Edward J. Langdale

WINDSOR n Edward Jackson “E.J.” Langdale, 81, a native of Bertie County, died January 28, 2006 in Guardian Care Nursing Home, Ahoskie.

A graveside funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Edgewood Cemetery by the Rev. Richard Rice and the Rev. Michael Bailey. Military rites will be observed. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Walker Funeral Home and other times at the home of Gary Langdale, 543 Republican Road, Windsor.

Langdale was a retired truck driver and attended Greens Cross Baptist Church. He was a Navy veteran of World War II.

Survivors include his wife, Margie Spruill Langdale of Windsor; two sons, Larry Langdale of Ahoskie and Gary “Dobbie” Langdale of Windsor; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Inez H. Phipps

MURFREESBORO n Mrs. Inez H. Phipps, age 75, of Murfreesboro, NC, died Sunday, January 29, 2006 at Southampton Memorial Hospital in Franklin, Va.

Mrs. Phipps was born Nov. 14, 1930 in Hertford County, NC, the daughter of the late Richard Emory Hodges and Mamie Lee Jones Hodges. She was employed with Rollic in Murfreesboro, NC, for many years and a member of Murfreesboro Baptist Church.

Survivors include her husband, Edward L. Phipps; her daughter, Anna Faye Jenkins and her husband Joe of Milwaukee, NC; her sons, Ronnie Lewis Phipps and his wife Betty Lou of Rich Square, NC and Emory Keith Phipps and his wife Katherine of Edenton, NC; a brother, Luther Selton Hodges of Jacksonville, Fla. Also her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held, Tuesday, January 31, 2006 at 11 a.m. at Riverside Cemetery in Murfreesboro, NC. The family received friends at Massey Funeral Home in Jackson, NC, Monday from 7 until 8:30 p.m.

Arrangements are being handled by Massey Funeral Home in Jackson, NC.

Billy Spry

GATESVILLE n William David “Billy” Spry, 48, a native of Portsmouth, Va., died January 28, 2006 in his home.

A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday in the chapel of Miller Funeral Home in Gatesville.

Spry was a self-employed building contractor and a member of Christian Harbor Baptist Church in Colerain.

Survivors include his wife, Suzann Brown Spry; his daughter, Lisa Lillian Spry; his son, William Davis Spry; all of Gatesville; his mother, Mary Lillian Davis of Belhaven; his sister, Robin Byrum of Aulander; and his brother, Lonnie Spry of Virginia Beach, Va.

David C. Early

WINDSOR n David Charles Early, 71, a native of Bertie County, died January 28, 2006 in Bertie Memorial Hospital.

A graveside service will be conducted at 11 a.m. in Edgewood Cemetery by the Rev. Dennis Conner, the Rev. Jack Byrd and the Rev. J.N. Baggett. Memorial gifts may be made to either the Bertie County Rescue Squad or the American Cancer Society. Walker Funeral Home, Windsor, is in charge.

Early was a member of Cashie Baptist Church and a retired Lab Director at Martin General Hospital. He was a former member of the Windsor Lion’s Club.

Survivors include his wife, Martha Lee Bazemore Early of Windsor; two daughters, Marie Early and Martha Ellen E. Alston; a son, David L. Early, all of Windsor; and two grandchildren.

Lucy Hoggard

COLERAIN n Lucy Jernigan Hoggard, 88, a native of Bertie County, died January 27, 2006 at Guardian Care Nursing Home, Ahoskie. She was the widow of Lewis Windley Hoggard.

A funeral was conducted Monday at Elm Grove Baptist Church by the Rev. Preston Jernigan and the Rev. Hugh Mizelle. Burial was in Edgewood Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to the Bertie County Rescue Squad, PO Box 74, Windsor, NC 27983. Walker Funeral Home, Windsor, was in charge.

Mrs. Hoggard was a member of Elm Grove Baptist Church and a homemaker.

