John C. Heckstall

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – John C. Heckstall, 61, died March 15, 2006 at St. Mary’s Immaculate Hospital.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Sunday in St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church, Windsor. A wake will be held from 7-8 p.m. at Gilliam Funeral Home Chapel, Windsor. Burial will be in the Heckstall family cemetery.

Robert B. Thomas

EURE – Robert Benjamin &uot;Bob&uot; Thomas, 71, a native of Johnson City, NY, died March 14, 2006, in his home.

Thomas was a retired engineer with IBM in Owego, N.Y., he was a member of St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church in Ahoskie

Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Palmer Thomas; his brother, Edward S. Thomas Sr. of Russell, Mass.; and a granddaughter.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday in St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church. Viewing will be at the church from 11 a.m. until time of services Saturday. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Charles Catholic Church, P.O. Box 605, Ahoskie, NC 27910. Miller Funeral Home, Gatesville, is in charge.

Sidney C. Jordan Jr.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Sidney Cloid Jordan Jr., a native of Severn, died March 13, 2006, at Riverside Regional Medical Center. He was the widower of Nancy Long Jordan.

Jordan worked as a farmer, sales clerk and supply agent in Margarettsville, Severn and Seaboard, and Branchville, Va. He also became a licensed real estate agent (Virginia).

Survivors include a son, C.K. “Ken” Jordan of Newport News and Seaboard; and his

daughter, Julia M. Jordan of Newport News.

A graveside service with military honors will be conducted at

2 p.m. Saturday at Peninsula Memorial Park, 12750 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, by the Rev. Carol Taylor with military honors. Following the graveside service, family, friends and colleagues will gather at Chestnut Memorial United Methodist Church, 1024 Harpersville Road, Newport News. In lieu of flowers, Sidney Jordan requested consideration of memorial contributions to any of the following organizations, Concord United Methodist Church, c/o the Rev. Carol Taylor, P.O. Box 419, Conway, NC 27870; Casemate Museum Foundation, c/o Col. John Hill, P.O. Box 51341, Fort Monroe, VA 23651; Virginia War Museum, Donations Account, 9285 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, VA 23607; or &uot;Wee Beasties&uot; Scottish Terrier Rescue, c/o Martha Straw, 81 Anchorage Drive, Newport News, VA 23601. An additional consideration to help defray Mr. Jordan’s home health care costs would be a contribution for that purpose to the attention of Ms. Connie M. Hall, Coordinator, Southern Payrolls Inc., 750-B McGuire Place, Newport News, VA 23601. (757)599-8500. Peninsula Funeral Home, 11144 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, is in charge of arrangements for Mr. Jordan. Coordination of military honors will be by U.S. Army DPTMS Casualty Affairs Team Operations Office at Fort Eustis, Va. Mr. Jordan’s interment will be at Peninsula Memorial Park, Newport News.

Herbert E. Futrell

MURFREESBORO n Herbert E. Futrell, 90, of the Ashley’s Grove Community, died Wednesday, March 15, at Roanoke Chowan Hospital in Ahoskie.

He was the son of Millard and Cattie Futrell and had, also, been preceded in death by a brother, Gilbert Futrell and a sister, Bernice F. Sumner.

A native of Northampton County, he was an area farmer and member of Ashley’s Grove Baptist Church. He enjoyed fishing, but his great love was his family.

Mr. Futrell spent the last days of his life caring for his beloved wife of 71 years, Sallie Burgess Futrell.

