Verna M. Staton

ROCKY MOUNT n Verna M. Staton, 77, died March 25, 2006 at Nash General Hospital.

A funeral will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Thornes Chapel Baptist Church, 1624 Windsor Dr., Rocky Mount. A visitation will be held from 5 until 7 p.m. Friday with the family receiving friends from 6 until 7 p.m. at H.D. Pope Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to: www.hdpopefuneralhome.com.

Gwendolyn Taylor

BOWIE, MD n Gwendolyn Taylor, 48, formerly of Rocky Mount, died March 26, 2006.

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

Pearlie Harvey

LITTLETON n Pearlie Mae Harvey, 78, died March 26, 2006 at Halifax Regional Medical Center, Roanoke Rapids.

A funeral will be conducted at 12 noon Saturday at the Roanoke Rapids chapel of H.D. Pope Funeral Home, by the Rev. Daphne Moody. Interment will be in Lebanon AME Church Cemetery, Littleton. A visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday with the family receiving friends from 6 to 7 p.m.

Leroy B. Bryant

JACKSON – Leroy Bonson Bryant, 72, died March 25, 2006.

A funeral was conducted Wednesday in Emanuel Worship Center, Weldon. Massey Funeral Home, Jackson, was in charge.

Edward L. Dickerson

FRANKLIN, Va. – Edward Lee &uot;Duke&uot; Dickerson, 54, a native of Franklin, died March 24, 2006, at MCV Hospital in Richmond.

Dickerson graduated from Windsor High School and was a member of the Piney Grove Baptist Church where he sang with the Male Chorus and was a former Usher Board member. He was a correctional officer with the Department of Corrections in Southampton County and had retired on Feb. 1, 2006. He was also employed part time with the Zuni Presbyterian School as a residential assistant.

Survivors include three sons, Ryan Dallas Dickerson of Doha, Qatar, Edward Dickerson Jr. of Franklin and Ramon Dickerson of Conway; his former wife, Linda Dickerson of Franklin; a sister, Marcia Dickerson of Franklin; a brother, Kennedy Dickerson of Mesquite, Texas; and three grandchildren.

A funeral was conducted Wednesday at Piney Grove Baptist Church, Franklin, by the Rev. Alfred Brown. Burial was in Southview Cemetery, Franklin. Elvin Vaughan Funeral Home, Franklin, was in charge.

Mary D. Brown

MURFREESBORO n Mary Dare Brown, 78, died Monday, March 27, at her home in the Ashley’s Grove Community.

A native of Halifax County, she was retired from the Northampton County School System where she worked in the central office. She was a homemaker and a member of Ashley’s Grove Baptist Church where she, actively, served in many areas including teaching Adult and Young Adult Sunday School classes for many years.

Survivors include her loving husband of 53 years, George Brown of the home; one daughter, Mamie Brown Lassiter and her husband, Bobby, of Morristown, TN; three grandchildren, Chad, Zach, and Seth Lassiter of Morristown, TN; two sisters, Emily Duffell of Sanford and Undine Barnhill of Raleigh; one brother-in-law, Wayne Brown and his wife, Shirley, of Murfreesboro; one sister-in-law, Catherine Davenport of Hobgood; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, 11 a.m. in Ashley’s Grove Baptist Church by the Rev. David Ross. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery in Murfreesboro.

The family received friends at Bridgers Funeral Home, Inc., in Conway, Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and have requested that anyone wishing to share a memorial gift, please do so to Baptist Childrens Home, American Diabetes Association, or the American Cancer Society.

Lessie H. Bailey

COMO n Lessie Hatfield Bailey, 89, a native Southampton County, Va., died March 28, 2006 at Southampton Memorial Hospital, Franklin. She was the widow of Olie Majette Bailey.

A funeral will be conducted at 3 p.m. Thursday at Buckhorn Baptist Church by the Rev. Larry Allen. Burial will be in Southampton Memorial Park, Franklin. The family suggests memorials be made to Buckhorn Baptist Church, P.O. Box 67, Como, NC 27818. Wright Funeral Home, Franklin, is in charge.

Mrs. Bailey was a member of Buckhorn Baptist Church.

Survivors include three daughters, Patsy Parker of Como, Brenda Futrell of Murfreesboro and Doris Bryant of Franklin; one son, Wayne Bailey of Franklin; 13 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and 19 great-great-grandchildren.

Kenneth R. Thomas

ROCKY MOUNT n Kenneth Ray Thomas, 49, died March 27, 2006.

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

Mack Clark Jr.

