The R-C News-Herald Obituaries for Nov. 1, 2005

Published 12:00 am Thursday, November 3, 2005

Michael T. Nowell

RALEIGH n Michael Tracy Nowell, 38, a native of Gatesville, died October 28, 2005 at his home.

A funeral will be conducted at 12 noon Tuesday at Blanchard’s Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Hobbsville, by Bishop Craig Powell and Pastor Paul Anderson. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation starting at 11 a.m. until time of service at the church and the family will be at the home of Whalyn and Fannie Jordan, Gatesville. Stallings Funeral Chapel, Gatesville, is in charge.

Survivors include his mother, Betty Nowell Jones of Edenton; his father, Nicole McLeod Nowell of Raleigh; one daughter, Mikayla Nowell of Raleigh; two sisters, Annette James of Sunbury and Astrid Gatling of Durham; and five brothers, Floyd Jordan of Hobbsville, Glenn Privott of Los Angeles, Calif., Kevin Nowell of Ossing, NY, Terrance Nowell of Edenton and George Gatling Jr. of Greensboro.

Janet W. White

ELIZABETH CITY – Janet Ruth Welch White, 43, died October 25, 2005.

A funeral was conducted Sunday in Bay Branch AME Zion Church, Belvidere. Stallings Funeral Home was in charge.

Cornelia Evans-Whitfield

MURFREESBORO n Cornelia Jane “Grown” Evans-Whitfield, 107, died October 27, 2005 at Halifax Regional Medical Center, Roanoke Rapids.

Homegoing services was conducted Monday at Galilee Baptist Church, Branchville, Va., by the Rev. Shirley Johnson. Interment was in Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church. Faison’s Funeral Home, Inc., Seaboard, was in charge.

Stanley C. Reaves

CHESAPEAKE, Va. –

Norfolk Police Officer Stanley Cornell Reaves, 33, died in the line of duty on October 28, 2005 in Norfolk.

Officer Reaves was baptized at Gospel Tabernacle Baptist Church in Baltimore. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in the City of Baltimore Police Department for 11 years. He also served in the Norfolk Police Department for one year.

Survivors include his wife, Treva Rose Reaves; a daughter, Reagan Reaves; a son, Ryan Reaves; his parents, Lula Pearl Reaves of Greenville and Comous Reaves of Baltimore, Md.; and two sisters, Christa Blackwell of Crofton, Md. and Kimberly Blackwell of Middle River, Md.

A candlelight service will be conducted at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Rosewood Kellum Funeral Home, 601 N. Witchduck Road, Virginia Beach. The family will receive friends following the service until 9 p.m. Viewing will start at 10 a.m. Tuesday. A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Calvary Revival Church, 5833 Poplar Hall Drive, Norfolk, by the Rev. Dr. Anderson Foreman Jr. Interment will follow at the family cemetery in Windsor, N.C. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a scholarship fund for Reagan and Ryan Reaves. Friends may send tributes to www.mem.com.

Virgon T. Slade Jr.

COLERAIN – Virgon Thomas Slade Jr., 62, a native of Bertie County, died October 27, 2005 at Bertie Memorial Hospital, Windsor.

A funeral was conducted Monday in Ashland Missionary Baptist Church, Merry Hill, by the Rev. Willie J. Best Jr. Burial was in the Slade family cemetery, Colerain. Wilder’s Funeral Home Inc. was in charge.

Slade was a member of Ashland Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Sutton Slade of the home; his father, Virgon Thomas Slade Sr.; sons, David Earl Slade and Marvin Kenneth Slade, both of Colerain, Tyrone Slade of Raleigh and Milton Slade of Windsor; daughters, Patricia Gale Slade of Newport News, Va., and Brenda Gilliam of Durham; a brother, Alexander Slade of Norfolk; sisters, Bessie Mae White of Merry Hill, Florence Swain and Catherine Rankins, both of Colerain, and Marie Rankins of Ahoskie; and 12 grandchildren.

Franchola Johnson

ROCKY MOUNT n Franchola Johnson, 44, died October 30, 2005 at her residence.

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

Carlton Ricks

CONWAY n Carlton W. “Butch” Ricks, 64, a native of Northampton County, died October 30, 2005 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

A graveside service will be conducted at 2 p.m. in the Town of Conway Cemetery by the Rev. James Hester. Bridgers Funeral Home, Inc., is in charge.