Others survivors include one daughter, Caroleen F. Futrell and her husband, Charles of Murfreesboro; three sons, David M. Futrell and his wife, Brenda of Hickory; Winborne Futrell and his wife, Shirley of Murfreesboro, and Greer Futrell and his wife, Sheriel of Murfreesboro; nine grandchildren, Charlotte W. Edwards and her husband, M. Scott of Murfreesboro, Patsy W. Taylor and her husband, Stacey of Conway, Tracy F. Lumpkins and her husband, Tim of Oxford, Kathy F. Mazurek and her husband, Jason of Charlotte, Janet F. Francis and her husband, Brian, of Murfreesboro, Wynn Futrell and his wife, Heather of Murfreesboro, Marty Futrell and his wife, Angela of Murfreesboro, and Greg Futrell and his wife, Ginger of Ahoskie, and Travis Futrell and his wife Angela of Gatesville; thirteen great-grandchildren, Matthew Edwards, Michael Edwards, Kaitlyn Taylor, Seth Lumpkins, Abby Kate Lumpkins, Brandon Francis, Justin Francis, Megan Futrell, Hunter Futrell, Steven Futrell, Collin Futrell, Kaylan Futrell, and Caroline Futrell; two step-grandchildren; and four step-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, 11 a.m. in Ashley’s Grove Baptist Church with Rev. David Rose presiding. Burial will follow in the Town of Conway Cemetery.

The family received friends at Bridgers Funeral Home, Inc., in Conway, Friday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and at other times at the family home. They have requested that anyone wishing to share a memorial gift, please do so to Ashley’s Grove Baptist Church, 2275 Ashley’s Grove Road, Conway, NC 27820.

Robert B. Thomas

EURE n Robert Benjamin “Bob” Thomas, 71, a native of Johnson City, NY, died March 14, 2006 at his home.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church. Viewing will be at the church from 11 a.m. until time of service on Saturday. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Charles Catholic Church, P.O. Box 605, Ahoskie, NC 27910. Miller Funeral Home, Gatesville, is in charge.

Thomas was a retired engineer with IBM in Owego, NY. He was a member of St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church in Ahoskie.

Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Palmer Thomas; his brother, Edward S. Thomas Sr. of Russell, Mass.; and one granddaughter.

Shelby R. Sykes

CHESAPEAKE, Va. – Shelby Rutherford Sykes, 67, a native of Portsmouth, died at her home on March 15, 2006.

Mrs. Sykes was a member Centenary Methodist Church in Portsmouth. She retired from Hecht’s department store in 1999 following some 20 years of service.

Survivors include her husband, Marlan Sykes of the home; her daughter, Holly S. Gentry and her husband David of Chesapeake; two sons, Jay Sykes of Virginia Beach and Marlan Sykes Jr. of Chesapeake; and five grandchildren.

A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at Edgewood Cemetery in Enfield, N.C., by the Rev. Marc Sanders. Sykes Funeral Service in Rich Square, is in charge.

Toni Early

GREENWOOD, S.C. – Antonie “Toni” Lunde Early, 78, a native of Westby, Wis., and formally of Aulander, died March 9, 2006 at her residence. She was the widow of Hufham Watson Early Jr.

Survivors include her sons, John and James Kunz of Georgia; a daughter, Wendy K. Whiting of Greenwood; sisters, Audre Myer of Spring Grove, Minn., Ann Haney of Waukon, Iowa and Janice Treffinger of Dubuque, Iowa; and brothers, Larry Lunde of Reserve, Mont., and Roger Lunde of Spring Grove, Minn.

Memorial services were conducted March 12 at Westminister Presbyterian Church in Greenwood, S.C. Private burial will be conducted later in the Early Family Cemetery in Aulander. Those desiring may make memorials to Westminister Presbyterian Church, 2330 Cokesbury Road, Greenwood, SC, 29649 in memory of Mrs. Early. For additional information and online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is serving the Early family.

Iry Taylor

MERRY HILL n Iry Thelber Taylor, 86, died March 16, 2006 at Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Greenville.

A graveside funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at Capeharts Baptist Church Cemetery by the Rev. Bruce Dayton. The family will receive friends at the home. Walker Funeral Home, Windsor, is in charge.

