Elva E. Evans

MURFREESBORO n Elva Estelle Evans, 86, of the 200 block of Spring Avenue, died Monday, January 2, 2006, in Guardian Care of Ahoskie.

Miss Evans was born June 21, 1919, in Murfreesboro, a daughter of the late John and Estelle Evans.

She attended Murfreesboro public schools, received an Associates Degree in Art from Chowan College, a Bachelors Degree from Women’s College (UNCG) in education and a Masters Degree in special education from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University.

Elva was a retired teacher and spent her entire career in education of the deaf.

She taught in the New Jersey School for the Deaf, the Rhode Island School for the Deaf, was director of deaf education in Atlanta Speech School, and was Principal of Vestal Hall in the North Carolina School for the Deaf in Wilson.

She taught deaf education courses at Emory University, Atlanta, and at Atlantic Christian College in Wilson, NC.

After retirement, Miss Evans returned to Murfreesboro, North Carolina and was active in the Murfreesboro Historical Association, Daughters of the American Revolution and Murfreesboro United Methodist Church.

She is survived by one sister, Rachel Evans Wilson and husband, James H. of Fayetteville, NC; a niece and two nephews.

A funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 5, 2006, at Murfreesboro United Methodist Church with the Rev. Bob Hagerty, officiating.

Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery.

Friends joined the family at Garrett Funeral Home, Murfreesboro, on Wednesday, from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m.

Memorial donations may be made to Chowan College, 200 Jones Drive, Murfreesboro, NC, 27855, or to Murfreesboro United Methodist Church, 313 High Street, Murfreesboro, NC, 27855.

Garrett Funeral Home, Murfreesboro, is serving the Evans family.

MaryBelle B. Bass

EDENTON – MaryBelle Byrum Bass, 81, a native of Chowan County, died January 1, 2006, in Albemarle Hospital, Elizabeth City. She was the widow of Graham Pierce Bass.

Mrs. Bass was a member of Rocky Hock Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school and was also active in its Anna Belle Coleman Circle.

Survivors include two sons, G. Carroll Bass of Edenton and Robert W. &uot;Bob&uot; Bass of Ayden; a sister, Lois B. Turner of Gatesville; 11 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

A funeral was conducted Wednesday in Rocky Hock Baptist Church by the Rev. Dr. James Horton with burial following in the Pierce family cemetery. Miller Funeral Home, Edenton,

was in charge. Memorial contributions may be made to Rocky Hock Baptist Church Building Fund, 113 Rocky Hock Church Road, Edenton, NC 27932.

George R. Prince

COURTLAND, Va. – George Robert Prince, 92, a longtime Southampton County farmer, died Jan. 2, 2006.

Prince was a member of Newsoms United Methodist Church and former Sunday school teacher. He was a former Mason, former member of Newsoms Ruritan Club, former member of Southampton County School Board and served on numerous agricultural boards throughout the years.

Survivors include his wife, Anne Pulley Prince; a daughter, Elizabeth B. Prince of Boykins; a stepdaughter, Sandra B. Holloman of Franklin; a son, George R. Prince Jr. of Roswell, Ga.; two sisters, Elizabeth P. Barnes and Virginia P. Barkley, both of Severn; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

A graveside service was conducted Wednesday in Riverside Cemetery, Courtland, by the Rev. Kenneth Williams. The family suggest memorials be made to Courtland Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 439, Courtland, VA 23837. Wright Funeral Home was in charge.

Charlie Harrison Jr.

ROCKY MOUNT n Charlie Lee Harrison Jr., 53, died December 29, 2005.

A funeral will be conducted at 12 noon Thursday at Thorne Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, located at 1624 Windsor Drive, Rocky Mount. H.D. Pope Funeral Home, Rocky Mount, is in charge. Condolences may be sent to: www.hdpopefuneralhome.com.

Lewis Petway

ROCKY MOUNT n Lewis Petway, 78, died January 2, 2006 at Nash General Hospital.

A graveside service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday at Gardens of Gethsemane. A visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. at H.D. Pope Funeral Home, Rocky Mount, is in charge. Condolences may be sent to: www.hdpopefuneralhome.com.

James Wright

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

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

Isolene Parker

WINDSOR n Isolene Parker, 78, died December 30, 2005 at Bertie Memorial Hospital.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday at St. James Church of Christ, Windsor. Burial will be in the Parker family cemetery. Gilliam Funeral Home, Windsor, is in charge.

