The R-C News-Herald Obituaries for April 17, 2007

Published 12:00 am Friday, April 20, 2007

Henry A. Langley

WAKE FOREST – Henry Augustus Langley, 84, of the 10013 Block of Seawell Dr. died April 13, 2007 in his home.

He was a resident of Wake Forest for 9 years and a prior resident of Ahoskie, N. C. for 45 years. He was born in Tillery, Halifax County, N.C. on January 17, 1923, a son of the late William and Blanche Pierce Langley. He spent several years working with the Civil Conservation Corp. before marring his wife, Laverne Dampier Langley in 1949 at Washington D.C. He retired in 1985 as manager of the Ahoskie Maola Milk and Ice Cream Co.

He was a member of First Baptist Church Ahoskie and a member of the Ahoskie Kiwanis Club.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 56 years, Laverne D. Langley, daughter and son-in-law, Delene and Mike Wilson, Wake Forest, N.C.; daughter, Melinda Langley, Raleigh, N.C.; daughter and son-in-law, Bea and Ronnie Harrison, Ahoskie, N.C., son and daughter-in-law, Terry and So Yon Langley, Charlotte, N. C.; a brother, Thurston Langley, Desoto Texas; grandsons, Adam Wilson and Austin Langley; granddaughters, Anna and Jennifer Wilson, Caitlin and Brice Harrison; great-granddaughters, Taylor and Haley , along with numerous nieces and nephews.

A graveside celebration service of Mr. Langley’s Life was conducted at 2:00 p.m. Monday, April 16, 2007 at Highland Memorial Gardens U.S. Highway 13 South Ahoskie, N.C. with Rev. Robert M. May officiating.

The family received friend at Garrett Funeral Home, 205 N.C. Highway 42 West Ahoskie, N.C. from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Monday prior to services and other times at the home of Bea and Ronnie Harrison 123 Fretwell Rd., Ahoskie, N.C.

Memorial donations may be made to University Health Systems Hospice Care; 521 West Myers St. Ahoskie, N.C. 27910, or a Tree may be planted in Mr. Langley’s Memory.

Garrett Funeral Home Ahoskie, N. C. is serving the Langley family.

Betty Muzquiz

JACKSON n Betty Lou Overton Muzquiz, 67, a native of Bertie County, died April 15, 2007 at Pitt Memorial Hospital, Greenville.

A graveside service will be conducted 11 a.m. Wednesday at Jackson Cemetery by the Rev. David Foster. The family will receive friends at Massey Funeral Home, Jackson, Tuesday from 7 until 9 p.m. and other times at the home of her brother, William Thomas Overton in Seaboard.

Mrs. Muzquiz was a member of Galatia Baptist Church.

Survivors include her children, James Davis of Roanoke Rapids, Bonnie Casper of Branchville, Va., Joe Davis of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Betty Ann Davis of Roanoke Rapids; her brothers, James Marvin Overton of Leesville, LA and William Thomas Overton of Seaboard; her sister, Shelby Jean Johnson of Gasburg, Va.; nine grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Shirley W. Robertson

MOYOCK – Shirley Williams Robertson, 57, a native of Petersburg, Va., died April 13, 2007, at her residence. She was the widow of J.E. Robertson.

Mrs. Robertson was a secretary for Nansemond Pointe Rehabilitation and Retirement Center and a member of Holy Neck Christian Church.

Survivors include two daughters, Tonya R. Hassell of Suffolk and Tara R. Joyner of Gates; one son, Jay E. Robertson Jr. of Suffolk; a sister, Louise Crocker of Hampton; a brother, Donnie Williams of Dunn; and seven grandchildren.

The funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Wright Funeral Home, Franklin, by the Rev. Shannon Joyner. Interment will be in Southampton Memorial Park. The family suggests memorials be made to American Cancer Society, c/o Mrs. Kathy Worrell, 717 Fairview Drive, Franklin, VA 23851. Condolences may be offered at www.wrightfuneralhome.org.

Mary W. Lassiter

CHESAPEAKE, Va. –

Mary White Lassiter, 90, a native of Hertford County, died April 12, 2007.

She was a member of Pinecrest Baptist Church.

Survivors include two sisters, Ruth Lambeth of Murfreesboro, and Katherine Fordham of Chesapeake; two brothers, James M. White of Whaleyville and David L. White of Zephyrhills, Fla.; and four grandchildren.

A graveside service was conducted Monday in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens by the Rev. Tom Potter. Sturtevant Funeral Home, Portsmouth Blvd. Chapel, is in charge. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Pinecrest Building Fund.

Gloria D. Fennell

AHOSKIE n Mrs. Gloria Dean Fennell, died Saturday, April 14, 2007 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie, NC.

Mrs. Fennell was a member of Freedom of Praise Christian Center, Ahoskie, NC.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at Philippi Baptist Church, Cofield, by Bishop Joseph Smith Sr. Burial will be in the Smith family cemetery, Ahoskie. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Survivors include three sons, Merle Askew Jr. of Dumfres, Va., Marvin Askew Sr. and Marcus Askew Sr., both of Ahoskie; one daughter, Crystal Askew of Ahoskie; his mother, Cora Estell Smith of Cofield; five brothers, James and Melvin Smith, both of Newport News, Va., Herbert and Joseph Smith, both of Cofield and William Smith of Hampton, Va.;

six sisters, Mamie Irby of Massachusetts, Sarah Askew of Rocky Mount, Bessie Burke, Vivian Holmes and Wendy Thompson, all of Newport News, Va., and Dorothy Jernigan of Hampton, Va.; and 10 grandchildren.

Rickie B. Saunders

SUNBURY – Rickie B. Saunders, 53, a native of Suffolk, Va., died April 10, 2007.

A funeral was conducted Saturday in New Middle Swamp Missionary Baptist Church, Corapeake. Burial was in the church cemetery. Stallings Funeral Chapel, Gatesville, is in charge.

Saunders joined the Naval Reserve from 1972 to 1978 where he served with Honorable Discharge. He was employed with Newport News Ship Building and Norfolk Naval Shipyard as a pipe fitter. He was later employed by Moon Engineering and Norshipco. He was retired from Perdue Farms, Inc. He was a member of New Middle Swamp Baptist Church, Corapeake, and he was affiliated with several organizations political and social.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley Ann Johnson Saunders of Sunbury; one son, Maurice Saunders of Ahoskie; two daughters, LaKisha Saunders of Sunbury and Shamike Saunders of Greensboro; his father, Abram Saunders; four brothers, Dale Saunders of Corapeake, Anthony Saunders of Gates, Abb Saunders and Quincy Saunders, both of Sunbury; four grandchildren; and stepgrandchild.

Shamia Dempsey

AHOSKIE — Shamia Shonta Dempsey, 19, a native of Hertford County, died April 13, 2007.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday at Calvary Baptist Church, Ahoskie, by the Rev. Jerryl Moody. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery, Ahoskie. Hertford County Undertakers, Winton, is in charge.

Survivors include her father, Ricky Britt of Ahoskie; her stepmother, Paulette Britt of Ahoskie; one brother, Deon Gatling of Sunbury; and two sisters, Shanece Teara Demp-sey of Lewiston and Jasmine D. Britt of Ahoskie; and her grandmother, Betty D. Hill of Ahoskie.