The R-C News-Herald Obituaries for August 1, 2006

Published 12:00 am Thursday, August 3, 2006

Donna S. Sumner

AULANDER – Donna Sharon Sumner 48, a native of Hertford County, died in her home July 28, 2006.

She was a member of St. John Baptist Church and was employed in housekeeping at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital.

Survivors include her parents, Lawrence Raleigh and Frances Horton Sumner of Ahoskie; one sister; Kimberly Sumner of Ahoskie; and one brother, Kenneth Sumner of Lewiston- Woodville.

A funeral was conducted Sunday in Garrett Funeral Home, Ahoskie, by the Rev. Woody R. Copeland. Burial was in Highland Memorial Gardens.

Hilda Byrum

COLERAIN n Hilda White Byrum, 82, died July 29, 2006. She was the widow of Lyman Woodrow Byrum.

A graveside service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Edgewood Cemetery, Windsor by the Rev. Jimmy Jarrell. Massey Funeral Home, Aulander, is in charge.

Survivors include a son, Carlton Lee Byrum of Colerain; a daughter, Linda Joyce Byrum of Windsor; a sister, Goldie White of Windsor; two grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Irene F. Rice

SUNBURY – Irene Fleming Rice, 81, a native of Clintwood, Va., died July 27, 2006 at Britthaven of Edenton.

Mrs. Rice worked as a planner in Shop 31 of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, retiring in 1979 after 34 years of government service. She was a member of Damascus Christian Church.

Survivors include her husband, Vernon T. Rice Sr.; stepsons, Vernon T. &uot;Tommy&uot; Rice Jr of Suffolk and James Lee Rice of Sanford; sisters, Florence Buchanan of Clintwood and Joan Lee of Virginia Beach; four grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

A funeral was conducted Monday in Damascus Christian Church by the Rev. Wayne Gardner. Burial was in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, Airline Boulevard, Chesapeake. Miller Funeral Home, Gatesville, was in charge. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Khedive Temple Transportation Fund, 645 Woodlake Drive, Chesapeake, VA 23320.

John Wynn Jr.

COFIELD n John Henry Wynn Jr., 72, a native of Hertford County, died July 27, 2006

A funeral was conducted Monday at Hertford County Undertakers Chapel, Winton, by the Rev. Charlie Carter. Burial was in Philippi Baptist Church Cemetery, Cofield.

Survivors include one daughter, Annie Clarke of Richmond, Va.; his mother, Esther Wynn of Cofield; three sisters, Louise Wynn of New Jersey, Lalar Boone of New York and Esther Cumbo of Greensboro; four brothers, Joe Lewis Wynn of Ohio, George Wynn and Hober Wynn, both of New York and Steven Wynn of New Jersey; and three grandchildren.

Melvin L. Watford

COFIELD n Melvin L. Watford, 73, a native of Hertford County, died July 29, 2006 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Harrellsville, by the Rev. Robert L. Lewis. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Wilder’s Funeral Home, Inc., Aulander, is in charge.

Watford retired after 27 years as a self-employed truck driver. He was a trustee, member of Emergency Committee and Renovation Committee at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church. He was also a member of I.B.P.O.E. of the World.

Survivors include his wife, Annie Watford of Cofield; sons, Melvin Watford of Suffolk, Va., and Melvin C. Williams of Portsmouth; brothers, Bennie Lee Watford and Robert Watford, both of Cofield; sisters, Clara Savage of Harrellsville and Annie Ruth Lassiter of Ahoskie; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Frances A. Bass

AHOSKIE n Frances Ann Bass, 83, passed away after an extended illness of many years on Sunday, July 30, 2006, at Britthaven of Washington, NC.

She was born in Powellsville in Bertie County on August 9, 1922, to Kader and Blanche Harrell Bass, and lived there on the family farm for most of her life.

She was a member of Powellsville Baptist Church.

Frances worked as secretary and bookkeeper for Jernigan Oil Company of Ahoskie most of her younger life, and was an active member of the Ahoskie Kiwanis Club, the North Carolina Democratic Club and the Women of the Moose in Suffolk, VA.

She later worked until retirement with Charlotte Liberty Mutual Insurance.

Frances was always devoted to her family; her mother, with whom she lived until her passing in 1965, and her sisters, Blanche B. Perry and Marjory B. Perry, and brother, Kader W. Bass, Jr., who all predeceased her.

She is survived by her beloved sister-in-law and guardian, Helen W. Bass of Jamesville, NC, and by four nieces, two nephews, and their families.

A graveside service will be conducted on Wednesday, August 2, 2006, at 11:00 a.m. in Highland Memorial Gardens, Ahoskie, with the Rev. Robert May officiating.

The family will receive friends at Garrett Funeral Home, from 9:30 until 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, prior to the services.

Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Research, 22512 Gateway Center Drive, Clarksburg, MD, 20871.

Leroy Thompson

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. n Leroy Thompson, died July 31, 2006 at Jefferson Hospital, Philadelphia.

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

Shaquan Ford Jr.

ROCKY MOUNT n Infant Shaquan Ali Ford Jr., died July 28, 2006 at Nash General Hospital.

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

Donald Lyons

WILMINGTON, DE n Donald Lyons, formerly of Battleboro, passed.

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

Quentaz Johnson

ROANOKE RAPIDS n Infant Quentaz Johnson died July 28, 2006 at Halifax Regional Medical Center, Roanoke Rapids.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete. H.D. Pope Funeral Home, Roanoke Rapids, is in charge.

Kenneth Anderson Jr.

ROANOKE RAPIDS n Kenneth Staten Anderson Jr., 11, died July 29, 2006 at Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Greenville.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete. H.D. Pope Funeral Home, Roanoke Rapids, is in charge.