James Deloatch

MURFREESBORO n James Melvin Deloatch, 58, a native of Hertford County, died July 23, 2005 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital.

A funeral will be conducted at 12 noon Friday at Nebo Baptist Church by the Rev. Robert Holloman. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Hertford County Undertakers, Winton, is in charge.

Survivors include three sons, Sherwin L. Dickens of Knightdale, Charles M. Deloatch and Joseph A. Deloatch, both of Murfreesboro; one sister, Effie D. Manley of Murfreesboro; three brothers, Donald K. Deloatch of Newport News, Va., Howard L. Vaughan and William O. Lassiter, both of Murfreesboro; and six grandchildren.

Raymond Lassiter

CHESAPEAKE, Va. – Raymond Lassiter, 78, a native of Gates, died July 23, 2005, at Chesapeake General Hospital.

Lassiter retired from the Naval Base in 1990 where he worked maintenance after 20 years of service. He was a member of First Baptist Church, West Munden, Chesapeake.

Survivors include his wife, Fanny Lassiter of Chesapeake; one daughter, Jane Johnson of Newport News; two sisters, Faye Brown and Chilli Eaton; one brother, James Lassiter Jr.; two great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

A funeral was conducted Wednesday in First Baptist Church, West Munden, Chesapeake, Evangelist Virginia Williams. Interment was at Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery, Suffolk. Metropolitan Funeral Service, Granby Chapel,was in charge. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.metropolitanfuneralservice.com.

Miles C. Bunch Jr.

SUFFOLK, Va. – Miles Clifton Bunch Jr., 78, a native of Belvidere, died July 25, 2005, at Obici Hospital.

Bunch was the parts manager of Chorey Motors and Duke Automotive until his retirement. He was also a member of Western Branch Baptist Church. He was a life member of the Davis-Ridley Hunt Club in Courtland.

He is survived by a sister, Thelma Louise Kenney of Virginia Beach;

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday in the R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home & Crematory the Rev. Raymond White. Burial will be at Holly Lawn Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Nansemond Suffolk Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 1515, Suffolk, VA 23439. Condolences may be registered at www.rwbakerfh.com.

J. Agrippa Sawyer

COURTLAND, Va. –

John Agrippa Sawyer, 67, a native of Gates County, died July 25, 2005, at Southampton Memorial Hospital.

Sawyer worked with Union Camp Corporation for eight years and retired from Weyerhauser Corporation in Plymouth, N.C., after 35 years. He was a member of Hunterdale United Church of Christ, Ducks Unlimited, Woodmen of the World and the Pheasant Pluckers.

Survivors include his wife, Sandra O'Clair Sawyer; two sisters, Ann S. Eure of Franklin and Joan S. Chappell of Suffolk; and three brothers, Richard Sawyer of Franklin, Billy Sawyer of Holland and Donnie Sawyer of Suffolk.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday in the chapel of Wright Funeral Home, Franklin, by the Rev. Dietmar Plajer and the Rev. Billy Presley. Burial will be in Poplar Spring Cemetery. The family suggest memorials be made to the Hunterdale United Church of Christ Memorial Fund or Courtland Rescue Squad.

Louise L. Sawyer

FRANKLIN, Va. – Louise Lowe Sawyer, 92, a native of Ahoskie, died July 26, 2005, at the East Pavilion.

Mrs. Sawyer was a former seamstress for Peebles Department Store in Franklin. She was a member of Reynoldson Baptist Church.

Survivors include two daughters, Ann S. Eure of Franklin and Joan S. Chappell of Suffolk; three sons, Richard Sawyer of Franklin, Billy Sawyer of Holland and Donnie Sawyer of Suffolk; and eight grandchildren.

A graveside service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday in Reynoldson Baptist Church Cemetery by the Rev. Billy Presley. The family will receive friends Thursday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Wright Funeral Home.

J. William Dixon

MURFREESBORO n Johnnie William Dixon, 90, a native of Pitt County, died July 26, 2005 in Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

Dixon was a retired buyer for Smithfield Packing Company, he was a member of Meherrin Baptist Church, the American George Masonic Lodge #17, and the Woodmen of the World. He was a former member and deacon of Mt. Tabor Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Claudie Marie Britt Dixon; one daughter, Jeanne Dixon Barlow of Chesapeake, VA; two sons, Ray Dixon of Pittsboro and Jay Dixon of Manteo; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday in Meherrin Baptist Church by the Rev. Wint Hale. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Miller Funeral Home, Gatesville, in charge. Friends may join the family in the church social hall following services and all other times at the residence. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the building fund of Meherrin Baptist Church, Meherrin Lane, Murfreesboro, NC 27855.

Tamesha Lassiter

AHOSKIE n Tamesha Lassiter, died July 24, 2005 at Duke Medical Center.

A funeral will be conducted at 3 p.m. Saturday at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery, Ahoskie. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Survivors include her husband, Kevin Lassiter of Ahoskie; one son, Quayshawn D. Howington of Ahoskie; a sister, Ja'Nea M. Jenkins of Ahoskie; her parents, the Rev. Michael and Loretta Hardy of Ahoskie; her father, Michael Riddick of Greenville; a sister, Katina Jenkins of Ahoskie; and her grandparents, Katie Sessoms, Leon Watson and Winfred and Lena Hardy.