James T. Townes

BALTIMORE, Md. n James Junior Townes, 57, a native of Warren County, died February 11, 2006 at Baltimore Washington Medical Center, Baltimore.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday at Greenwood Baptist Church, Warrenton. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Tri-State Funeral Home, Baltimore and Wilder’s Funeral Home, Inc., Aulander, is in charge.

Townes was a member of Greenwood Baptist Church, honor graduate of Southern High School, Warrenton, and a 39 year employee of Coca-Cola Bottling Company.

Survivors include his wife, Virginia A. Townes of the home; daughter, Leslie of Baltimore; sons, Corwin, Shawn, Lennie, Silvester and Craig, all of Baltimore; his father, James P. Townes; a brother, Leonard Townes of Baltimore; sisters, Mabel Nicholson and Cornelia Lewter, both of Baltimore; and 11 grandchildren.

Donald Robinson

ROANOKE RAPIDS n Donald Robinson, 46, formerly of Norfolk, Va., died February 8, 2006 at Halifax Regional Medical Center.

A funeral was conducted Friday at H.D. Pope Funeral Home Chapel by the Rev. William Davis. Interment was in the Faithful Band Baptist Church Cemetery, Pleasant Hill.

Ailene B. Beamon

NORFOLK, Va. – Ailene Beatrice Beamon, a native of Winton, died February 12, 2006. She was the widow of George E. Beamon.

Mrs. Beamon was a companion aide for many years until her retirement. She was a member of Jordan Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Winton.

Survivors include her son, John H. Beamon of Norfolk; and a host of other relatives and friends.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. Pretlow and Sons Funeral Home, Chesapeake, is in charge.

Gennie Grant

NORFOLK, Va. – Gennie Grant, a native of Jackson, died February 12, 2006, in a local hospital. He was the widower of Jeanette Grant.

Grant was a retired machine operator from the naval base. He was a longstanding member of Metropolitan AME Zion Church, Norfolk.

Survivors include three daughters, Barbara White, Alma White and Veronica Taylor; three sons, Jimmie Grant, Donnell Grant and Danny Grant; 21 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

A funeral was conducted Friday in Metropolitan AME Zion Church, Norfolk, by the Rev. Kenneth Crowder. Burial was in Roosevelt Memorial Park, Chesapeake. Graves Funeral Home Chapel, Norfolk, was in charge.

Earl Pittman Jr.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. – Earl Pittman Jr., a native of Nansemond County, died February 11, 2006, in Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center.

Pittman retired from the U.S. Air Force after 23 years of service. He was a former member of Diamond Grove Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Lucita Pittman; three daughters, Lucy Maria Pittman, Yulvonda Renee Pittman and Mary Jane Banks, all of Portsmouth; one son, John G. Pittman of Portsmouth; two stepchildren, Anniecita Thomas of Vacaville, Calif., and Alfredo Prongco of the Philippines; three sisters, Otelia Mozell of Gatesville, Willie Mae Pittman-Scott of Chesapeake and Roberta Pittman of Suffolk; one brother, Marvin Thomas of Portsmouth; a godson, Ralph Lawton Jr. of Portsmouth; and 13 grandchildren.

A funeral was conducted Friday in Crocker Funeral Home, Suffolk, by the Rev. Miles Jordan. Interment was in the Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery, Suffolk. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.crockerfuneralhome.com.

Susie R. Harvey

GATES n Susie R. Harvey, 83, a native of Gates, died February 14, 2006 at Albemarle Hospital.

A funeral will be conducted at 12 noon Saturday at New Hope Baptist Church by the Rev. John Felton. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Hertford County Undertakers, Winton, is in charge.

Survivors include her husband, Daniel R. Harvey Sr.; four sons, Stephen Harvey of Hempstead, NY, Jimmy Harvey of Oxford, Daniel R. Harvey Jr. of Freddick, Md., and Charlie R. Harvey of Albany; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Benjamin Barber Jr.