He is survived by a sister, Barbara R. Hayes of Jamesville.

Marcella B. Bowers

FRANKLIN, Va. – Marcella B. Bowers, 83, a native of Hertford County, died October 26, 2005, at Southampton Memorial Hospital. She was the widow of Donald J. Bowers.

Mrs. Bowers retired in 1987 from Franklin City Schools after 37 years of teaching. She was a member of New Hope Baptist Church, Franklin, where she served as church treasurer and on the scholarship committee. She was a member of Lambda Psi Omega and Zeta Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and also was a member of the Cosmonett Club. She graduated from Virginia Union University and Old Dominion University.

She is survived by her sister, Marie Barnes Lewis of Franklin.

A funeral was conducted Monday in New Hope Baptist Church, Franklin, by the Rev. Anthony Goodwyn. Burial was in Southview Cemetery. Elvin Vaughan Funeral Home, Franklin, was in charge.

Carolyn S. Burgess

WINTON – Carolyn Smith Burgess 57, of the 300 block of N.C. 45 South died October 29, 2005 in her home.

She was a native of Chowan County, a Baptist, and the daughter of the late Robert Steve and Mary Lois Todd Smith, and a homemaker. She was a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary.

Surviving are her husband; Kenneth Earl Burgess, two daughters, Rebecca Castello, Murfreesboro, N.C., Mary Pierce, Windsor, N. C; one son; Kenneth Earl Burgess, Jr., Ahoskie, N. C.; two sisters, Ruth Goff and Mary Watson both of Edenton, N.C.; three brothers, Elbridge Smith and Johnny Smith both of Edenton, N.C., Robert Smith, Windsor, N.C.; three grandchildren, Robert Craig Castello, Bryant Wood Pierce, and Kenneth Tyler Burgess.

Graveside service will be held at Beaver Hill Cemetery, Edenton, N.C. at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, November 1, 2005 with the Rev. Rochelle Olsen officiating. The family will meet at the cemetery at 1:45 p.m. prior to services.

Garrett Funeral Home, Ahoskie, N. C. is serving the Burgess family.

Nora M. Harrell

COLERAIN .-Nora Meiggs Harrell 82, of the 1300 block of Meadow Rd., died October 29, 2005 at Pitt County Memorial Hospital.

She was a native of Camden County, a retired school teacher, a member of Mars Hill Baptist Church, a member of the Eastern Star, a daughter of the late Clarence C. and Elizabeth Pritchard Meiggs, and the widow of Arthur Conwell Harrell.

Surviving are three daughters; Joanne H. Harrell, Colerain, N.C, Bonnie H. Keuhne, Virginia Beach, Va., Beverly Jean Harrell, Greenville, N.C.; one sister, Velma Holloman, Yorktown, Va.; three grandchildren, Scott Harrell, Atlanta, Ga., Kelly Harrell, Wilmington, N.C., Katie Keuhne, Virginia Beach, Va.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 P.M., Wednesday, November 2, 2005 in Highland Memorial Gardens Ahoskie, N. C. with the Revs. Robert M. May and Al Hughson officiating.

The family will receive friends at the home of her daughter 118 Quebec Rd. Colerain, N.C.

Garrett Funeral Home, Ahoskie, N. C. is serving the Harrell Family.

Worth H. Copeland

Worth Hart Copeland, 86, of Garner, NC passed away on October 29 at Wake Medical Center. He passed with the same dignity, grace and gentlemanly character that exemplified his living.

As a boy his father once told him the two most important things in life were to be a gentleman and a scholar. Worth accomplished both of these ideals. He was born December 30, 1918 in Ahoskie, NC, the son of the late Lee Copeland and Doris Hart Copeland.

He attended Wake Forest College in Wake Forest, NC, and graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors in 1939.

He received his Masters Degree in Mathematics from Wake Forest in 1941, while teaching mathematics as an instructor. He took a leave of absence from school and entered Naval Service in 1942, achieving the rank of Lieutenant. He served as an instructor for seamanship, communications and navigation at the Naval War Colleges at Columbia and Harvard Universities, and later as navigations and communications officer on several Naval ships during the war. After his Honorable Discharge from the Navy, he returned to Wake Forest College in 1946 serving as assistant Secretary and Treasurer until 1951, and as Secretary and Treasurer until 1968.

