James C. “Chick” Sessoms Jr.

WILMINGTON – James C. “Chick” Sessoms Jr., 81, of Wilmington died Tuesday, May 1, 2007 at New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

He was born March 26, 1926 in Hertford County to James C. Sessoms Sr. and Ellen Boyette Sessoms.

Mr. Sessoms was a member of All Saints Anglican Parish.

He was a 1950 graduate of NC State University and served with the U. S. Army Air Force during World War II.

He was Chief Engineer for Harrington Manufacturing in Lewiston, NC and Vice President of Gregory Manufacturing as well as Chief Engineer until his retirement.

He was active in numerous civic organizations in Ahoskie.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jean Sessoms.

Survivors include his devoted wife, Claudia Arthur Sessoms of the home; one step daughter, Angela Capps and husband, Tommy; one step son, Matthew Benton and wife, Dawn; and four grandchildren, Cory, Emily, Coleman and Logan, all of Wilmington.

A memorial service will be conducted Thursday, May 3 at 11 a.m. at All Saints Anglican Parish by Father David Haines.

The family will receive friends at a reception following the service at the church.

A graveside service will be conducted Friday, May 4 at 12:30 p.m. at Ahoskie Town Cemetery.

Friends and family are invited for lunch following the graveside service at “Catherine’s” in Ahoskie.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to All Saints Anglican Parish, 2623 N. College Road, Wilmington, NC 28405.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.andrewsmortuary.com

Earl “Mac” Powell

POWELLSVILLE – Earl McCoy “Mac” Powell, 78, of the 400 Block of N. C. Highway 42, died May 1, 2007 in his home.

Mr. Powell was born in Bertie County, a son of the late Roy Charles and Edna Corbett Powell.

He was a member of Powellsville Baptist Church and was a retired farmer.

Mac is survived by his wife, Florence Barnes Powell; two sons, Dennis Powell and David Powell, both of Powellsville; and three grandchildren, Wayne, Brandon, and Heather Powell.

A graveside service will be conducted at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, May 4, 2007 at Stoney Creek Cemetery with the Rev. Ed Davis and Rev. Robert May officiating.

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

Garrett Funeral Home is serving the Powell family.

James N. Bell

TUNIS n James N. Bell, 61, died April 30, 2007 at Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville.

He was born April 15, 1946 in Hertford County. He was predeceased by his father, Randolph Bell.

Bell was employed for many years at Easco Aluminum and CADA.

Survivors include his mother, Juanita Hall Bell of Ahoskie; sisters Joyce Bolam of Ahoskie, Jean Clarke of Gatesville and Barbara Mizzell of Cofield; brothers Wilmer Bell and Earl Bell, both of Ahoskie; and a special friend, Louvenia Todd of Askewville.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 3 at Massey Funeral Home in Aulander with the Rev. Gilbert Crawford officiating. Burial, with military honors, will follow at Highland Memorial Gardens, Ahoskie.

Alice D. Vann

MURFREESBORO n Alice Davis Vann of the 300 block of Franklin Drive, beloved mother and friend, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her devoted family.

The Lord sent our loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt into this world on April 27, 1927 and He called her back to Heaven Monday evening, on her 80th birthday. What a wonderful gift, to stand before her Lord who she faithfully served and welcomed into her life and graciously witnessed His presence as each chapter of her life was read.

Born in Pendleton, NC, she was the daughter of the late Ethel Woodard and Roger Williams Davis She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Earl Stanford Vann Sr.; brother, Alvin Davis; and two sisters, Mildred D. Hampton and Claire D. Barrett.

Alice met and married the “love of her life,” Earl, and together they worked the family business, Vann Gin Co., and made a warm and loving home for their two children in Murfreesboro.

She dedicated her life to helping young people, first as a GA leader and Sunday School teacher during her 50 plus years as a member of Meherrin Baptist Church. Then, once her children were grown, she attended Chowan College, East Carolina University and North Carolina State University, eventually earning a Masters Degree so she might continue working with and counseling students at Chowan College and later at Hertford County High School, retiring in 1995. Through her dedication and compassion, she was able to positively influence hundreds, if not thousands of young people through the years and hopefully created generations of bright, caring youth. Nothing could have honored her more.

Beautiful memories of Alice will be treasured by her sister, Carolyn Davis Steele of Greenville; her son, Earl Stanford Vann Jr. and wife, Daphne, and by her daughter, Amelia “Amy” Vann Howard. She was extremely proud to be called “Grandmommy” by her three grandchildren and “GG” by her three great-granddaughters who were the joy of her life. She passed on her love to granddaughter, Heather Vann Wilson and husband, Jim, and their two daughters, Emma Grace and Georgia Kate of Forest, Va.; her grandson, John Michael Vann and wife, Nikki, and their daughter, Olivia Naomi, of Murfreesboro, NC, and grandson, Andrew Thomas, also of Murfreesboro. Her family, friends, nieces and nephews will remember her with love and respect.

It is especially important for us to publicly express our gratitude and appreciation for the quality of professional and compassionate care our mother received from University Health Systems Hospice caregivers Joyce, Sally and Carol and special thanks to her Hospice nurse, Whitney Taylor, for her constant and unwavering support.

