The R-C News-Herald obituaries for June 3, 2006

Published 12:00 am Saturday, June 3, 2006

Jocelyn P. Lanier

PORTSMOUTH, Va. n Jocelyn Page “Dot” Lanier, 75, a native of Northampton County, died May 31, 2006 at Sentara Health Care of Portsmouth.

A funeral will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Bridgers Funeral Home, Inc., Conway, by Leslie Pulley and Kevin Killam. Burial will be in Creeksville Baptist Church Cemetery.

She was a graduate of Conway High School.

Survivors include two sisters, Sarah Lanier Martin of Conway and Daisy Lanier Zwicker of Arlington, MA; and one brother, Johnny C. Lanier of Tioga, LA.

Bobby A. Baggett

AHOSKIE n Mr. Bobby Alvin Baggett, 60, died Wednesday, May 31, 2006. Born in Bertie County on January 26, 1946, he was the son of the late Claude Baggett and Clarine Felton Baggett. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Bertha C. Baggett.

Mr. Baggett is survived by three brothers, Barry Baggett of Ahoskie, Bill Baggett of Aulander, and Danny Baggett of Woodland; a niece, Spring Hope Baggett; and a nephew, Joshua Richard Baggett.

A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 3, 2006 at Woodland First Gospel Church in Woodland. Marie Jones and the Rev. Robert May will officiate. Arrangements by Massey Funeral Home of Aulander.

Eunice T. Fitzhugh

Eunice Theresa Fitzhugh was born April 11, 1917 in Westhampton Beach Long Island, NY to the late Alberta Rivers Williams and George Williams. She was the second of two children. Her loving sister, Alice Williams Melendez, preceded her in death.

Eunice met and married the late Orlando Vaughan Fitzhugh, Jr. on February 1, 1935 in New Castle, Pennsylvania. From this union was born Orlando Vaughan Fitzhugh, III, (Barbara Fitzhugh) n (children) Orlando Keith Fitzhugh, (Angela T. Fitzhugh), Patricia Fitzhugh-Winley, (late Paul E.C. Winley, I), Debra Fitzhugh-Davis, (Gerald Davis), Cyril B. Fitzhugh, Michelle Fitzhugh Bloxon, (Mitchell Bloxon), Troy E. Fitzhugh, (Angela G. Fitzhugh), Lauren D. Fitzhugh, Heather M. Fitzhugh. Also, Julia Fitzhugh Goddard, (Frederic M. Goddard) n (children) Henry M. Jackson, III, (Adrienne Jackson,) Daphne Lee, (Wally F. Lee). She also raised two daughters, the late Rowena Birkett and Carol J. Jones, along with a host of extended family.

She received her education at Westhampton Beach, NY school system. She later attended the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and received a degree of Gynecology-Obstetrics Technician in April of 1968.

She worked at Elmhurst General Hospital for over 25 years assisting doctors in the delivery of many babies. Eunice also assisted in the delivery of many of her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

She received the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal savior on her job after an employee named Martha Bowie witnessed to her. She attended Refuge Temple in Harlem, NY approximately for five months. In 1953, while shopping with her daughter on 125th St., she looked up and saw a neon sign flashing. Soul Saving Station. She was drawn by the Holy Spirit to go upstairs and there she joined Evangelist Billy Roberts, founder of Soul Saving Station Christ Crusaders of America.

During her membership at Soul Saving Station she faithfully served on the usher board under the late Ruth Turner, whom she worked with and were best of friends. She also belonged to the prayer band under the leadership of the late mother Montgomery. Eunice also served on the missionary board where she was faithful in the street ministry and subway passing out tracks. Eunice was a woman of great Faith and her favorite saying was, “I Believe God.”

To all who knew her, she was known as “Grandma Eunice” or “Aunt Eunice,” a faithful prayer warrior. He favorite scripture was Jeremiah 32:27. “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?

Eunice moved to Ahoskie, NC in 1992, where she attended Soul Saving Station under the leadership of her nephew, Bishop Val Melendez and Co-Pastor Eleanor Melendez. She was one of the dedicated mothers in the church.

Grandma Eunice loved God and her family. She showed unconditional support and was a constant prayer warrior to all those in need. She was also known for how she praised her God when her nephew, Bishop Val Melendez called on her for words of exaltation.

She leaves to cherish her precious loved ones: (1) son, Orlando Vaughan Fitzhugh (Barbara) of Ahoskie, NC; (1) daughter, Julia F. Goddard (Fredric) of Ahoskie, NC, (2) raised daughters, the late Rowena Birkett of New York, NY and Carol Jones (Irvin) of New York, NY, Eunice also leaves to cherish (13) grandchildren, (23) great-grandchildren; (7) great-grandchildren, along with a host of extended family, church family and friends.

On May 31, 2006, Eunice Theresa Fitzhugh was ushered into glory to see the Christ she lived for. As she took her flight, we can still hear her saying what she told the family a day before she passed, “God is Great and greatly to be Praised.”

The family will receive friends at a wake, scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, June 5 at Wilder’s Funeral Home in Aulander. At other times, family will receive friends at the home of Eunice Fitzhugh, 900 Everette Street, Ahoskie.

Funeral services are scheduled for 3 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6 at the Soul Saving Station, Ahoskie-Cofield Road. Burial will follow at Highland Memorial Gardens, Ahoskie.

Wilder’s Funeral Home, Aulander, is serving the Fitzhugh family.

Frodie C. Cumbo

JACKSON n Frodie C. Cumbo, 77, a native of Northampton County, died May 31, 2006 at his residence.

A homegoing service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Sunday at W.S. Creecy Elementary School Auditorium, Rich Square, by the Rev. Richard A. Powell Sr. Interment will be in the Cumbo family cemetery, Jackson. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. Faison’s Funeral Home, Inc., Seaboard, is in charge.

Cumbo was a member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Jackson, where he served as a trustee. He was also a police officer for the towns of Jackson, Rich Square and Seaboard.

Survivors include his daughter, Kathy H. Thompson; four sisters, Margaret Louise Powell of Jackson, Thernot Spruill of Roxobel, Hilda Cotton and Jeanette Spradley, both of Garysburg; and one granddaughter.

Marie Richardson

SEVERN n Marie Elizabeth Richardson, 85, a native of Northampton County, died May 31, 2006 at her residence.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at Pine Grove Church, Franklin, Va. Burial will be in Southview Cemetery, Franklin. Hertford County Undertakers, Winton, is in charge.