He later worked with the NC Employment Security Commission until he retired in 1978.

His happiest years were spent with his family and beloved wife Martha in Halifax, NC, and later at their beach home at Salter Path, NC.

Worth was a 32nd Degree Mason and member of the Royal White Hart Masonic Lodge in Halifax, NC, a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society and active in the Halifax County Historical Association.

He is survived by his wife, Martha H. Copeland; sons, Lee D. Copeland, and wife Dee and James A. Copeland and wife Betsy; daughters, Kate C. Dilday, and husband Vann and Sarah D. Strickland, and husband Larry; grandchildren, Jason and wife, Mary Beth, Anne Leigh, Garrett, Blake, Paige, Chelsea, Lindsey, Dylan, Josh, Barbara, and husband Jeff; great-grandchildren, Ivy, Charlie and Lainie.

He was admired, respected and cherished by his family. We all will deeply miss this true Southern Gentleman.

Massey Funeral Home in Zebulon is in charge.

Burial is at Ahoskie Cemetery in Ahoskie, NC at 2 pm on Tuesday.

Gladys D. Pate

GREENVILLE n Gladys Davis Pate, 79, a native of Pikeville community of Wayne County, died October 28, 2005 at Pitt County Memorial Hospital. She was the widow of Lloyd G. Pate.

A funeral service was conducted Sunday in the mausoleum chapel at Pinewood Memorial Park.

Mrs. Pate was a public school teacher with 30 years of service, she taught in Hallsboro, NC, Kinston and in several Pitt County schools, including Agnes Fullilove and Sadie Salter. She was a member of the Alpha Delta Kappa Teachers Sorority.

Survivors include two sons, William Bill Joseph Pate of Apex and Alan George of Winterville; three sisters, Allean Meador of Lemon Springs, Ruth Joyner of Garysburg and Mattie Johnson of Wilmington; and five grandchildren.

Alvin McIntyre

NORFOLK, Va. – Alvin McIntyre, 80, a native of Baltimore, Md., died October 28, 2005 at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Norfolk.

McIntyre was a retired tow truck driver for Black & White Cab Company.

Survivors include his wife, Roberta McIntyre of Norfolk; two sons, Alvin Moore of Tennessee and Lamont Sutton of Cofield; one brother, Leroy Majette of Baltimore; and one sister, Doreatha Rowdy of Washington, D.C.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Hunter’s Funeral Home Chapel, Ahoskie by the Rev. Charlie Carter. Interment will be in the Philippi Baptist Church Cemetery.

Malvin W. Askew

WINTON n Malvin Wendell Askew, died October 25, 2005 at Guardian Care Nursing Home, Ahoskie.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Zion Grove Baptist Church, Aulander, by Minister James Mercer. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

He is survived by one sister, Jewell Britt of Bronx, NY.

Thelma Hurdle

AULANDER n Thelma Jones Hurdle, age 83, died October 31, 2005 at The Ahoskie House in Ahoskie, NC.

Ms. Hurdle was born October 3, 1922, daughter of the late King Solomon and Betty Sharpe Parker Jones. She is preceded in death by her husband, Thurman A. Hurdle. She was a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church, a homemaker, and a native of Bertie County.

Survivors include three sons, Thomas E. Burch of Rocky Mount; Jerry K. Burch and wife, Aneick of Knightdale, and Charles A. Hurdle and wife, Terry of Greenville; one daughter, Myra B. Ray and husband, Charles of Ahoskie; nine grandchildren, Susan Vick, Jonathan S. Burch, Catherine R. White, Gregory C. Ray, Bryan K. Burch, Mary Ashley Burch, Chris Hurdle, Alex Hurdle and Grace Hurdle; and two great-grandchildren, Emily Grayson Vick and Anna Reese Vick.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, November 3, 2005 at 1 p.m. from the Oak Grove

Baptist Church with the Rev. Bobby L. Skeens and the Rev. Jeffrey Skiles officiating. Burial will follow in Job Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 7 til 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Massey Funeral Home of Aulander, is in charge of arrangements.