Rochelle Vann

WINTON n Rochelle Vann, 87, of Winton passed away Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2006 at Veterans Administration Medical Center in Durham.

During his life here on Earth, Vann has been a fisherman, a farmer, a Sunday School teacher, a gardener, a soldier, an educator, and probably most importantly, a recruiter for educational excellence.

He worked his way to, and then through college, with the latter experience being a job helping raise produce on the state-owned farm at his beloved Elizabeth City State University.

Years following his ECSU graduation, the university named a building in his honor.

Trained as an Army medic, Vann served during World War II in Guadalcanal, New Caledonia and spent a year in the Philippines.

Upon returning stateside, Vann completed his college education and came back home to Hertford County where he spent over 20 years as an educator with the public school system.

Vann is survived by his wife, Susan Bowser Vann of Winton; two sons, Marvin Vann of Durham and Rochelle Carlos Vann of Atlanta, Ga.; an adopted son, Lloyd T. Porter of Portsmouth, Va.; three daughters, Jackie V. Jones, Linda Vann-Smith and Brenda Vann, all of Durham; one brother, Bynum Vann of Rich Square; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

A wake will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16 at First Baptist, Winton.

Funeral services are scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 17 at 2 p.m. at the Hertford County High School gym. Rev. Lorenzo Lynch will officiate.

Burial will follow in the First Baptist, Winton Cemetery.

Hertford County Undertakers is in charge of the arrangements.

Otis Lassiter Jr.

LEXINGTON n Otis Lassiter Jr., 45, died Sept. 9, 2006 at Lexington Memorial Hospital.

Lassiter is a native of Hertford County.

He is survived by his wife, Cheryl Lassiter of Lexington; a daughter, Arlethia Slade of Suffolk, Va.; and two stepsons, Brian Brown and Jeremy Brown, both of Lexington.

Lassiter is also survived by two sisters, Ella L. Mebane of Angier and Ada Marie Lassiter of Raleigh.

A funeral is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 14, at New Haven Baptist Church in Murfreesboro. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Georgia Lee

AULANDER n Georgia Lee, 74, died Sept. 11, 2006 at her residence.

A native of Bertie County. Lee was a seamstress, previously working with Mycraft Manufacturing and Oak City Manufacturing.

She was a member of the Greater Harvest Fellowship Church of God in Christ.

Her survivors include a daughter, Alice J. Lee of Roxobel; a son, Malik Norfleet of Aulander; three sisters, Ruth Margaret Lee of Robersonville, Rosia Lee of Windsor and Annie Mae Lee of Windsor; two brothers, Willie McCoy Lee and Winston Lee, both of Lewiston; and five grandchildren.

An 11 a.m. funeral is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 14 at Greater Harvest Fellowship Church of God in Christ, Aulander, with Bishop Leroy J. Woolard officiating. Burial will follow in Wilders-Cherry Family Cemetery, Aulander.

Wilder’s Funeral Home of Aulander is handling the arrangements.

Henry Shores

AULANDER n Henry Irvin Shores, 81, passed away Thursday, Sept. 7, 2006 at his residence.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Katherine Lassiter Shores, and his parents, Garland Elwood Shores and Katie Lassiter Shores.

Shores was a self-employed building contractor and a member of the Millennium Pentecostal Holiness Church where he served as Sunday School Superintendent for many years and was also a member of the Board of Deacons and Board of Trustees. He was very active in his church until his declining health.

Shores also served as a special deputy for 30 years with the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office. He was the first fire chief and one of the founders of the Millennium Fire Department. Shores was also instrumental in the Millennium Water Association.

Survivors include his son, Donald E. Shores and wife, Brandi, of Aulander; a daughter, Donna Marie Woodford and husband, David, of Warren, Ohio; a special pet, “Peanut”; two sisters, Annette S. Blowe and Becky S. Blowe, both of Aulander; three brothers, Melvin Shores, Haywood Shores and Jesse Shores, all of Aulander; four grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Funeral services were held Sunday, Sept. 10 at Millennium Holiness Church where the Rev. Raymond Potter officiated. Burial followed at Job Cemetery.

