William H. Edmonds

NEWARK, N.J. – William H. "Joe" Edmonds, a native of Northampton County, died

August 23, 2005 in Newark.

Edmonds attended Northampton County Public Schools. He was a graduate of W.S. Creecy High School, Rich Square and was employed in the construction industry and active member of the International Union of Operational Engineers.

Survivors include one daughter, Kyndra Symone Edmonds of Newark; three brothers, Bernard of East Orange, Randolph of Baltimore, Md., and Reginald of Harrisburg, Pa.; and five sisters, Juanita Gatling, Pearl Whitaker and Theresa Wright of Paterson, Judith Batts of Irvington, and Annette Kinsler of Raleigh.

Perry Funeral Home, Inc., 34 Mercer St., Newark, N.J. 07103, is in charge.

Lillian Smith

ROCKY MOUNT n Lillian Benbow Smith, 86, died August 24, 2005 at Duke Medical Center, Durham.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Fosters Memorial in Rocky Mount by Dr. Michael Perry. Interment will be in Gardens of Gethsemane, Rocky Mount. H.D. Pope Funeral Home is in charge.

Oray E. Keys III

BROOKLYN, N.Y. n Oray E. Keys III, 72, a native of Hertford County, died August 12, 2005 in Brooklyn.

A funeral was conducted August 18, 2005 at Woodward Funeral Chapel. Burial was in Calverton National Cemetery. Information provided by Hunter's Funeral Home, Inc.

Survivors include two daughters, Shirley Lynch of Plainville, N.J., and Helen Webster of Pleasantville, NJ; his father, Oray Keyes Sr. of Murfreesboro; two sisters, Westelle K. Cherry of Ahoskie and Margaret K. Hampton of Murfreesboro; and one brother, George M. Keyes of Raleigh.

Frances M. Johnson

ROCKY MOUNT n Frances M. Johnson, 29, died August 20, 2005 at her residence.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Ebenezer Baptist Church by the Rev. Thomas Walker. Interment will be in Pineview Cemetery. H.D. Pope Funeral Home is in charge.

Luther M. Cowan

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Luther Mitchell Cowan, age 79, passed away Wednesday, August 24, 2005. 

He was born in Windsor, NC, and was a World War II Navy Veteran.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Eugene Grissom Cowand and Minnie Elizabeth Wilson Cowand and a sister, Sara Cowand Phelps. 

Survivors include his wife, Madge W. Cowan; son, Mitchell Cowan and wife, Susan of Horchtor, Ga.; three daughters, Donna Cowan Jenkins and husband, Wayne of Woodland, Susan Cowan Butler and husband Richard of Clayton, NC and Heather Cowan Laney and husband, Ashley of Jacksonville.  Also surviving are three sisters, Betty Cowand Hughes, Ruby Cowand Harrison and Minnie Cowand Ridenour; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. 

Memorial funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, August 27, 2005 in the chapel of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 729 S. Edgewood Ave.; Jacksonville, FL 32205.

Norman Joyner Jr.

PENDLETON n Norman Joyner Jr., 68, a native of Northampton County, died August 25, 2005 at Halifax Memorial Hospital, Roanoke Rapids.

A funeral will be conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday at First Baptist Severn by the Rev. Elisiah Barnes. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Hertford County Undertakers, Winton, is in charge.

Survivors include his wife, Ethel M. Joyner; three daughters, Sandra Deloatch of Conway, Gwendolyn Wilson of Franklin, Va., and Denise Grant of Pendleton; one brother, Albert Joyner of Old Fort; two sisters, Inora Stephenson of Murfreesboro and Leatha Camens of New York, NY; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchildren.

Clyde W. Davis

PENDLETON n Mr. Clyde "Crack" Wilmer Davis, age 85, of Pendleton, NC, died Aug. 24, 2005 at McGuire Veterans Hospital in Richmond, Va.

Mr. Davis was born Nov. 9, 1919 in Northampton County, NC, the son of the late Frank Eldridge Davis and Annie Britton Davis. He was also preceded in death by a son, Kenneth Clyde Davis, a sister, Maxine D. Askew and a brother, Grady Davis.

Mr. Davis was a highly decorated disabled veteran having served his country during World War II. He was a Pearl Harbor survivor and served in the 25th Infantry. He was a member of Meherrin Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, NC.

Survivors include his wife, Erlene Perry Davis; his daughter, Susan Davis and her husband, Larry Davis of Murfreesboro, NC; his sons, Raymond Lee Davis and his wife Rebecca C. Davis of Hamburg, Arkansas and Stephen Wayne Davis of Pendleton, NC; a daughter-in-law, Janet T. Davis of Pendleton, NC; his sisters, Delcy D. Draper and her husband, Leston of Roanoke Rapids, NC and Ellen Cook of Newsoms, Va.; a brother, Carlton Davis and his wife, Helen of Rocky Mount, NC; seven grandchildren, Michelle Burgess and husband, Alan, Kimberly Davis, K.C. "Ken" Davis, Kristopher "Kris" Davis, Timothy Davis, Tyler Davis and Frank Davis; two stepgrandchildren, Michael and Jennifer Davis; two great-grandchildren, Hayley and Holden Burgess; and also several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held, Saturday, August 27, 2005 at 2 p.m. at Meherrin Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, NC with the Rev. Billy Sellers and the Rev. Earl Draper officiating. Burial will follow at the Meherrin Baptist Church Cemetery with military honors.

The family received friends at Massey Funeral Home in Jackson, NC, Friday from 7 until 8:30 p.m. and other times at the home.

Verna M. Gilliam

MERRY HILL n Verna Mae Gilliam, a native of Bertie County, died August 19, 2005. She was the widow of John Henry Gilliam.

A funeral was conducted Wednesday at Oxley Hill Baptist Church by the Rev. Vonner G. Horton. Burial was in the church cemetery. Gilliam Funeral Home was in charge.

Survivors include her three children, Georgia Gilliam of Fayetteville, Shirley Brown of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Kenneth Gilliam of Brooklyn; one foster daughter, Patricia Mayo; sisters, Annie R. Gilliam of Merry Hill, Ella Cooper of Philadelphia, Pa., Cora Parker of Windsor, Esther Tate of Baltimore, Md., and Gloria Merchant of Glen Oaks; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.