Joseph Kirkman (Kirk) Minor, Sr.

AHOSKIE n Joseph Kirkman (Kirk) Minor, Sr., 82, of 722 Everette Street, Ahoskie, died Wednesday, July 5, 2006 at Chatham Hospital, Inc., Siler City, NC.

Mr. Minor was a native of Guilford County, a former resident of Siler City, an Army veteran of WWII and was retired from the US Department of Agriculture after 33 years of service.

Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Ruth Perry Minor of the home; one son, Jody Minor and partner, Scott Ford of Siler City, NC; one daughter, Missy M. Cherry and husband, Mike of Ahoskie, NC; two brothers, Fred Minor and Bart Minor, both of Greensboro, NC; one sister, Margaret Vaughn of Greensboro, NC; two granddaughters, Amanda Phillips and Hannah Cherry; and one great-granddaughter, Sheridan Phillips.

A graveside service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 8, 2006 at Highland Memorial Park, Ahoskie, NC. A visitation was conducted Friday, July 7, 2006 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Smith & Buckner Funeral Home, 230 North Second Avenue, Siler City, NC.

Elnora Powell

POTECASI n Elnora Lambertson Powell, 69, died July 3, 2006.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Sunday at Second Baptist Potecasi Church by the Rev. Melvin Roberts. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A visitation will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. at Lionel Whidbee Funeral Home, Rich Square.

Linda Drennen

HOBBSVILLE n Linda Gutridge Drennen, 54, a native of Alexandra, Va., died July 5, 2006 in her home.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday in the chapel of Miller Funeral Home, Gatesville, by the Rev. Gene Asbill. Burial will be in the Winslow family cemetery.

Survivors include her husband, William Ellison Drennen; a son, Floyd Arthur Mowell Jr. of Richlands; a daughter, Renee Drennen Sherman of Sunbury; her mother, Bertha Beavers Gutridge of Woodbridge; four sisters, Mary Ann, Frances, Gladys and Betty; four brothers, George, Johnny, Frankie and David; and three grandsons.

Bernice Gray

GATESVILLE n Bernice Pierce Gray, 92, a native of Gates County, died July 6, 2006 in Down East Health and Rehabilitation Center, Gatesville. She was the widow of John Hofler Gray.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday in the chapel of Miller Funeral Home by the Rev. Wayne Gardner. Burial will be in Damacus Christian Church Cemetery. Friends may join the family Saturday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the funeral home or beginning Saturday morning in the Lawrence/Lane House, Cotton Gin Road, Gates, where out of town family members will be staying.

Mrs. Gray was a homemaker and a member of Damacus Christian Church in Sunbury.

Survivors include a son, Eugene Gray of Longwood, Fla.; a sister, Ellen Brothers of Sunbury; two granddaughters; and four great-grandchildren.

Doris Jenkins

LEWISTON n Doris Jenkins, 80, a native of Bertie County, died July 6, 2006 at her residence.

A funeral will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in the Church of God for All People, Windsor, by Pastor Joseph Watson. Burial will be in the Jenkins family cemetery, Kelford. Wilder’s Funeral Home, Inc., Aulander, is in charge.

Survivors include a daughter, Dorothy Cherry of Lewiston; a sister, Elouise Cherry of Windsor; a brother, Dallas Brown of Kelford; five grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great-grandchildren.

Annie Bazemore

AULANDER n Annie Ruth Bazemore Wilkins, of 2454 NC Hwy. 305, died July 6, 2006 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie, NC.

Mrs. Wilkins was a native of Bertie County. She was a member of Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church and the Pastor’s Aide Ministry. She was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Annie Cherry Bazemore and her husband, Ernest Wilkins Sr.

Survivors include a son, Ernest Wilkins Jr. and his wife, Helen; daughters, Elsie Jean Williams and Brenda L. Wilkins; one brother, the Rev. Lassiter Bazemore and his wife, Versie; grandsons, Jimmie D. Williams, Antonio Williams Sr., James M. Williams, Jeffrey L. Williams and McKail A. Wilkins; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

A funeral will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, July 9, 2006 at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church, Windsor, NC, by the Rev. Robert Horton. Burial will be in Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Windsor. Wilder’s Funeral Home, Inc., Aulander, is serving the Wilkins family.

Lillian Burney Sumrell

CHESAPEAKE, Va. – Lillian B. Sumrell, 80, Pitt

County, died July 4, 2006. She was the widow of Lee Thomas Sumrell.

Mrs. Sumrell was a member of Craddock United Methodist Church and Victory Chapter No. 16 Order of the Eastern Star.

Survivors include her daughter, Janice S. Novack of Portsmouth; a son, Phillip L. Sumrell Sr. of Gates; three grandchildren; and three great- grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday in Loving Funeral Home, Churchland Chapel. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens Mausoleum by Pastor Frances Craig. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Craddock United Methodist Church. Condolences may be made at www.lovingfuneralhome.com.