AHOSKIE n Mack Clark Jr., 81, a native of Bertie County, died March 23, 2006 at Bertie County Memorial Hospital, Windsor.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at Wilder’s Funeral Home Chapel, Aulander, by the Rev. Theresa Dudley-Gaskins. Burial will be in the Clark family cemetery, Lewiston. Wilder’s Funeral Home, Inc., Aulander, is in charge.

Survivors include one daughter, Jackie Clark of Windsor; sisters, Jessie Mae Bond of Richmond, Va., Viola Lee, Lendora Bond and Fannie Mae Bazemore, all of Petersburg; and one brother, Milton Clark of Richmond.

Gilbert T. Davis

SEABOARD n Gilbert Thomas Davis, 79, a native of Northampton County, died March 28, 2006 at Halifax Regional Medical Center, Roanoke Rapids. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Meryl Warrick Davis.

A graveside service will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Davis family cemetery, Margarettsville, by the Rev. David Foster. Massey Funeral Home, Jackson, is in charge.

Davis was retired from Georgia Pacific and was a member of Galatia Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Josephine Brockwell Davis; his sons, Gary T. Davis of Greensboro and Joey Davis of Margarettsville; his daughters, Sheryl Davis Watson of Seaboard and Jenen Davis Thorpe of Newsoms, Va.; three stepchildren, Pete Thomas Twisdale of Franklin, Eddie Twisdale of Gasburg and Jackie Lurwick of Raleigh; three sisters, Lucille Flythe, L.S. Gray and Dora Lee Davis, all of Seaboard; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Leroy B. Bryant

JACKSON n Leroy Bonson Bryant, 72, a native of Northampton County, died March 25, 2006 at Halifax Regional Medical Center, Roanoke Rapids.

A funeral was conducted Wednesday at Emanuel Worship Center in Weldon by the Rev. David Schmaltz. Burial was in Jackson Cemetery. Massey Funeral Home, Jackson, was in charge.

Bryant was retired from the Town of Woodland and a member of Emanuel Worship Center.

Survivors include his wife, Nancy F. Bryant; his children, Bonson Bryant of Enoch, Pamela Smith of West Palm Beach, Fla., Buddy Bryant of Suffolk, Jerry Bryant of Wilmington and David Bryant of Charlotte; his sisters, Hazel Corbett of California and Tish Bowman of Jackson; his brother, Cuddy Bryant of Morganton; 15 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Alyce Villers

ROANOKE RAPIDS n Alyce Davis Pernell Villers, 63, of 123 Morgan Drive, died Monday, March 27, 2006 at her home.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

Mrs. Villers was the daughter of the late Lloyd A. “Bud” Davis and Virginia Davis, of Clarksburg, West Virginia. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Villers, and a granddaughter, Alyssa Hope “Sweet Pea.”

Survivors include her son, Richard Villers, III of Rocky Mount, NC; her daughters, Gina Villers Glover and her husband, Dean, of Littleton, NC, and Wendy Pernell of Roanoke Rapids; her sister, Sharon Davis of Parkersburg, W.Va.; her granddaughter, Bevin Villers and her grandson, Mason Villers of Rocky Mount; and a special friend, Stewart Pernell of Roanoke Rapids.

Mrs. Villers loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. She was a member of the Eastern Star and attended Victory Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Community Home Care & Hospice, 730 Roanoke Avenue, Roanoke Rapids, NC 27820 or the American Cancer Society, 930-B Wellness Dr., Greenville, NC 27834. Hockaday Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Ralph D. Lilley

CHESAPEAKE, Va. – Ralph Delmer Lilley, 87, a native of Gates County, died March 27, 2006, at his home.

Lilley retired from the U.S. Navy after 20 years of service, having served in World War II and the Korean conflict. He was a Pearl Harbor survivor, served in the Asiatic and American Campaigns and served as the skipper of 1462 LSD for many years.

Survivors include his wife, Letha M. Lilley; children, Lynne Robinson and Gary R. Lilley; brothers, Chester M. Lilley, Rufus C. Lilley Jr.; a sister, Eloise L. Holland; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday in the R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home & Crematory by Pastor Philip J. Parker. Burial with military honors will be in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends in the funeral home Thursday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Condolences may be registered at www.rwbakerfh.com.

Curtis E. Spence

GASTON – Curtis Edward &uot;Eddie Boy&uot; Spence, 52, died March 23, 2006.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday in Memorial Missionary Baptist Church, Elizabeth City. Stallings Funeral Home is in charge.

Dr. Joseph Draper Jr.

