonnie Hunsicker, 109 Pecan Drive, Murfreesboro, NC, 27855.