Stafford V. Deloatch

NORFOLK, Va. – Stafford Vernon Deloatch, 91, died February 17, 2007, at Harbour Pointe Rehabilitation Center.

Deloatch retired from E.V. Williams Inc.

Survivors include his wife, Christine G. Deloatch; five children, Antionette W. Blount of New Bern, Lou Ellen Deloatch of Mattapan, Mass., Wilhelmina Deloatch of Brooklyn, N.Y., Wanda Deloatch and Paul L. Deloatch, both of Norfolk; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and one sister, Farnet Maddrey of Conway.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday in Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 525 Dinwiddie St. by the Rev. Lawrence Mitchell. Interment will be at Rosewood Memorial Park, Virginia Beach. Family and friends will assemble at 2935 Dana St. one hour prior to service for procession to the church. Metropolitan Funeral Service, Granby St. Chapel, is in charge. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.metropolitanfuneralservice.com.

Gwendolyn H. Smith

Murfreesboro, N.C. – Gwendolyn Hall Smith, 93, of the 600 block of West Main St., died February 19, 2007 at Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Greenville, N.C.

Mrs. Hall was born in Bertie County, a daughter of the late Allie Vance and Pauline Acree Hall.

She was a very active member of

Meherrin Baptist Church, and the widow of Jay Wilson Smith, Sr.

Surviving are four daughters, JoAnne Schell and husband, Lee of Longs, SC, Kathryn Fowlkes and husband, Mike of Greensboro, NC, Lynn Pope and husband, Tony of Durham, NC, Jewel Johnson and husband, Dan of Murfreesboro, NC; two sons, Jay W. Smith, Jr. and wife, Sue of Nashville, NC, Al Smith and wife, Doris of Murfreesboro, NC; three sisters, Wilma Jewel Morris and Pauline Johnson both of Roxobel, NC, Ruth Dilday, of Murfreesboro, NC; ten grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

A celebration service of Mrs. Smith’s life will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, February 23, 2007, at Meherrin Baptist Church with the Rev. Billy Sellers officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7-8:30 P.M. Thursday, February 22, 2007, at Garrett Funeral Home, 205 NC Highway 42 West, Ahoskie, NC.

Memorial donations may be made to Meherrin Baptist Church, 519 Meherrin Lane, Murfreesboro, NC,

27855, or to Relay For Life.

Donna Lynn Farmer Flagg

Donna Lynn Farmer Flagg, 44, of Kitty Hawk, died Tuesday, February 13 at her residence.

She was born in Columbia, PA, and was the daughter of Linda Farmer Howell and the late Douglas Howell of Ahoskie, and the wife of Gordon Michael Flagg of the home.

Donna’s gift of humor and her generosity to those she loved will be remembered the most.

She was a mother, a daughter, a wife, a sister, an aunt, and a friend, and she never hesitated to offer her whole heart in any of those capacities.

To her children she leaves a legacy of great memories, the ability to laugh at hard times, her determination to accomplish goals, and the persistence to reach them.

She is now the free spirit she always aspired to be.

Donna is survived by a daughter, Jessica, and husband Brandon of Ahoskie; two sons, Jason Pierce of Ahoskie, and David Bracy and wife Shannon of Kitty Hawk; also two grandchildren, Shaylyn Bracy and David Bracy, Jr.; three sisters, Barbara Basnight and husband Leigh of Pettie Shores, Wendy Davenport and husband Wayne of Waxhaw, NC, and Tina Pennington and husband Rodney of Ahoskie; three brothers, Scott Farmer and wife Susan of Williamston, Donnie Farmer and wife Amy of Waxhaw, NC, and Mike Farmer of Kitty Hawk.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, David and Jackie Farmer.

A visitation was held on Saturday, February 17 at Twiford’s Colony Chapel in Manteo.

A special graveside service followed at 2 pm in Southern Shores Cemetery in Southern Shores, NC.

Messages for the family can be left online at www.twifordfh.com.

Margaret Hague

AHOSKIE n Margaret Louise Todd Hague, 82, a native of Bertie County, died February 20, 2007 at Bertie Memorial Hospital. She was the widow of Frank S. Hague.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday at Walker Funeral Chapel by the Rev. Henry Boschen. Burial will be in the White family cemetery on Spring Branch Lane, Askewville. The family will receive friends from 7-8:30 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Memorial gifts may be made to Elm Grove Baptist Church.

Mrs. Hague was a member of Elm Grove Baptist Church and a retired baker.

Survivors include one son, Roy Earl Hague Jr. of Ahoskie; one sister, Mildred T. Narron of Ahoskie; one brother, Eugene Todd of Chesapeake, Va.; 10 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Virgil Harrell Jr.

AHOSKIE n Virgil Harrell Jr., 62, died February 16, 2007 in Granville County.