Sadie W. Parker

WINDSOR n Sadie Whaley Parker, 79, a native of Green County, died January 2, 2006 at Bertie Memorial Hospital. She was the widow of Leslie Lee Parker.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday at Walker Funeral Home by the Rev. David Thompson. Burial will be in Edgewood Cemetery. Walker Funeral Home is in charge. Memorial gifts may be made to the Diabetes Foundation.

Mrs. Parker was a retired merchant and a member of Colerain Baptist Church.

Survivors include four daughters, Linday Faye Drake of Rocky Mount, Eleanor P. Conner of Windsor, Peggy P. Cahoon of Hillsborough and Theresa Ann Parker of Williamston; two sons, Leslie Lee “Jack” Parker Jr. of Colerain, Tony Ray Parker of Greenville; two sisters, Joyce Smith of Griffton and Clemmie Whitefield of Greenville; one brother, George Whaley of Griffton; 11 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Mae F. Harrell

ST. JOHN – Mae Faison Harrell, 91, a native of St. John, died December 30, 2005 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

She was retired from Malcraft in Rich Square and a member of Zion Grove Missionary Baptist Church where she was a Deaconess.

Survivors include three sons, John Harrell of Aulander, James Harrell of Orlando, FL and Haywood Harrell of Tillery; one daughter, Verlene Addison of Paterson, NJ;

one brother, Andrew Faison of Greensboro; four sisters, Millie Powell of Murfreesboro, Clarine Lassiter of Raleigh, Josephine Simmons and Agnes Sanders, both of New York;

seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at Zion Grove Missionary Baptist Church by the Rev. James Mercer. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Viewing will be held at Hunter’s Funeral Home Chapel on Friday from 12 noon to 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m.n 11 a.m. at Zion Grove Missionary Baptist Church.

Hunter’s Funeral Home, Ahoskie is in charge.

Nekita K. Johnson

RALEIGH n Nekita Keyes Johnson, 28, died January 2, 2006 at Duke University Hospital.

Funeral Arrangements are incomplete. Hood Funeral Home, Conway, is in charge.

Willie G. Ruffin

COLERAIN – Willie Green Ruffin, 82, a native of Bertie County,

died January 2, 2006 at Pitt Memorial Hospital, Greenville.

Ruffin was retired from Bertie County Schools as a custodian at Colerain Elementary School. He was a member of Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church.

He was also in the Colerain Masonic Lodge 312.

Survivors include his wife, Virginia Ruffin of Colerain;

one son, William T. Ruffin of Jamaica, NY;

four daughters, Jean Kelly and Deressa Miller, both of Petersburg, VA, and Cindy Ruffin and Marilyn Morris, both of Colerain; one brother, Essie Ruffin of Buffalo, NY;

two sisters, Annie Holley of Colerain and Georgia Mae Smith of Cofield;

seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday at Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church by the Rev. Nathaniel Thompson. Interment will be in the church cemetery. A viewing will be held at Hunter’s Funeral Home Chapel from 12 noonn8 p.m. Saturday.

Margaret S. Horton

AHOSKIE – Margaret Slaughter Horton 95, died Tuesday January 3, 2006 at Autumn Villa in Rich Square, N.C.

She was a native of Hertford County, a daughter of the late Charlie Gray Slaughter, Sr. and Lillie Maude Sumner Slaughter, a member of Union Baptist Church, the widow of

Arthur Robert Horton, and a homemaker.

Surviving are four daughters; Bessie H. Harrell, Murfreesboro, NC, Grey H. Wells and husband Charles, Roanoke Rapids, NC, Jane H. Daniels and husband Reid, Harrellsville, N.C., Linda H. Bristow and husband Bobby, Ahoskie, N. C.; one son, Arthur Lee Horton and wife Sandy, Rich Square, N.C., thirteen grandchildren, two step grandchildren, twenty three great grandchildren, and one step great great-grandchild.

A Funeral Service will be held 1:00 p.m.. Friday, January 6, 2006 at Garrett Funeral Home, Ahoskie, N.C. with the Rev. Bob Rogers and Rev. Jerry Boyd officiating, Burial will follow in Ahoskie Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, January 5, 2006, and other times at the home of her son 512 Lee St. Rich Square, N.C. and will assemble at the funeral home at 12:15 p.m.. Friday prior to service. Memorial donations may be made to Union Baptist Church 431 Boone Farm Rd. Ahoskie, N.C. 27910.