Massey Funeral Home of Aulander was in charge of the arrangements.

Lessie Whitehead

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Lessie Whitehead, 74, of Thalia Trace Drive passed away Sept. 9, 2006.

She was a native of Murfreesboro and a retired farm worker.

Whitehead was a member of Mount Gilleon Baptist Church in Handson, Va. She was the widow of Raymond Whitehead and was also predeceased by her parents, James and Cherry Dodson.

Survivors include four daughters, Rose Morris, Bessie Dodson, Shirley Reese and Hope Porter; two sisters, Rosa Holloman and Lilly Mae Dodson; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

A funeral will be held Thursday, Sept. 14 at 11 a.m. in New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ with Bishop Barnett K. Thoroughgood presiding. Interment will follow in Betty Jones Memorial Park.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.beachfuneralservices.com.

Seth Walters

SUFFOLK, Va. n Seth Thomas Walters, 81, passed away on Monday, Sept. 11 in his home.

Walters was born in Whaleyville, Va. and was a member of Liberty Spring Christian Church and the Gates County Hunt Club.

He proudly served his country with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. He retired in 1979 from the Instrument Research Division of NASA after 32 years of employment and had begun a second career of raising, training and selling horses.

Survivors include his wife, Lula Walters of Suffolk; a son, Steven T. Walters of Suffolk; a sister, Helen W. Haslett of Suffolk; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 15 in the Liberty Spring Christian Church cemetery with Rev. Allen Lancaster officiating.

Friends may join the family from 7-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 14 at Miller Funeral Home, Gatesville or at other times at the residence.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Liberty Spring Christian Church or to the American Cancer Society.

Rev. William E. Clements

GATESVILLE n The Rev. William E. Clements, 69, of Gatesville died Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2006 at Wake Med Center in Raleigh.

A native of Chester, S.C., Rev. Clements is a graduate of Southeastern Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree. He served the United Methodist Church with pastorates in Gaston, Laurinburg, Creswell, Rockingham, Winfall, Candor, Roanoke Rapids, Fayetteville and Gatesville.

A veteran of the United States Air Force, he was a member of Zion United Methodist Church, the Gatesville Ruritan Club and had been active in the Walk to Emmaus and Kairos Prison ministries.

Surviving are one son, Mark Samuel Clements of Princeton; and three brothers, Bobby Clements and Ronnie Clements, both of Camden, S.C., and Russell Clements of Lugoff, S.C.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16 in Gatesville United Methodist Church by the Rev. Tracy L. Clayton. Burial will follow in the West Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Elizabeth City.

Friends may join family from 7-8:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 15 at Miller Funeral Home, Gatesville and at other times at the residence.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the church of one’s choice.

Lottie Goodman

SUFFOLK, Va. n Lottie Lassiter Goodman, 88, a native of Gates County, died Monday, Sept. 11, 2006.

She worked more than 40 years at Leggett’s Department Store and went on to work for 15 additional years as a greeter at Wal-Mart.

Survivors include daughters Margaret G. Whitley of Franklin, Va., Peggy G. Cornett of Suffolk, Va. and Florence G. Anderson of Portsmouth, Va.; one son, Billy Goodman of Zuni, Va.; one brother, Waymore Lassiter of Sunbury; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 14 at Parr Funeral Home, Suffolk, Va. with Dr. Richard L. Peery officiating. Burial will follow in Holly Lawn Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Nansemond-Suffolk Rescue Squad (PO Box 1515, Suffolk, Va., 23439-1515) or Windsor Volunteer Rescue Squad (PO Box 483, Windsor, Va., 23487).

Condolences may also be registered at www.parrfuneralhome.com.

Elizabeth Thomas

WINDSOR n Elizabeth Ballard Thomas, 80, died Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2006 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

A native of Bertie County, Thomas was a retired peanut grader.

A funeral is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 17 at Pleasant Oak Baptist Church, Windsor. Burial will take place in the Thomas Family Cemetery, Windsor.

Cherry’s Funeral Homes of Windsor is in charge of the arrangements.