Harrell was a member of Greater Wynn’s Grove Baptist Church. He was employed with Victory Trucking in Aulander.

A funeral will be conducted on Saturday at Greater Wynn’s Grove Baptist Church by Bishop Thomas Lee. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Hunter’s Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Survivors include his wife, Helene O. Harrell of Ahoskie; four sons, Curtis Harrell and Steve Harrell, both of Ahoskie, Walter Harrell of South Carolina and Calvin Harrell of New York; his mother, Lois Harrell of Colerain; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Winfield Porter Jr.

MARGARETTSVILLE n Winfield Porter Jr., 63, a native of Northampton County, died February 17, 2007 at Southampton Memorial Hospital, Franklin, Va.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at Nebo Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, by Elder Ricks. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A viewing will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday at Hertford County Undertakers Chapel, Winton.

Survivors include his wife, Nellie F. Porter of Margarettsville; three sons, Winfield Porter III of Margarettsville, Michael Porter of Bryan Road, MD, and Kevin Porter of Mt. Rainier, MD; one daughter, Joann Mason of Durham; three sisters, Eva Ann Vaughan of Conway, Earline Flythe of Woodland and Blanch Porter of Portsmouth; and three grandchildren.

Adry’anna Holley

MERRY HILL n Adry’anna DeShawnna Holley, infant, a native of Hertford County, died February 19, 2007 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

A graveside service was conducted Wednesday at Wilders-Cherry Family Cemetery, Aulander. Wilder’s Funeral Home, Inc., Aulander, was in charge.

Survivors include her mother, Shohannah B. Harmon of Merry Hill; her father, Adrian Holley; grandmothers, Rita A. Jackson of Merry Hill and Linda Holley; grandfather, Roy Jackson; and grandparents, Earnestine Holley, John Henry Jones, and Catherine Jones.

Willis R. Jernigan

AHOSKIE n Willis Ray Jernigan, 74, died Monday, February 19, 2007, in his home.

Mr. Jernigan was born in Bertie County, a son of the late William Edgar and LuEdna White Jernigan.

He was a member of Powellsville Baptist Church and was retired as a supervisor with the NC Department of Transportation.

Survivors include his wife, Sherry Gardner Jernigan; two daughters, Sheri Lynn Moreau of Birmingham, AL, and Cindy Martin and husband, Robert of Ahoskie; a son, Eric Holloman and wife, Jennifer of Raleigh; a sister, Verlie Wood of Portsmouth, VA; a brother, Darral Jernigan of Gastonia, NC; and grandchildren, Thomas Beck and Tonya Morris both of Atlanta, GA, and Bruce Eric Holloman of Hendersonville, NC.

Ray was predeceased by a daughter, Teresa Beck.

A celebration service of Mr. Jernigan’s life will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 22, 2007, at Powellsville Baptist Church with the Rev. Ed Davis officiating.

Burial will follow in Highland Memorial Gardens.

The family received friends at Garrett Funeral Home from 6:30 until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday and other times at the home.

Memorial donations may be made to University Health Systems Hospice, P.O. Box 272, Ahoskie, NC, 27910, Powellsville Baptist Church, P.O. Box 5, Powellsville, NC, 27967, or to the American Cancer Society, Melanoma Research, 930 B Wellness Drive. Greenville, NC, 27834.

Inora J. Stephenson

MURFREESBORO n Inora Joyner Stephenson, 77, a native of Northampton County, NC, died February 18, 2007 at 3618 North Ingleside Drive, Norfolk, Va.

A funeral will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2007 at New Haven Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, NC, at 12 noon. The Rev. Lloyd Gatling will be officiating. Burial will follow in Carver’s Park Cemetery. Public viewing from 2 to 8 p.m. on Friday, February 23, 2007 at Hertford County Undertakers, Winton.

Survivors include her husband, Carlton Stephenson Jr.; five sons, Carlton Stephenson, Jr. of Jessup, MD, Jerry Stephenson of Tynesborough, MA, Nathaniel Stephenson of Chapel Hill, NC, Anthony Stephenson and Adrian Stephenson, both of Raleigh, NC; four daughters, Delphine Chambers of Norfolk, Va., Joyce Jarrett of Wake Forest, NC, Josephine Stephenson of Jessup, MD and Monya Lindsey of Raleigh, NC; two adopted daughters, Phyllis Boodie of Chesapeake, Va., and Arlene White of Powellsville, NC; one brother, Albert Joyner, Sr. of Old Fort, NC; one sister, Lether Caman of Roosevelt, NY; 17 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Joseph C. “Buck” Hoggard

POWELLSVILLE n Joseph Carlyle “Buck” Hoggard, 87, died Wednesday, February 21, 2007, at his home, surrounded by his devoted and loving wife of 64 years, Beulah Miller Hoggard and his family.

A native of Bertie County, he was born to the late Joseph Duncan Hoggard and Lula Cannady Hoggard on August 23, 1919.