A life celebration service will be conducted at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 5, 2007 by Dr. James Crocker at Roberts Chapel Baptist Church, Pendleton, NC, Alice’s “home” church where she returned during the last years of her life. The family will receive friends at the residence, 7-8:30 p.m., Friday, May 4, 2007.

Garrett Funeral Home, Ahoskie, NC, is assisting the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials donations may be made to University Health Systems Hospice Care, 521 W. Myers St., Ahoskie, NC, 27910; the Alzheimer’s Association, 400 Oberlin Rd., Suite 208, Raleigh, NC, 27605; the American Cancer Society (ph. 800-227-2345), 930-B Wellness Dr., Greenville, NC, 27834; Chowan University, One University Place, Murfreesboro, NC, 27855; or Roberts Chapel Baptist Church, PO Box 128, Pendleton, NC, 27862.

Paula Maxine Gibbs

CORAPEAKE n Paula Maxine Gibbs, 75, of Union Branch Road died Tuesday, May 1, 2007 in Sentara Obici Hospital, Suffolk, Va.

Gibbs was born in Swan Quarter to Charlie and Ina Gibbs. She retired as a clerk with Burgess-Snyder in Virginia Beach, Va.

She attended Damascus Christian Church in Sunbury.

Survivors include a brother, Robert E. Gibbs of Hickory; four nieces and two nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 3 in the chapel of Miller Funeral Home, 304 Main Street, Gatesville with the Rev. Forrest Guthrie officiating. Burial will follow in Damascus Christian Church Cemetery. Friends may join the family in the social hall of the church following the services.

Miller Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Woodrow W. Felton

WINTON n Woodrow Wilson Felton, 93, of Shaw Street died Monday, April 30, 2007 at Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville. He was the widower of Elsie Lilley Felton.

Mr. Felton was born in Gates County, the son of Henry and Sue Felton.

He was retired with the bus transportation division of the Hertford County Public School system. He was a member and a deacon at Winton Baptist Church, a charter member of both the Winton Volunteer Fire Department and Winton Rescue Squad, and a 1979 recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine as awarded by then North Carolina Gov. James B. Hunt Jr.

Survivors include a son, Gary W. Felton of Raleigh; a sister, Wyndolyn Eure of Eure; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. in Winton Baptist Church by the Rev. Frank Stansbury. Burial will follow in the Eure Christian Church cemetery. Friends may join the family in the social hall of Winton Baptist Church immediately following the church service.

Memorial contributions may be made to Winton Baptist Church.

Miller Funeral Home of Gatesville is in charge of the arrangements.

Mary Moore

KELFORD n Mary Moore, 84, of Kelford died Monday, April 30, 2007 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

Moore was born in Kelford, the daughter of Joseph and Mary Hoggard.

She was a member of Conoconary Missionary Baptist Church. She was retired from CRBard.

Survivors include three sons, Wayne Moore of Rocky Point, NC, Horace Moore and Willie Moore, both of Kelford; a sister, Katherine Ruffin of Kelford; 26 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and three great-great grandchildren.

Funeral services are scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 5 at Conoconary Missionary Baptist Church, Aulander. Burial will be at the Moore Family Cemetery.

Hunter’s Funeral Home, Inc. of Ahoskie is handling the services.

Beatrice B. Williams

NORFOLK, Va. – Beatrice B. &uot;Ms. Bea&uot; Williams, 68, a native of Hertford County, died April 26, 2007.

She was a member of St. Thomas AME Zion Church of Norfolk. She worked as a health care professional.

Survivors include one daughter, Jessie M. Barnes- Parker; two sisters, Elizabeth Green and Lorraine Smith; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday in the chapel of Graves Funeral Home, 1631 Church St., Norfolk, VA 23504, by the Rev. Lemuel Williams. Interment will be at Roosevelt Memorial Park.

Mamie S. Butler

GATES n Mamie Simons Butler, 87, died April 23, 2007 at Sentara Obici Hospital, Suffolk, Va. She was the widow of James L. Butler.

A funeral was conducted Saturday, April 28, 2007 at New Hope Baptist Church, Gatesville, by the Rev. James L. Brown. Burial was in the Butler family cemetery, Gates. Stallings Funeral Home was in charge.

Mrs. Butler was a homemaker.

Survivors include two daughters, Lelia M. Brown of Winton and Monica Person of Kelford; two stepdaughters, Ethel Taylor of Norfolk, Va., and Gloria Butler of Chicago; four sons, Curtis Butler of Gates, Wayne Butler of Hertford, Dennis Butler of Gates and Stuart Butler of Kelford; 14 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.

Annie Lassiter

MILLENNIUM n Annie Lucille Lassiter, 86, died April 30, 2007 at her home. She was the widow of Troy W. Slade.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday at Oak Grove Baptist Church by the Rev. Bob Skeens. Burial will be in Aulander Cemetery. Massey Funeral Home is in charge.

Survivors include four sons, Albert Barnes of Tampa, FL, Thomas Barnes of Verona, Va., Robert Barnes of Ahoskie and David Barnes of Aulander.

Florence Jyles

COLERAIN n Florence Jyles, 88, a native of Bertie County, died April 26, 2007 at the Brian Center.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at Zion Hill Baptist Church, Colerain, by the Rev. Nathaniel Thompson. Burial will be in the Riddick family cemetery.

She is survived by one sister, Ezell Elmandorf of Massawdox, Va.