Survivors include a daughter, Jacqueline H. Mizelle of Colerain; two sons, Max Truman Hoggard of Colerain and Lewis Lawrence Hoggard of Windsor; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Brent J. Harrell

EURE n Brent Joseph Harrell, 54, a native of Frankfurt, Germany, died January 27, 2006 at Down East Health and Rehabilitation Center, Gatesville.

A memorial service will be held at a later date at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Gatesville. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Gates County Volunteer Rescue Squad, 16 US Hwy. 158 E., Gates, NC 27937 or St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 447, Gatesville, NC 27938. Swindell Funeral and Cremations Services in Hertford is in charge.

Harrell was a machinist with Ferguson Manufacturing Co. and a member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church.

Survivors include his mother, Vera Tolman Harrell of Eure; two and sisters, Nicki H. Felton of Gatesville and DeAnne H. Mullett of Wilson.

Erelean B. Toppin

EDENTON – Erelean Hope Byrum Toppin, 82, died January 28, 2006, in Pitt Memorial Hospital. She was the widow of Troy Elvin Toppin.

Mrs. Toppin attended Sunbury Elementary in Sunbury.

She was a homemaker, the co-owner and co-operator of Toppin’s Grocery Store and a nurse’s aid at Chowan Hospital.

Survivors include three sons; two sisters; and grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.

A celebration of Mrs. Toppin’s life will be conducted at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Center Hill Baptist Church on Sandy Ridge Road with the Reverends Don English and Henry Napier officiating. Burial will be in Beaver Hill Cemetery. Evans Funerals and Cremations is in charge. Memorials may be made to the American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 40, Hwy. 17 S., Edenton, NC 27932 or the &uot;Killed in Action Memorial Fund,&uot; The North Carolina Sheriffs Association, P.O. Box 20049, Raleigh, NC 27619, or to one’s favorite charity.

Jo Ann Cowan

OLIVEHILL, TN. – Jo Ann Cowan 64, a native of Moulton, Ala., and formerly of Murfreesboro, died January 25, 2006 in her home.

Mrs. Cowan owned and operated beauty shops, and was a member of First Baptist Church of Cotulla.

Survivors include her husband Alfred W. Cowan; one daughter Patricia Deans of

Olivehill; three grandchildren; one great-grandchild.

A graveside service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Ahoskie Cemetery by the Rev. Billy Presley. Burial will be in Ahoskie Cemetery. The family will assemble at Garrett Funeral Home 12

noon prior to services.

Bobby Smith

AHOSKIE n Bobby Smith, 73, of Albemarle Drive, passed away January 29, 2006, in his home.

He was a native of Norton, Virginia and the son of Maude Sturgill Smith and the late Oliver Smith.

Mr. Smith served in the Korean War in Combat Engineers.

He came to Ahoskie as an area supervisor at Farmers Chemicals.

In 1972 he and his wife, Ruth, became owners of Smith Plumbing Company.

After their retirement in 1997, he continued to work part time.

Bobby was a member of the Ahoskie Lions Club, serving as president and Zone Chairman.

He was awarded Lion of the Year, the Jack Strickler Award, the Melvin Jones Award, and a Lifetime Membership Award.

He was a member of First Baptist Church in Ahoskie where he was an active member of the Fellowship Class.

He was a devoted and loving husband, whose favorite hobbies were golf, camping, and spending time with his family and many friends.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth Bracy Smith; his daughter, Terri Martin of Raleigh; stepsons, Ron Baker and wife, Clara Ann of Ahoskie, Jerry Baker and wife, Betsy of Kill Devil Hills; his mother, Maude Sturgill Smith of Wilkesboro; sisters, Jannen Estep and husband, Tommy of Wendell, Jean Dean and husband, Robert of Wilkesboro, Faye Dail of Raleigh; brother, Jim Smith and wife, Annette of Norton, VA; grandchildren, Ali Mansour, Grae Baker, Erin Fritsch and husband, Noel, Carole Baker; and several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 31, 2006, at First Baptist Church Ahoskie, with the Rev. Billy Presley and Rev. Dr. Jesse J. Croom, officiating.

