Ruth H. Meade

FRANKLIN, Va. – Ruth Howard Meade, 74, a native of Colerain, died March 19, 2007. She was the widow of R.W. &uot;Bob&uot; Meade.

Mrs. Meade was a member of Beaver Dam Baptist Church.

Survivors include two daughters, Lou Ann Meade of Norfolk and Lori M. Samples of McIntosh, Fla.

A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday in the chapel of Wright Funeral Home. At Ruth’s request, her body was donated for medical research. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the Arthritis Foundation, 281 Independence Blvd., Suite 305, Virginia Beach, VA 23462. Condolences may be offered at www.wrightfuneralhome.org.

Ida P. Foster

CHESAPEAKE, Va. – Ida Parker Foster, 73, a native of Bertie County, died March 20, 2007, in Chesapeake General Hospital. She was the widow of Willie Foster.

Mrs. Foster was a member of Full Gospel Church of Deliverance in Norfolk where she was an evangelist and a member of the No. 1 Choir.

Survivors include two daughters, Ida T. Parker and Orla A. Foster, both of Chesapeake; and one granddaughter.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday in Full Gospel Church of Deliverance, 711 Comstock Ave., Norfolk, by Pastor Ernest S. Martin. Burial will be in Roosevelt Memorial Park, Chesapeake. Fitchett Funeral Home is in charge. Condolences can be offered to the family at www.fitchettfuneralhome.com.

Melvin E. Howell

TYNER – Melvin Edgar Howell, 71, a native of Chowan County, died March 22, 2007, in Brian Care Center of Hertford.

Howell retired as supervisor of the Farmers Home Administration in Hertford and formerly worked as an agriculture education teacher in both Currituck County and Rich Square. He was a deacon and an active member of Ballard’s Bridge Baptist Church where he served as a Sunday school teacher. He served on the Board of Directors for the Center Hill-Cross Roads Fire Department and was a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard. Survivors include his wife, Mildred Lewis Howell; a daughter, Donna H. Johnson of Chesapeake; a son, Kent Melvin Howell of Tyner; and a sister, Shelby Jean Henry of Knoxville, Tenn.; and four grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday in Ballard’s Bridge Baptist Church with the Rev. Ron Parr. Burial will be in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the building fund at Ballard’s Bridge Baptist Church, 3025 Virginia Road, Tyner, NC 27980 or the American Parkinson Disease Association, 60 Bay St., Staten Island, NY 10301. Swindell Funeral and Cremation Services of Hertford is in charge.

Sylvia Ricks

CONWAY n Sylvia Jean Allen Ricks, 67, died Friday, March 23, at her home near Conway. She had been preceded in death by a son, David Allen Ricks, her parents, Winborne and Nettie Bridgers Allen, three sisters, Margaret Wheeler, Clorine Wade, and Josephine Baker, and two brothers, Earl Allen and Robert Allen.

A native of Northampton County, she was a homemaker and worked as a clerk with Taylor Drug Co. in Conway for many years. A member of Zion United Methodist Church, she was loving wife, mother, grandmother, and sister.

Survivors include her husband of 50 years, Wilson Ricks of Conway; one son, Clifton Ricks and his wife, Annette, of Conway; one granddaughter, Misty Ricks Buren and her husband, Adam of Rich Square; three sisters, Millie A. Martin of Milwaukee, Virginia, A. Flythe of Conway, and Nell A. Long of Severn; and two brothers, Jennings Allen and Sidney Allen of Conway; and several nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held Sunday, 2 p.m. in the Town of Conway Cemetery with the Rev. Sid Collins and the Rev. Tim Hogan presiding.

The family will be receiving friends at the family home and have requested that anyone wishing to share a memorial gift. Please do so to Zion United Methodist Church.

Bridgers Funeral Home, Inc. in Conway is in charge of arrangements.

Gerald Davenport

COLERAIN n Gerald Wayne Davenport Sr., 71, a native of Martin County, died March 22, 2007 at his home.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday at Colerain Baptist Church by the Rev. Jack Byrd. Burial will be in the Davenport family cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7-8:30 p.m. Saturday at Walker Funeral Home, Windsor. Memorial gifts may be made to the Shrine’s Children Home in Oxford, NC.

Davenport was a member of Colerain Baptist Church and Davie Lodge #39 and served in the Army from 1956 to 1958. He was the owner of Colerain Steel and Woodworks and taught welding at Roanoke-Chowan Community College for 16 years.

Survivors include his wife, Geraldine Pierce Davenport of Colerain; sons, G. Wayne Davenport Jr., Waxhaw, Rickie Davenport of Winterville, Linwood Karl Davenport of Colerain and Dennis Payne Davenport of Aulander; sisters, Minnie Mizelle of Williamston, Dorothy Davis of Newport News, Va., Alice Parker of Portsmouth and Frances Colston of Roanoke Rapids; and his brothers, Noah R. Davenport of Virginia Beach and Melvin Eugene Davenport of Rocky Mount.

Carolyn Porter

AHOSKIE — Carolyn M. Porter, died March 22, 2007 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital.

A funeral will be conducted at 12 noon Wednesday at New Ahoskie Baptist Church by the Rev. Patrick Young.

Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Survivors include her husband, Henry C. Porter; one son, Michael Porter of Elizabeth City; one brother, Franklin McArthur of Soperton, Ga.; and two grandchildren.