Vernice Bridgeforth

CHESAPEAKE, Va. n Vernice Bridgeforth, 84, a native of Bertie County, died May 18, 2007 at Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center. She was the widow of Edward Bridgeforth.

She was a longtime member of Zion Bethel United Church of Christ, where she served on the Senior Choir, the Usher Board and the Social Service Ministry.

Survivors include five children, Linda, Newbern, Alice, William and Beverly; 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday in Zion Bethel UCC, 1617 Des Moines Ave. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Norfolk. Family and friends will assemble at the residence one hour prior to the service for the procession to the church. Metropolitan Funeral Service, Granby St. Chapel, is in charge. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.metropolitanfuneralservice.com.

Charles L. Wheatley

GRANDY – Charles Lee Wheatley, 59, died May 20, 2007.

A graveside service was conducted Wednesday in West Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Miller Funeral Home, Gatesville,was in charge.

Niles B. Baker

FRANKLIN, Va. – Niles Bryant Baker, 95, a native of Guilford County, died May 21, 2007, in Southampton Memorial Hospital. He was the widower of Maxwell Virginia Worrell Baker.

Baker was a 1937 graduate of North Carolina State University with a degree in agricultural economics and farm management. Most of his working life was spent in Gatesville, where he was the director of the Gates County USDA Soil Conservation Program. He was a member of Gatesville Baptist Church.

Survivors include his son, George C. Baker of Oxford, Ga.; a sister, Eunice Baker Smith of Eden; two brothers, Walter B. Baker of Raleigh and Jack C. Baker of Eden; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday in the chapel of Miller Funeral Home, 304 Main St., Gatesville, by the Rev. Gene Asbill. Interment will be in the Gatesville Cemetery. The family will receive friends in the social hall of Gatesville Baptist Church following the burial rites. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Gatesville Baptist Church, c/o Janet Mizelle, 291 US 158 West, Gatesville, NC 27938 or to one’s favorite charity.

Bessie A. Powell

ROCKY MOUNT n Bessie A. Powell, 69, died May 18, 2007 at Pitt Memorial Hospital, Greenville.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church. Interment will be in Pineview Cemetery. H.D. Pope Funeral Home is in charge.

Elector Nelson

ROCKY MOUNT n Elector Nelson, formerly of Rocky Mount, died May 21, 2007.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday at the Chapel of H.D. Pope Funeral Home. Interment will be in Gardens of Gethsemane. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. prior to services.

Pearl C. Bond

WINDSOR – Pearl Craig Bond, 85, a native of Bertie County, died May 17, 2007, at her home. She was the widow of Charlie Bond.

Survivors include 12 children, Mageline Yancey, Sarah Terry and Nelson Bond, all of Norfolk, Doris Barnes of Washington D.C., James A. Bond, Catherine White, Odessa Austin and Zelma Council, all of Brooklyn, N.Y., Minnie Wilson, James E. Bond, Charles Bond and Rosa Bond, all of Windsor; one sister, Louise Wilson of Windsor; two brothers, Clifton Craig and Joseph Craig of Windsor; 42 grandchildren; and 70 great-grandchildren.

A funeral was conducted Tuesday in St. Paul Baptist Church. Cherry’s Funeral Home was in charge.

Samuel L. Morgan

CORAPEAKE – Samuel Lee Morgan, 78, a native of Corapeake, died May 22, 2007.

Morgan was a farmer, he had retired as a ship surveyor, contracted by the U.S. Navy to visit private shipyards and supervise their projects. An active member of Parker’s United Methodist Church, he had served as superintendent of Sunday school and had served on many church committees through the years. He also enjoyed membership in the Corapeake Odd Fellows Lodge, Gatesville Masonic Lodge No. 126, the Sudan Temple of the Shrine and Gates County Chapter No. 335, The Order of the Eastern Star where he had served as Worthy Patron for many terms.

Survivors include his wife of nearly 60 years, Doris Perry Morgan; two daughters, Hope Morgan Ward of Jackson, Miss., and Perri Anne Morgan of Chapel Hill; three sons, Tom Morgan and Rick Morgan, both of Corapeake and Phil Morgan of Chapel Hill; a sister, Linda Morgan Phillips of Brinklow, Md.; 11 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday in Parker’s United Methodist Church by the Rev. Mike Askew and Bishop Hope Morgan Ward. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may join the family Thursday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Miller Funeral Home, 304 Main St., Gatesville, and all other times at the residence. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Parker’s United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, 359 Parker’s Fork Road, Corapeake, NC 27926.

Louvenia Joyner

DURHAM n Louvenia Joyner, 77, died May 22, 2007 at Treyburn Health Care in Durham.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete. H.D. Pope Funeral arrangements are incomplete. Condolences may be sent to: www.hdpopefuneralhome.com.

Frank Pullen

ROANOKE RAPIDS n Frank Pullen, 66, died May 22, 2007 at Halifax Regional Medical Center, Roanoke Rapids.

A funeral will be conducted Saturday at the chapel of H.D. Pope Funeral Home in Roanoke Rapids, with the Rev. Daphne Moody. Burial will be in Bear Swamp Baptist Church Cemetery, Littleton. A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. The family will be receiving friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Condolences may be sent to: www.hdpopefuneralhome.com.

Guessie Cross

GATES n Guessie Marie Cross, 84, died May 19, 2007 at down East Health and Rehab.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday at Hunter’s Funeral Home Chapel, Ahoskie, by Bishop Robert Knight.

Mrs. Cross was a member of Red Oak Grove.

Survivors include one son, John T. Tucker of Gates; three stepdaughters, Gloria Hunter, Barbara Johnson and Phyllis Bond; two stepsons, Johnny Johnson and Carlton Johnson; and one grandson.

Curlene Majette

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. n Curlene Majette, 67, a native of Hertford County, died May 20, 2007 at Lankenau Hospital.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at Nebo Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, by the Rev. Charles Tyner. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Hertford County Undertakers, Winton, is in charge.

Survivors include one daughter, Mary Majette of Landover, MD; three brothers, John T. Majette of Aulander, Alton Majette of Washington, D.C., and Jessie Majette of Murfreesboro; and four sisters, Hattie Lassiter of Windsor, Shirley Burke of Landover, Janie Martin of Murfreesboro and Cynthia Banks of Murfreesboro.

Linwood Archer Jr.

GATES n Linwood Archer Jr., died May 22, 2007 at his residence.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at Lebanon Grove Baptist Church, Gatesville, by Michael Williams. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Archer was a member of South Winton Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Joyce H. Archer of Gates; two sons, Milton E. Harvey of Gates and Ricky L. Archer of Durham; one daughter, Lisa Archer of Durham; his mother, Sadie W. Archer of Winton; four brothers, Eugene Archer of Vermont, Roger Archer of Langley, Va., Larry Archer of Winton, James Archer of Omaha, Nebraska; three sisters, Faye Heath of Kinston, Maggie Anthony of Roanoke Rapids and Barbara Manley of Winton; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Otelia Gilliam

NORFOLK, Va. n Otelia “Cloe” Gilliam, 93, died May 20, 2007 at Sentara Hospital, Norfolk, Va.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Sunday at Indian Woods Missionary Baptist Church, Windsor. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A visitation will be held from 7-8 p.m. Friday. Gilliam Funeral Home is in charge.