SUFFOLK, VA – Dr. Joseph Collins Draper, Jr. 69, a native of Rich Square, died March 28, 2006 at the University of North Carolina Hospital at Chapel Hill.

Survivors include his wife, Susie Gary Draper, two daughters Katy Lynn Draper Garber and Allison Dorn Draper Gant; one son, Dr. Joseph Collins Draper, III; one sister, Betty Lynn Draper Roebuck of Starksville, Miss.; and three grandchildren.

Dr. Draper attended the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and received his Bachelor of Science degree and his Optometric degree from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was a member of the Omega Delta fraternity. After graduation, he served a tour of duty as a first lieutenant in the Medical Corps of the U.S. Army at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

A private family graveside service will be conducted Friday at Cedar Lawn Cemetery in Rich Square. A memorial service for family and friends will be at 12:00 noon on Saturday, April 1, at Main Street United Methodist Church in Suffolk, Virginia with a reception to follow in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorials be made to Main Street United Methodist Church Capitol Campaign, 202 North Main Street, Suffolk, Virginia, 23434. Sykes Funeral Service, Rich Square, is in charge.

Easter Joyner

FRANKLIN, Va. – Easter Lily Joyner, 73, a native of Capron, died March 27, 2006 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

She was a retired domestic engineer at East Pavilion Nursing Home in Franklin, VA and a member of New Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Franklin.

Survivors include her daughters, Pamela Askew of Aulander and Sherry Joyner of Courtland; and grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at New Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Franklin, by the Rev. D. Stef-An Adams. Burial will be in South View Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at William M. Johnson & Sons Funeral Home, located at 224 S. Main St. in Franklin. A wake will follow from 6 to 7 p.m. Wilder’s Funeral Home, Inc., Aulander, is in charge.

Willie C. Brown Sr.

NEW HAVEN, Conn. n Willie C. Brown Sr., 66, died March 26, 2006.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at Cedar Hill Missionary Baptist Church, Williamston. A visitation will be held from 1-2 p.m. prior to services. Burial will be in the Family Community Cemetery, West Island Road, Williamston. Gilliam Funeral Home, Windsor, is in charge.

Tiffany M. Peterson

COFIELD n Tiffany Michelle Peterson, 20, a native of Hertford County, died March 28, 2006 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

Survivors include her father, Joseph Peterson of Greenville, NC; her mother, Thomasine Peterson of Cofield; one son, Deddric Thomas Kee of Cofield; one brother, Ronald Peterson of Raleigh, NC; two sisters, Ashley Peterson of Cofield and Amy Wells of Ahoskie; and her fianc\u00E9, Darnell Kee of Ahoskie.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 2, 2006 at Roanoke Chowan Community College in the Multi-Purpose Room in Ahoskie. Burial will follow at Philippi Baptist Church Cemetery in Cofield. Hertford County Undertakers, Winton, is in charge.

Tim C. Matthews

SUFFOLK, Va. — Tim McCoy Matthews was born on July 29, 1940 in Gatesville, NC to the late Jesse James and Stella Knight Matthews.

He peacefully departed this life on March 27, 2006 at Obici Memorial Hospital.

He was preceded in death by a baby daughter and three siblings James, Clinton, Willie and a foster brother Ballard.

Tim graduated from Central High School in Gatesville, NC.. He was employed for 42 years with the Newport News Ship-building and Dry Dock Company/Northrop Grumman and retired in 2003.

Tim was a member of the Jephthah Masonic Lodge # 174 of Gatesville. He was also an active Alumnus of Central High School.

Tim will not be forgotten as he will forever live in the hearts of his loving and devoted wife, Jacqueline Matthews and daughter, Dr. Melody Matthews whom he adored. He also leaves to cherish his memories one brother, Jesse Poochie Matthews of Gatesville and two sisters, Rose M. Hofler (Jim) of Suffolk, Va. and Fannie M. Spivey (John) of Gatesville; one Godson, Juan Bosco Lascano Jr. of Suffolk, Va.; a dear and lifelong friend, James Barnes of Portsmouth, Va.; a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and devoted loving friends.

A wake will be held at East End Baptist Church at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 31.

The funeral will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, April 1, 2006 at the New Hope Baptist Church, Gates, North Carolina. The body will be placed in the church at 10:30 a.m. Interment will at the Matthews Family Cemetery, Gatesville.

The family will receive visitors at 1338 Cherokee Court Suffolk, Va.

Professional services are entrusted to Crocker Funeral Home, Suffolk, Va. Condole-nces may be offered at www.crockerfuneralhome.com