Gwendolyn Speller-Harp

NORFOLK, Va. – Gwendolyn D. Speller-Harp, 47, a native of Ahoskie, died May 26, 2005 at Sentara Leigh Hospital.

Mrs. Harp was a member of Hebron Cornerstone Church International, Norfolk. Survivors include one daughter, Tonya Harp of Virginia Beach; two sons, Jason Speller of Virginia Beach and John Harp of Norfolk; her mother, Vivian Speller-Eccles; her stepfather, Bruce Eccles, both of Chesapeake; one sister, Ellen Speller; and four grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at noon Thursday in the chapel of Metropolitan Funeral Service, 7246 Granby St., with Pastor K.L. Warren. Interment will be in Roosevelt Memorial Park, Chesapeake. Family and friends will assemble at 2408 Crown Court, Chesapeake, one hour prior to service for procession to the chapel. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.metropolitanfuneralservice.com .

Paul Stephenson Jr.

WELDON n Paul B. "Red Stephenson Jr., 79, May 30.

A funeral was conducted Wednesday at the

funeral home chapel. Burial was Seaboard Cemetery, Seaboard. Hockaday Funeral Home, Roanoke Rapids was in charge.

Vennie C. White

WINDSOR n Vennie Casper White, 92, died May 31, 2005 at Riversedge Nursing Home. She was the widow of William Henry White.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday at Walker Funeral Home Chapel by the Rev. Dave Thompson. Burial will be in Edgewood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Walker Funeral Home and at other times at the home of Alice Bridgers, 108 Baker St., Windsor. Memorial gifts may be made to Pritchard Road Baptist Church or to the Bertie County Rescue Squad.

Mrs. White was a homemaker and a member of Pritchard Road Baptist Church.

Survivors include two daughters, Alice W. Bridges and Nancy W. Robertson, both of Windsor; a son, William Earl White of Wilmington; 12 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Joseph L. Barner

ROANOKE RAPIDS n Joseph L. "Bump" Barner, 57, died May 30, 2005 at Halifax Regional Medical Center.

A visitation will be conducted Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Roanoke Rapids Chapel of H.D. Pope Funeral Home. A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at Piney Grove Baptist Church, Halifax, by the Rev. C.E. McCullom. Interment will be immediately following the service in the church cemetery.

Vivian D. White

WINDSOR — Vivian D. White, 82, of Askewville died Monday, May 30, 2005 at the Brian Center.

A native of Bertie County, White was a dedicated member of Askewville Assembly of God Church for more than 50 years. As a member of that congregation, she served her Lord faithfully and continued to attend services until her health would no longer allow it.

She was dedicated in her service to God and continued to attend services at the Brian Center where she was called a blessing by both preacher and congregation.

For her entire adult life, she was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who helped raise nearly every one of her grandchildren. She continued to prepare huge Christmas meals for her entire family into her 70s because she loved to cook and be with her family.

A retired grocery clerk, White was a hard worker her entire adult life working on a farm and in the home before working for many years at Lea Lumber Company in Windsor and at White's Grocery in Askewville.

White was born on June 25, 1923 to the late Daniel and Myrtle Phelps White and was predeceased by her husband, Cecil White.

She is survived by one daughter, Myrna W. Aultman and her husband, Frank, of Bracey, Virginia, two sons Norman "Hinkey" White and wife, Brenda, and Thad White Sr., all of Windsor. She has one surviving sister, Revie W. Allen of Chesapeake, Virginia.

Also surviving are nine grandchildren: Cecil Aultman and wife, Terri, Norman White Jr. and wife, Anna, Kay Aultman, Rodney White of wife, Bobbi, Sid Aultman and wife, Debbie, Thadd White Jr. and wife Joy, Scott White and wife, Tisha, Joyce White and Cecil White. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren.

The family is receiving friends at Mrs. White's home.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Askewville Assembly of God Church with the Rev. R.O. Denton Jr. and the Rev. R.O. Denton Sr. officiating.

Burial will follow in Edgewood Cemetery.