MIDLOTHIAN, Va. n Benjamin Irvin Barber, Jr., 81, of Midlothian, VA, died Saturday, February 11, 2006 in a Richmond Hospital.

Mr. Barber was a U.S. Navy Veteran of WWII, and had retired as a printer with the Virginian Pilot and Ledger Star Newspapers. He is survived by his wife, Betty Frances Hall Barber, a daughter, Susan Kay Nesbit and husband Craig; son, John Irvin Barber and wife Lisa; grandchildren, Stephanie Anne Bates and husband, Corey, Ashleigh Morgan Oser, Joel Grayson Oser, Katherine Parker Nesbit, Lindsey Megan Barber, Allison Kendall Oser, Christopher Emerson Nesbit. Also surviving are sisters Mary Alice Queen, Anne Elizabeth Saunders and Laura Jean Gravley.

The family received friends from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 15, at the Bethia United Methodist Church, 10700 Winterpock Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832 with a homecoming service following at 7:30 p.m. with the Rev. James H. Carey officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his name may be made to Cardio Start, 5809 Gatesmill Court, Midlothian, VA 23112. The Chesterfield Chapel of the Bennett Funeral Home assisted the family.

Ashley Brown

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. n Ashley “Ash” Brown, 67, formerly of Northampton County, died February 14, 2006 at Sentara Careplex Hospital.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at Piney Grove Baptist Church, Jackson, with visitation from 10 to 11 a.m. prior to services by the Rev. Timothy Edwards. Interment will be in the church cemetery. H.D. Pope Funeral Home, Roanoke Rapids, is in charge.

Deirdre Taylor

SUNBURY – Deirdre Gatling Taylor, 43, died February 14, 2006.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday in St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church. Blair Funeral Service is in charge.

Etta B. Walton

TYNER – Etta Beasley Walton, 98, of Waterbury, Conn., died February 13, 2006.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at Blanchard’s Grove Baptist Church, Gates County. Rowsom Funeral Home, Edenton, is in charge.

Evelyn Harrell

COLERAIN n Evelyn Harrell, died February 16, 2006 at Albemarle Hospital, Elizabeth City.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Ike Parker

AHOSKIE n Ike “Spunk” Parker, died February 14, 2006 at his residence.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday at Beulah Baptist Church, Ahoskie, the old Second Baptist Union Church. Burial will be in Pleasant Plains Baptist Church Cemetery. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Parker was a member of Masonic Lodge No. 154.

Survivors include his wife, Ruby Parker of Ahoskie; one son, Charles F. Parker of Ahoskie; two daughters, Norma Jean Vann and Teresa M. Peele, both of Ahoskie; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Gloria B. Cann

BOSTON, Mass. n Gloria Beasley Cann, a native of Ahoskie, died February 13, 2006.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church by the Rev. Jerryl Moody. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery, Ahoskie. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Mrs. Cann was a member of Calvary Missionary Baptist Church.

Survivors include her husband, William Cann of Boston; two sons, Lawrence Cann of Boston and Kevin Beasley of Gatesville; her mother, Gloria Jean Beasley of Ahoskie; three brothers, Eugene Beasley Jr. of Ahoskie, Stevie Beasley of Greenville and Douglas Beasley of Elberton, Ga.; one sister, Tiffney Beasley White of Atlanta, Ga.; and three grandchildren.

Seth Davis

CONWAY n Seth Joshua Davis, infant son of Darrell and Penny Davis, died February 17, 2006 at Western Wake Medical Center, Cary.

A graveside service will be conducted at 3 p.m. Saturday at Conway Cemetery by the Rev. David Foster.

Survivors include his parents, the Rev. Darrell and Penny Davis of Raleigh; a brother, Samuel Jeremiah Davis of the home; maternal grandparents, Gene and Doris Smith of Abilene, Texas; and paternal grandparents, Mary Ann Davis of Conway.