Taylor was a WWII veteran and received the Bronze Star for Bravery. He was a merchant, farmer and a member of Capeharts Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Frances Howell Taylor of Merry Hill; two sons, Iry Taylor Jr. of Colerain and Christopher Taylor of Wilson; two sisters, Carolyn Copeland of Aulander and Martha Sue White of Roper; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Jimmie Taylor

ROCKY MOUNT n Jimmie Lee Taylor, 79, died March 15, 2006 at his residence.

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

Andrew Jones

ROCKY MOUNT n Andrew Jones, 89, died March 15, 2006 at Nash General Hospital.

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

Marvin E. Vann

DURHAM n Marvin Earl Vann, 43, a native of Hertford County, died March 15, 2006 at Ohio State University Hospital.

A funeral will be conducted Monday at First Calvary Baptist Church, Durham, by Pastor Frederick Amos Davis. Burial will be in the Vann family cemetery, Winton. Fisher Funeral Parlor and Hertford County Undertakers, Winton, is in charge.

Survivors include a son, Perendes Vaughan; his mother, Beatrice Chamblee Vann; four sisters, Joan Vann Johnson, Edna Vann, Sharon Vann and Jackie Vann Fountain; and five brothers, Horace Vann, Oliver Reynolds, Christopher Vann, William Vann and Bob Vann.

Eloise F. Sauls

CONWAY n Eloise Futrell Sauls, 87, died Thursday, March 16, at her home in the Ashley’s Grove community.

She had been preceded in death by her first husband, Robert L. Taylor, Sr. and second husband, Gilbert Stanley “Nig” Sauls; and a sister, Annie Lois F. Hedspeth.

She was a homemaker and member of Ashley’s Grove Baptist Church where she actively participated in its organizations and enjoyed singing in the choir. She was an avid gardener and cook, and she loved the gathering of her family close around her.

Survivors include two sons, Robert Lee Taylor, Jr. and his wife, Billie of Raleigh and Leslie Wayne Taylor and his wife, Deborah of Rocky Mount; two daughters, Bonnie Taylor Galloway and her husband, James of Greenville and Sandy Anderson and her husband, Ames of the home; seven grandchildren; one great-grandson; one brother, Guy Futrell and his wife, Alma of Portsmouth, Va.; and one sister, Lillie Mae Watson of Conway.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, 2:00 p.m. in Ashley’s Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. David Ross officiating. Burial will follow in the Ashley’s Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will be receiving friends at Bridgers Funeral Home, Inc., in Conway, Saturday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and at other times at the family home.

Anyone wishing to share a memorial gift may do so to the Ashley’s Grove Baptist Church or to Roanoke Chowan Hospice, 521 W. Myers St., Ahoskie, NC 27910.

Lillie M. Chamblee

AHOSKIE n Lillie Mae Chamblee, a native of Hertford County, died March 15, 2006 at Britthaven of Enfield Nursing Home.

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

Claude Harris

AHOSKIE – Claude “C.C” Harris, 79, a native of Hertford County, died March 15, 2006 at his residence.

Harris was a self employed truck driver.

Survivors include two daughters, Joan M. Forbes of Milton, FL and Linda Marinov of Douglasville, GA; one sister, Beulah Pierce of Portsmouth, VA;

one brother, Frankie Harris of Ahoskie; his stepmother, Blanche Harris of Portsmouth; and five grandsons.

Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday at Ahoskie Cemetery, Ahoskie, by the Rev. May.

Hunter’s Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge. In lieu of flowers, make donations to Martin County Hospice.

Catherine Tate

NEWBURGH, NY n Bishop Catherine Tate, 77, a native of Bennettsville, SC, died March 16, 2006 at St. Luke Cornwall Hospital, Newburgh.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at Red Oak Grove AME Church. Burial will be in the Freeman family cemetery, Gates. Hunter’s Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Survivors include a son, Robert H. James of Gates; one sister, Gracie Townsome of Trenton, NJ; and one granddaughter.