Buck was a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II, from 1941 to 1945.

He served in the South Pacific, Luzon, Philippine Islands, the Netherlands, East Indies and Japan and received several military honors including the American Campaign Medal, the Philippine Liberation Medal with a bronze star, the American Defense Medal, the WWII Victory Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Medal with two bronze stars and Good Conduct Medal.

Mr. Hoggard was a faithful member of Powellsville Baptist Church his entire adult life and was ordained a deacon in 1947.

He was a member of the church choir for many years and served as church clerk for 35 years.

Besides being retired as Postmaster of Powellsville after 37 years of service and serving as Town Clerk for 10 years, he was also a volunteer fireman of Powellsville Fire Department for 25 years, served as president of Powellsville Lions Club in 1968-69 and was a member of the Powellsville Scrub Club.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Beulah Miller Hoggard of the home; a son, Carlyle O. Hoggard and his wife, Daniela D. Hoggard of Powellsville; a daughter, Nancy H. White and her husband, Thomas J. White of Kinston; a grandson, SSgt. Jeffrey C. Hoggard and his wife, Susan M. Hoggard of Sumter, SC; and a sister, Grace H. Barnes of Franklin, VA.

He was predeceased by his first born infant daughter, Jo Anne Hoggard; and a sister, Marie H. Bracy.

A celebration service of Mr. Hoggard’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 24, 2007, at Powellsville Baptist Church with the Rev. Ed Davis officiating.

Burial will follow in Highland Memorial Gardens with military honors.

The family will receive friends at Garrett Funeral Home from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. on Friday, February 23, 2007, and other times at the home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Powellsville Baptist Church, P.O. Box 5, Powellsville, NC, 27967, or to University Health Systems Hospice, P.O. Box 272, Ahoskie, NC, 27910.

The family wishes to express their profound gratitude to caregivers, Martha Banks, Sheron Watford, Betty Smith, Cathy Speight and University Health Systems Hospice Care for their care and compassion.

Billy F. Ray

WINDSOR n Billy Franklin Ray, 74, a native of Bertie County, died February 20, 2007 at Pitt Memorial Hospital.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at Walker Funeral Home by the Rev. J.N. Baggett. The family will receive friends from 7-8:30 p.m. on Friday at Walker Funeral Home and other times from the home. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75231.

Ray was a member of Lawrence Baptist Church. He was a veteran of the Korean War.

Survivors include his wife, Sylvia Bowlin Ray of Windsor; sons, Bobby, Danny, Robert and Marvin Ray, all of Windsor; stepsons, Anthony and Dean Barber of Windsor and Scotty Barber of Wilmington; daughters, Judy Chesson of Williamston and Joyce Baggett of Cofield; stepdaughter, Karen Langley of Windsor; brothers, Earl Ray of Windsor and Dean Ray of Colerain; and sisters, Alma White and Jan Castelloe, both of Askewville, and Dot Salinas and Betty Bowen, both of Windsor.

Essie R. Eley

AULANDER n Essie R. Eley, died February 20, 2007 at Rich Square Healthcare Center.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday at Elm Grove Missionary Baptist Church by the Rev. Anthony Ward. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Survivors include one son, Curtis Eley of Ahoskie; two daughters, Carrie Mae Randolph of Hampton, Va., and Dianne Nixon of Aulander; one brother, Roosevelt Robbins of Ahoskie; nine grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.

Alfred L. Holley

AHOSKIE n Alfred Leroy Holley, died February 18, 2007 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

A funeral will be conducted at 12 noon Saturday at Mt. Sinai Holiness Church, Ahoskie, by Pastor Janie Burden. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Survivors include one daughter, Keandria Shanice Holley of Ahoskie; his mother, Velma Holley of Ahoskie; his grandmother, Hazel Holley Smallwood of Ahoskie; five brothers, Tony Holley of Raleigh, Roosevelt Holley of Colorado, Harrison and Columbus Holley, both of Ahoskie and Samuel Holley of Roanoke Rapids; and four sisters, Linda Easley of Raleigh, Clara, Senora Holley and Bessie Howard, all of Ahoskie.

Bessie W. Hall

AHOSKIE n Bessie Whitfield Hall, died February 20, 2007 at Albemarle Hospital, Elizabeth City.

A funeral will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at New Bethany Baptist Church by the Rev. William Clark. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Survivors include one son, Calvin Hall Jr. of Prince George, Va.; three daughters, Ambretta Weaver of Petersburg, Dorothy Lassiter of Data, SC, and Annie Vinson of Murfreesboro; two brothers, Leon Whitfield of Ahoskie and Herman Whitefield Jr. of Baltimore, Md.; four sisters, Vivian Whitfield of Ahoskie, Annie Whitfield of Henderson, Linola Whitfield Vann of Baltimore and Janie Whitfield of Durham; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.