The received friends at Garrett Funeral Home, Ahoskie from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. on Monday, and other times at the home.

Memorial donations may be made to University Health Systems Hospice,

P.O. Box 272, Ahoskie, NC, 27910, or to the American Cancer Society, Raleigh Administrative Resource Center, 11 South Boylon n Ste. 221, Raleigh, NC, 27603.

Horace E. Askew

NORFOLK, Va. –

Horace E. Askew,

a native of Harrellsville, died January 26, 2006, in Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center.

Askew was employed and retired from the Virginia Beach Public School System. He was a member of Olive Grove Baptist Church, Norfolk.

Survivors include his wife, Edith D. Askew; a son, Adam Askew; his mother, Dorothy M. Askew, all of Norfolk; four brothers, Wallace E. Askew of Chesapeake, Thomas C. Askew of Silver Spring, Md., Gerald L. Askew of Dallas, Texas, and William A. Askew of Norfolk; four sisters, Carolyn L. Whittaker of Norfolk, Thirkell Wright of Virginia Beach, Doretha Askew of Silver Spring and Mary J. Askew of Virginia Beach; and a grandson.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Olive Grove Baptist Church, 1034 Albert Ave., Norfolk, with the Rev. Joyce Martin. Interment will be in Roosevelt Memorial Park, Chesapeake. Family and friends will assemble at 7012 Selma Ave. one hour prior to the service for the procession to the church. Metropolitan Funeral Service, Granby Chapel, is in charge. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.metropolitanfuneralservice.com.

Luanne G. Cromwell

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Luanne Gaskins Cromwell, died January 25, 2006.

Survivors include her daughters, Amy Louise Gaskins and Kristen Allyn Gaskins, both of Virginia Beach; her mother, Mary Lou Christian; her sister, Nancy Bracey, both of Ahoskie; and her brother, Stephen A. Christian of Virginia Beach.

A funeral was conducted Monday at H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Laskin Road Chapel, by the Rev. Michael Simone.

Robert R. Johnson Sr.

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH n Robert R. Johnson Sr., a native of Smithfield, died January 26, 2006 at his home. Survivors include his wife, Shirley Barnhill Johnson; a brother, Leon Johnson of Smithfield; children, Robert R. Johnson Jr., MD, Matthew T. Johnson, both of Wilmington and Ann Johnson Franklin of Wake Forest;

and four grandchildren.

Johnson graduated from Chowan College in Murfreesboro. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He worked in advertising for the Raleigh News and Observer before purchasing Johnnie Mercers Pier.

For a time he was also part owner of Newell’s department store, another landmark at Wrightsville Beach that ultimately became Wings. Johnson was also a member of Winter Park Baptist Church.

A funeral service was conducted Monday at Wrightsville United Methodist Church by Rev. Tim Russell. Entombment was in Oleander Memorial Gardens. Andrews Mortuary was in charge. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages everyone to become an organ donor and financial contributions can be made to Carolina Donor Services www.carolinadonorservices.org or 205 Plaza Drive in Greenville, NC 27858 or to Gift of Life Transplant House, 705 2nd St. SW, Rochester, MN 55902.

Mamie Nelson

CONWAY n Mamie Vick Nelson, 73, a native of Southampton County, Va., died January 27, 2006 at her home.

A funeral was conducted Sunday at Conway Baptist Church by the Rev. Willie McLawhorn and the Rev. James Hester. Burial was in the Town of Conway Cemetery. Bridgers Funeral Home, Inc., Conway, was in charge. Anyone wishing to share a memorial gift may do so to the Murfreesboro Rescue Squad, 121 Sycamore St., Murfreesboro, NC 27855.

