Edward L. Harrison

GATESVILLE – Edward Lee Harrison, 59, of the 100 block of East Maple Street, died Friday, December 29, 2005, in Durham V.A. Hospital.

Mr. Harrison was born in Norfolk, VA, a son of the late Elizabeth Selby and Leland Young Harrison. He was a U. S. Marine Corps veteran and served two tours of duty during the Vietnam Conflict. He was retired as a general manager of a construction company.

Survivors include his wife, Linda Bryant Harrison; a daughter, Shari Lynn H. Johnston; a son, N.C. State Trooper Nicholas Leland Harrison; a nephew that he raised, Charles Randal Cowart and family; and grandchildren, Emily Ann &uot;Honey Pie&uot;, Ian Lee, Mac, and Little Harry, all of Gatesville, NC; and a sister, Kitty Bryant of Virginia Beach, VA.

A funeral service will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 3, 2006, at Garrett funeral Home, Ahoskie, with the Rev. Rick Durham, officiating and with military honors. Friends joined the family at Garrett Funeral Home from 6:00 until 9:00 p.m. on Monday, and other times at the home.

William M. Bunch

SUNBURY n William Matthew “Buddy” Bunch, 49, a native of Gates County, died December 30, 2005, in Albemarle Hospital, Elizabeth City.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Sandy Cross Baptist Church by the Rev. E. Vernon Gilmer Jr. Following services he will be cremated. Miller Funeral Home, Gatesville, is in charge. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to one’s favorite charity.

Bunch was a welder with Northrop-Grumman. He and his wife were also growers for Perdue Chicken Corp. He was a member of Sandy Cross Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Karen Harrell Bunch; two daughters, Stacey M. Barham of Capron, Va., and Kelly A. Bright of Hobbsville; his mother, Barbara Ann Parks Bunch of Gatesville; a sister, Wanda Knight of Winton; and one granddaughter.

Edward D. Noble

HOBBSVILLE n Edward Donald Noble, 63, a native of Waterbury, CT, died December 30, 2005 at his home.

A funeral was conducted Monday at 3 p.m. in Sandy Cross Baptist Church by the Rev. E. Vernon Gilmer Jr. and the Rev. Hugh Mizelle. Burial was in the Stallings family cemetery. Miller Funeral Home, Gatesville, was in charge. Memorial contributions may be made to Sandy Cross Baptist Church, Hobbsville, NC 27946 or the Edward G. Bond Post #40. W. Queen St., Extd., Edenton, NC 27932.

Noble and his wife owned and operated Carolina Refinishers. A member of Sandy Cross Baptist Church, he was also a member of the Edward G. Bond Post #40 of the American Legion where he was the 1st Vice-Commander, served as the membership chairman, served on the Legion Cook Team; and received membership in the La Societe Des 40 & 8. He was also an Army veteran of the Vietnam War.

Survivors include his wife, Marilyn Stallings Noble; two daughters, Michele Copeland of Hobbsville and Deborah Crane of Pell City, AL; a sister, Lorraine Noble; and a brother, Chuck Noble, both of Edenton; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

James E. Wright

ROCKY MOUNT n James Earl Wright, 68, died December 29, 2005 at Pitt Memorial Hospital, Greenville.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, January 6, 2006 at Word Tabernacle Church, Rocky Mount, by Pastor James Gailliard. A visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at H.D. Pope Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to www.hdpopefuneralhome.com.

Charlie Harrison Jr.

ROCKY MOUNT n Charlie Lee Harrison Jr., 53, died December 27, 2005 at his residence.

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

D.W. Whitley

SUFFOLK, Va. – D.W. Whitley, 76, died Decemer 28, 2005, at Roanoke Chowan Hospital in Ahoskie.

Whitley was retired after having owned his own company, D.W. Whitley Custom Home Builders.

Survivors include his wife, Margaret Miller Whitley; a son, David R. Whitley of Lewiston; a daughter, Treniece W. Heimann; and a granddaughter.

Funeral services were private. Harrell & Hill Funeral Home was in charge.

Ruth D. Joyner

GARYSBURG n Ruth Davis Joyner, 82, a native of Wayne County, died December 30, 2005.

Survivors include her husband, Thomas Ghio &uot;Sonny Boy&uot; Joyner of Garysburg; and her sisters, Mrs. Charles Johnson (Mattie) of Wilmington and Mrs. Allean Meador of Lemon Springs, NC.

Mrs. Joyner in 1944 graduated from East Carolina Teachers’ College. She was a teacher in the Roanoke Rapids City School System for 34 years, was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma International Society of Educators and a member of the Garysburg United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School and earned a life-membership in the United Methodist Women.

Graveside services were in the cemetery of the Garysburg United Methodist Church on Monday conducted by Dr. Mark Worthington of Southern Pines United Methodist Church. Askew Funeral Services were in charge. Contributions in her honor may be made to the United Methodist Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 10955, Raleigh, NC 27605.

William H. Pierce

WINDSOR n William Henry Pierce, 70, died January 1, 2006 at his home.

A graveside funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Edgewood Cemetery by the Rev. R.O. Denton Jr. The family will receive friends at 838 US 13 North. Walker Funeral Home is in charge.

Pierce was retired from Lea Lumber Company and attended Askewville Assembly of God Church.

Survivors include his sisters, Doris Pearl Patrick of Manassas, Va., and Rose Mary Thorne of Bellevue, IA; and brothers, Lewis L. Pierce and Harvey Jake Pierce, both of Windsor, Paul Sutton Pierce of Colerain, and John W. Pierce of Askewville.