Thelma M. Smith

NORFOLK, Va. – Thelma M. Smith, 85, a native of Gates County, died August

9, 2005, in a local hospital. She was the widow of Chief Warrant Officer Thurlow Stroud Smith.

Mrs. Smith was a member of the Warwick Swamp Baptist Church. She was a former employee of AAA before owning and operating Thelma Smith Driving School.

Survivors include her daughter, Cynthia Smith Creede of Portsmouth; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments, Norfolk Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Pamlico Beach Fire and Rescue Squad, c/o Alfred Wilkins, 304 Loop Road, Belhaven, NC 27810.

Dianna W. Grant

WINTON n Dianna Wilson Grant, 63, a native of Hertford County, died August 10, 2005 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

A funeral will be conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday at Jordan Grove Baptist Church by the Rev. James Shearn. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Hertford County Undertakers, Winton, is in charge.

Survivors include one son, Derrick Grant of Philadelphia, Pa.; one daughter, Connie Grant-Britt of Sterling, Va.; two brothers, Frank Charity and Fred Wilson, both of Winton and Robert Lee Charity of Washington, D.C.; and three grandchildren.

James M. Harmon

AHOSKIE n James Mackie Harmon, 53, a native of Bertie County, died August 11, 2005 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

A funeral will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church, Lewiston, by Overseer Luther Cherry. Wilder's Funeral Home, Inc., Aulander, is in charge.

Harmon was employed with Norfolk Naval Shipyard. He was a member of Evening Light Church of God in Christ, Windsor.

Survivors include his wife, Zelma P. Harmon of the home; children, Tameka Snow Harmon of Winterville, Danyell Michelle Harmon of Greenville and Janice Jones Blackstone of Durham; sisters, Mary Moore Long of Long Island, NY, Johnnie Mae Taylor of Aulander, Maxine Greenfield of Newport News, Va. and Jean Keemer Myles of New York; brothers, Harry "Buddy" Harmon, Louis Harmon and Lemuel Wendell Harmon, all of Newport News, Harrison Ray Harmon of Aulander, Vernon Lee Askew of Philadelphia, Pa.; and two grandchildren.

Thomas McKenney

LITTLETON n Thomas McKenney, 90, died August 11, 2005 at his home.

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

E.B. Byrum Jr.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. – Elton Baker &uot;E.B.&uot; Byrum Jr., 56, a native of Gates County, died August 7, 2005, in Maryview Nursing Care Facility, Suffolk.

Byrum was a shop foreman of American Cemetery Supply in Portsmouth, he was a member of Eureka Baptist Church in Corapeake, the North Carolina Beach Buggy Association, and was a former member of the Sunbury Volunteer Fire Department.

Survivors include a daughter, Teresa B. Sonin of Suffolk; a son, E.B. &uot;Burt&uot; Byrum III of Corapeake; his mother, Elizabeth Robertson Byrum of Corapeake; two sisters, Helen Ragland and Gloria Wiggins, both of Richmond; and three grandchildren.

A funeral was conducted Wednesday in Eureka Baptist Church by the Rev. Cameron Currin. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Miller Funeral Home, Gatesville, was in charge. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Sunbury Fire Department for the benefit of the new Corapeake Fire Station, P.O. Box 115, Corapeake, NC 27926.

W. Gale Parker

RALEIGH n W. Gale Parker, 87, a native of Bertie County, died August 7, 2005. He was the widower of Margaret Louise Eastep.

Parker graduated from Aulander High School and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

Mr. Parker began practicing law in Raleigh in 1950, joining the firm of Mordecai, Mills & Parker in 1951. He left the firm to start a general civil solo practice in 1969, and practiced primarily in areas of real estate, and probate and estate administration. He remained in solo practice until joined in practice by his daughter, Betty L. Parker, in 1988, when the firm became known as Parker & Parker. W. Gale Parker was an active member of Forest Hills Baptist Church since 1951, and also served as a Trustee for the Baptist State Convention for more than 25 years.

Survivors include his children, Tony Parker, Margaret Parker Hogan, Betty L. Parker and Karen E. Wyatt; a brother, James Winston Parker of Phoenix, Ariz.; and three grandchildren.

Funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday at Forest Hills Baptist Church on Dixie Trail, followed by graveside service at Montlawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends and relatives on Saturday, August 13, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Mitchell Funeral Home, 600 St. Mary’s Street, Raleigh. Memorials to Forest Hills Baptist Church or flowers are welcome.

Hollis F. Creecy Sr.

SUNBURY – Hollis F. Creecy Sr., 87, a native of Rich Square, died August 9, 2005.

Creecy was a former principal of T.S. Cooper School and what was then Central High School. Even after his retirement from the North Carolina State School System, Creecy continued to serve the community in many capacities including as county commissioner for several terms.

A funeral will be held at Central Middle School in Gatesville, Saturday at 11 a.m. Entombment will be held immediately following the service at Drake Memorial Cemetery.

Geraldine A. Simmons

CORAPEAKE – Geraldine Amelia Simmons, 72, a native of Lackawanna, NY, died August 11, 2005.

She was a retired cook from Hardee's restaurant.

Survivors include her husband, Harmon Parnell Simmons; daughter, Nora Krypel of West Seneca, N.Y.; son, Jeffrey Simmons of Corapeake; a sister, Lillian Pokulski of Blasdell; a brother, Larry Davis of Warwick, R.I.; and five grandchildren.

Services will be private. Parr Funeral Home is in charge.

Annie Spivey

WINDSOR n Annie Ruth Heckstall Spivey, a native of Windsor, died August 4, 2005.

A funeral was conducted Tuesday at Refreshing Center Church of God in Christ by the Rev. Dr. Hoyt Cooper. Burial was in Hillcrest Cemetery. Gilliam Funeral Home was in charge.

Mrs. Spivey was a member of Refreshing Center Church of God in Christ.

Survivors include her husband, Joseph E. Spivey; two daughters, Verna Spivey-Carter and Darlene Spivey, both of Windsor; six sons, Robert, James, Jeffrey, and Jerry, all of Windsor, Johnnie and Francis, both of Williamston; two sisters, Mae Jones and Alma Cooper, both of Windsor; one brother, James Heckstall of Windsor; 28 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Mamie L. Casper

AHOSKIE n Mamie L. Casper, died August 10, 2005.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at New Ahoskie Baptist Church by the Rev. Robert Sessoms. Burial will be in Pleasant Plains Baptist Church. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Survivors include one son, James E. Lassiter; one daughter, Daisy L. Newsome, both of Ahoskie; and three grandchildren.

Sarah Dempsey

AULANDER – Sarah Leigh Jenkins Dempsey, 81, died August 11, 2005.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday in St. John's Baptist Church. Garrett Funeral Home, Ahoskie, is in charge.