Mrs. Nelson was a homemaker and a member of Conway Baptist Church. She had also been a member of Murfreesboro Rescue Squad.

Survivors include her husband, Jesse Nelson of the home; one son, Jeffrey Nelson of Conway; and one brother, Dellie A. Vick Jr. of Hubert.

Thelma Manley

CONWAY – Thelma J. Hendricks Manley, 64, a native of Portsmouth, Va., died January 29, 2006 at Halifax Memorial Hospital.

Mrs. Manley was a member of Murfreesboro Assembly of God where she was a Deaconess and Lay Evangelist.

Survivors include her husband, Harvey D. Manley, Sr. of

Conway; two sons, Dwight Manley of Conway and Harvey D. Manley Jr. of Winston-Salem; two daughters, Chenetha M. Herbert of Conway and Chowaine M. Whitehead of Lunenburg, VA; four brothers, Albert Hendricks Sr. of Conway, Marvin Hendricks Sr. of Como, Joseph Hendricks of Cofield and Johnie Hendricks of Murfreesboro; two sisters, Alice Gordon of Baltimore, MD and Mildred J. Freeman of Ahoskie; and eight grandchildren.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at Second Baptist Creeksville Church by Harvey D. Manley Jr. and Rev. Sandy Outlaw.

Interment will be in Second Baptist Creeksville Cemetery.

Hunter’s Funeral Home, Ahoskie, is in charge.

Joseph Macklin Sr.

ROCKY MOUNT n Joseph Macklin Sr., 79, died January 29, 2006 at Nash General Hospital.

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

Ealone Liverman

POTECASI n Ealone Liverman, 67, a native of Hertford County, died January 27, 2006 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Nebo Baptist Church by the Rev. Robert Holloman. Burial will be in Carver’s Park Cemetery, Murfreesboro. Hertford County Undertakers, Winton, is in charge.

Survivors include his wife, Minnie P. Blythe Liverman of Potecasi; three sons, Wendell Liverman of Rocky Mount, Wayne Liverman of Houston, Texas and Jerome Liverman of Holly Springs; four daughters, Gloria Pittman of Wilson, Betty Liverman and Debra Liverman, both of Fuquay Varina and Theresa Banks of Bahama; one brother, Gealone Liverman of Murfreesboro; four sisters, Marie Walton of Murfreesboro, Evelyn Walton of Carrsville, Dorothy Wilkins of Newport News and Ester Deloatche of Raleigh; and three grandchildren.

Brenda V. Wilson

AHOSKIE n Brenda V. Wilson, died January 28, 2006 at Albemarle Hospital, Elizabeth City.

A funeral will be conducted at 12 noon Wednesday at Second Baptist Church Union by the Rev. Brian Pierce. Burial will be in Little Mt. Zion, Suffolk, Va. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

She was a member of Second Baptist Church Union.

Survivors include her mother, Jeanette Jenkins; stepfather, Alton Jenkins of Ahoskie; three brothers, James E. Wilson of Ahoskie, Edward L. Wilson Jr. of Hampton, Va., and John R. Wilson of Norfolk; and two sisters, Patricia Sims of Ahoskie and Ella Smith of New Jersey.

Mary Johnson

WINDSOR n Mary Alice Johnson, 49, a native of Bertie County, died January 29, 2006 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Church of God for All People, Windsor, by Pastor Joseph Watson. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Wilder’s Funeral Home, Inc., Aulander, is in charge.

Survivors include her sons, David Harrell Jr., William Johnson Jr., Lester Watson Jr. and Christopher Watson, all of Lewiston, and Darell Harrell of Windsor; daughters, Tonavis Sessoms, Shanika and Iyona Watson, all of Lewiston, Dawn Crowder of Charlotte and Suzette Cherry of Windsor; a brother, Joseph Powell of New York; sisters, Anetta Rix of Kelford, Barbara Miller of New Jersey and Sarah Thompson of Lewiston; and 12 grandchildren.