Nellie Bridgers

LASKER – Nellie Woodard Bridgers, 86, of 112 Garris Street Lasker, NC, died Saturday, July 8, 2006.

Mrs. Bridgers a native of Northampton County was a member of Potecasi Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Willie Wilson Bridgers, Sr.

Mrs. Bridgers is survived by he son, Willie Wilson Bridgers, Jr. and his wife Mary of Lasker; two brothers, David Woodard of Jackson, NC and Jerry Woodard and his wife Edna of Milwaukee, NC; one grandson, Scott Bridgers and his wife Cheryl of Winterville, NC.

Graveside services were held Monday, July 10, 2006 at the Potecasi Baptist Church Cemetery with Rev. Bob Deacon officiating.

The family received friends Sunday from 7-8:30 at Sykes Funeral Service in Rich Square.

Charles F. Snyder

WILLIAMSTON n Charles F. Snyder, 56, a native of Bertie County, died July 8, 2006 at Martin General Hospital.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Walker Funeral Home Chapel, Windsor, by the Rev. Ron Gardner. Burial will be on Rocky Hock Ashley family cemetery. The family will receive friends at the homeplace 934 US 17 North Windsor.

Snyder was a truck driver and an Army veteran. He was a member of American Legion, and DAV.

Survivors include a daughter, Tamara L. Campbell of Sumtern, SC; three brothers, Curtis Snyder and Jarrett Ray Snyder, both of Plymouth and Donald “Billy” Snyder of Windsor; and two sisters, Shirley Barber and Sharon Halsey, both of Jamesville.

Emanuel Harris

ROCKY MOUNT n Emanuel Linwood Harris, 16, died July 8, 2006.

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

Virginia Hall

AULANDER n Virginia Jones “Betty” Hall, 71, of Aulander, died at her residence Sunday, July 9, 2006 following a lengthy illness. Born November 19, 1934 in Bertie County, she was a retired deli manager for Eastern Fuels, Inc. and a member of Woodland First Full Gospel Church.

She is survived by one daughter, Brenda Bryant and husband, Shelton of Aulander; two sons, Gerald Wayne Jenkins of Aulander and Norman Dwight Jenkins of Richmond, Virginia; one sister, Marie Kornegay of Severn Springs; four brothers, Bob S. Jones and wife, Judy of Aulander, James W. Jones, Sr. of Aulander, Richard D. Jones of Aulander and Herman S. Morris of Siler City; nine grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 12, 2006 at Woodland First Full Gospel Church with Rev. Evelyn Marie Jones officiating. Burial will follow at Job Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Tuesday, July 11, 2006 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Massey Funeral Home in Aulander.

Massey Funeral Home of Aulander is in charge of arrangements.

Melvin Eugene Mathias

PORTSMOUTH, Va. – Melvin Eugene Mathias, 63, a native of Corapeake, died July 5, 2006.

Mathias was a member of West Park Church of Christ and the owner of Mathias Machine Works Inc. from 1976 until 1996.

Survivors include his wife, Sabrina Mathias; two daughters, April Tolson of Orlando, Fla., and Cynthia Mathias of Virginia Beach; two sons, David Laylor of Virginia Beach and Steven Dortch of Windsor; and seven grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday in West Park Church of Christ by Pastor Keith Lewis. Entombment will be in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. Loving Funeral Home, Churchland chapel, is in charge. Friends are invited to join the family at the church following the committal service at Meadowbrook. Condolences may be made at www.lovingfuneralhome.com.

Lavinia S. Vann

MURFREESBORO n Lavinia Sullivan Vann, 88, a native of Williamston, SC, and long-time resident of Murfreesboro, NC, died July 9, 2006 in the loving care of Countryside Village Retirement Community, Stokesdale, NC, where she had resided since November 2002.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 12, 2006 at Meherrin Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, NC by the Reverend Billy Sellers. Burial will be in the church cemetery following the funeral. The family will receive friends Tuesday, July 11 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the church fellowship hall. Memorial donations may be made to Meherrin Baptist Church, 519 Meherrin Lane, Murfreesboro, NC 27855 or Murfreesboro Historical Association, Inc., P.O. Box 3, Murfreesboro, NC 27855 or the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718.

Mrs. Vann was a dedicated member of Meherrin Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school classes and was a member of the Women’s Missionary Union for many years. She was a member of the Murfreesboro Historical Association, Inc. and served as a board member of the Historic Murfreesboro Commission. She was a member and officer of the Murfreesboro Women’s Club. She was a graduate of Lander College, Greenwood, SC. She taught school in South Carolina for four years prior to her marriage in 1945 and taught in Murfreesboro for one year in 1946-47. After having four children, she returned to teach at Murfreesboro High School for 17 years before retiring in 1982. She and her husband, Richard, loved history and its preservation and were one of the first couples in town to act on their dreams when they purchased and restored “Melrose,” the historic home of the founder of Murfreesboro in 1964. Mrs. Vann enjoyed her grandchildren, gardening and bird watching at her home for many years until the Vann’s relocated to Stokesdale, NC to be closer to their daughter.

Survivors include her husband of over 60 years, Richard Thomas Vann; one daughter and three sons, Lavinia Vann Evans and her husband, Rob of Greensboro, NC, Dr. Richard Thomas Vann, Jr. and his wife, Marta of Dallas, Texas, Harry Sullivan Vann and his wife, Anita of Peacham, VT, and Samuel Hearst Vann and his wife, Jane of Virginia Beach, Va.; twelve grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

The family will assemble at Meherrin Baptist Church Fellowship Hall at 10:45 a.m. Wednesday prior to services.

Garrett Funeral Home, Ahoskie, NC, is serving the Vann family.

Joseph Morris

MERRY HILL n Joseph Morris, died July 8, 2006 at his residence.

A funeral will be conducted at 12 noon Thursday at Zion Hill Baptist Church, Colerain, by the Rev. Nathaniel Thompson. Burial will be in the family cemetery, Merry Hill. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Survivors include one son, Darryl Williams; one daughter, Dianne Ruffin; one brother, Willis H. Morris; and eight grandchildren.