Garrett Funeral Home is serving the Horton Family.

Eleanor T. Cary

AHOSKIE n Eleanor Terry Cary, of Colonial Acres, died Tuesday, January 3, 2006, in Guardian Care of Ahoskie.

A native of Hertford County, she was the daughter of the late Lang N. and Lillian W. Terry.

Mrs. Cary attended Boyd’s Business School in Washington, DC, and graduated from Norfolk Business College and Washington, DC School of Protocol.

She was secretary and office manager for Johnson Service Company and then full time secretary for The Christian Temple Congregational Christian Church in Norfolk, VA.

Mrs. Cary was a past member of the Norfolk Junior Woman’s Club, the Norfolk Algonquin Garden Club and the National Women’s Democratic Club during which time she was invited to tea at the White House.

Eleanor became an executive secretary for a military brokerage firm in Smithfield, VA; branch manager for the same company in Alexandria, VA, and manufacturer’s representative for another large international military brokerage firm headquartered in Kinston, NC, from which she retired in Alexandria, VA in 1977.

In 1974-75, Mrs. Cary was listed in the “Who’s Who of American Women” and “Who’s Who in Finance and Industry”.

She moved to New Jersey with her husband in 1978 and was a member of the McGuire Officer’s Wives’ Club and the Moorestown Garden Club.

In 1985 she accompanied her husband on a four year assignment in Adana, Turkey.

While there, she was a member of the Turkish-American Association and Officer’s Wives’ Club.

In 1989, she and her husband, the late Frederick William Cary, moved to Ahoskie, NC, and became very active in church and community.

She was a member of the Ahoskie United Methodist Church, the Ahoskie Women’s Club, a member and past president of the Ahoskie Garden Club and a life member of the Garden Club of North Carolina, Inc., the National Council of State Garden Clubs, Inc., and the South Atlantic Region of State Garden Clubs, Inc.

Mrs. Cary is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Pamela and Terry Stallings of Raleigh, NC; and grandsons, Kevin and Brian Tew and great-granddaughter Morgan Elizabeth.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 7, 2006, at Ahoskie United Methodist Church, with the Rev. John Dutton, officiating.

Burial will follow in Aulander Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at Garrett Funeral Home, Ahoskie, from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. on Friday, January 6, 2006.

Marion S. Leary

HARRELLSVILLE n Marion Sessoms Leary, died January 1, 2006 at Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Greenville.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday at New Harrellsville Chapel Missionary Baptist Church by the Rev. Michael Hardy. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Survivors include one brother, William Harrell Sessoms; and two sisters, Hattie Sessoms and Rose Patton, both of Ahoskie.

Henry Williams

WINDSOR n Henry Douglas Williams, 82, a native of Bertie County, died January 3, 2006 at Bertie Memorial Hospital. He was the widower of Dessie Pierce Williams.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday at Riverside Baptist Church by the Rev. Al Jarred and the Rev. Michael Bryant. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Walker Funeral Home and at other times at the home of Larry Williams. Memorial gifts may be made to Riverside Baptist Church, 1206 NC 45, Merry Hill, NC 27957.

Williams retired from Coastal Concrete and was a lifelong member of Riverside Baptist Church.

Survivors include two daughters, Sybil W. Minton of Littleton and Cynthia W. Todd of Windsor; two sons, Larry Williams of Windsor and Richard Williams of Edenton; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Curtis B. Daniel

ROCKY MOUNT n Curtis B. Daniel, 45, died January 2, 2006 at Nash General Hospital.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday at New Hope Baptist Church, located in the Dunbar community. Interment will be in New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at H.D. Pope Funeral Home, Rocky Mount. Condolences may be sent to: www.hdpopefuneralhome.com.

Marie Porter

MURFREESBORO n Marie Porter, 87, a native of Hertford County, died January 2, 2006 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

Survivors include one son, Melvin L. Porter of Murfreesboro; one daughter, Jean Leathers of Murfreesboro; one brother, Collins Hankins of Baltimore, Md.; one sister, Thelma Pickett of New Bern; and three grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at Parker Grove Baptist Church by the Rev. Fernado Temple Sr. Burial will be in New Haven Baptist Church Cemetery, Murfreesboro. Hertford Count Undertakers, Winton, is in charge.