The R-C News-Herald Obituaries for July 21, 2007

Published 12:00 am Saturday, July 28, 2007

Henry T. Pulliam

MURFREESBORO n Major Henry Talmadge Pulliam, (Retired), age 83, of the 500 block of Lakeview Drive, died Wednesday, July 18, 2007, at Roanoke Chowan Hospital in Ahoskie.

Mr. Pulliam was born on November 29, 1923, in Person County to Henry and Hassie Cox Pulliam.

In 1941, he graduated from Roxboro High School and served in the US Army from 1943 to 1945, in the Detachment Medical Department, 204th General Hospital.

He was engaged in the invasion of Guam and was given the Good Conduct Medal, the Victory Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Theatre Campaign Medal and the Bronze Service Star.

Following his military service, Henry graduated from Wake Forest College in 1951, and then attended the School of Library Science at UNC-Chapel Hill.

He was a member of the faculty at the High Plains School in Person County for two years, and then spent two years teaching at the High School in Colerain.

Following these years, he joined the faculty at Fork Union Military Academy in Fork Union, Virginia. Having completed 33 years of distinguished service at the Academy, he retired in Fayetteville.

He later moved with his twin brother, Bruce, to Murfreesboro.

A strong supporter of the arts, Henry served on various boards in the areas where he lived.

He was an avid reader of the works of Thomas Wolfe.

This avocation led to collecting books and items related to Wolfe.

His extensive collection was donated to the Wake Forest University Library and is housed in the rare book section denoted as “The Pulliam Thomas Wolfe Collection.”

Mr. Pulliam was a past member and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Elizabeth Sewell Parker Memorial Library, Murfreesboro; a member of the Board of the Fayetteville Museum of Art; a member of the Fayetteville Symphony; and a member of the Murfreesboro Historical Association.

His parents and his sister, Roxie Snead, preceded Henry in death.

He is survived by his twin brother, Bruce; his sister and brother-in-law, Mildred and S. T. Wrenn of Murfreesboro; nephews, Jim Snead of Roxboro, Kevin Wrenn, Sr. of Ahoskie, Kenneth Wrenn of Greenville, and Karl Wrenn of Mooresville.

There is a host of great nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, July 21, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. at the Person Memorial Cemetery in Roxboro, with Elder Robert E. Gosney officiating.

Visitation will follow at the Snead residence, 101 Barnette Avenue, Roxboro.

A memorial service will take place on Sunday, July 22, at 2 p.m. at the Cedar Grove Friends Meeting House in Woodland.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be contributed to Habitat for Humanity, c/o Dr. Hargus Taylor, 101 Springlake Drive, Murfreesboro, NC, 27855; the Elizabeth Sewell Parker Memorial Library, 213 East Main Street, Murfreesboro, NC, 27855; The Pulliam Thomas Wolfe Collection at the Wake Forest University Library, or to any charity of your choice.

Garrett Funeral Home, Ahoskie, is handling local arrangements, and Brooks and White Funeral Home, Roxboro, is handling services in Roxboro.

William Ashe Sr.

WILMINGTON, Del. nWilliam “Nook” Ashe Sr., died July 11, 2007 at Christiana Hospital, Wilmington.

A funeral was conducted Friday at Menola Baptist Church, Woodland, by the Rev. Charles Tyner. Burial was in the Vann family cemetery. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, was in charge.

Ashe was a member of United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his children, William B. Ashe Jr. of Bear, Andre D. Ashe of Middletown, Mark Ashe of New Castle, Sean Ashe of Pennsylvania, Tammie L. Skinner of New Castle and Jamie Murray of Elkton, Md.; seven brothers, Lonnie, Earl, Freddie, Keith, Keenan, Kerwin and Kelly Ashe; three sisters, Marian Cammile, Patricia Blount and Kim Snow; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Vinton Joyner

BROOKLYN, NY n Vinton Joyner, 63, a native of Northampton County, died July 13, 2007 at Green Park Rehabilitation Center, Brooklyn.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday at Jerusalem Baptist Church, Woodland, by the Rev. Fred Grant and the Rev. John T. Grant. Burial will be in the Grant family cemetery, Conway. Wilder’s Funeral Home, Inc., Aulander, is in charge.

Joyner was a member of Jerusalem Baptist Church, Woodland.

Survivors include his brothers, James C. Joyner of Cleveland, Ohio and Leonard E. Joyner of Greensboro; his sisters, Evelyn Joyner and Almeda Joyner, both of Brooklyn, Lula Hicks of Hampton, Va., and Eunice Allister of Hampton.

Ella M. Skinner

AHOSKIE n Ella Mae Skinner, 86, a native of Bertie County, and formerly of Ahoskie, died July 17, 2007. She was the widow of Lonnie Skinner.

A funeral was conducted Friday at Massey Funeral Home, Aulander. Burial was in Ahoskie Cemetery.

Mrs. Skinner was a member of Creech Memorial Baptist Church.

Survivors include cousins, nieces and nephews.

Spencer Silver

WHITAKERS n Spencer Silver, 64, died July 16, 2007 at his residence.

A graveside service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at Tillman Lynch Burial Ground, Hollister. H.D. Pope Funeral Home is in charge.

Jerome Jiles Jr.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. – Jerome &uot;Jerry&uot; Jiles Jr., 26, a native of Norfolk, died July 16, 2007, in a Durham hospital.

Jiles was an aircraft mechanic with North American Aircraft Services.

Survivors include his parents, Jerome W. and Nola H. Jiles Sr. of Corapeake; his parents, his sister, Emily A. Jiles of Tallahassee, Fla.; maternal grandmother, Nola M. Hensley of Edenton; and a maternal grandmother, Fannie Mae Jiles of Carrollton, Ga.

A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday in Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Great Bridge Chapel, with his uncle, Tyre Jiles. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Bone Marrow Foundation, 337 E. 88th St., Suite 1B, New York, NY 10128. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com.

Fred A. Olive Sr.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. – Fred Autry Olive Sr., 69, formerly of Chesapeake, and a native of Raleigh; died July 18, 2007, at his home in Raleigh.

After graduating from Broughton High School in Raleigh, he attended Chowan College on a football scholarship where he made All-American. After college, he worked for the U.S. Postal Service in Petersburg, Va., and was a member of the Naval Reserves before moving to Chesapeake. Mr. Olive resided in Chesapeake from 1971 to 1999, then returned to Raleigh after his wife of 39 years, Shirley Olive, went to be with the Lord. While living in Chesapeake, Mr. Olive worked as a U.S. Custom’s inspector in Norfolk until his retirement from government service in 1998. He was a member of Westwood Hill Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Keda Harvell Olive of Raleigh; his son, Fred A. Olive Jr.; and five grandchildren; Vickie Clinehens; his brother, Travis Olive of Virginia Beach; sister, LuNeta Vaughan of Knightdale; and five grandchildren.

A funeral was conducted Friday at Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, Raleigh A graveside service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday in Chesapeake Memorial Gardens, 524 Cedar Road, Chesapeake. Pastor Wayne Cook. Mr. Olive will be laid to rest beside his late wife, Shirley Olive. Flowers may be sent to Oman Funeral Home in Chesapeake and memorial donations may be made to the Diabetes Foundation and the American Heart Association. Oman Funeral Home & Crematory, Great Bridge Chapel, 653 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, VA 23322. Friends are invited to send condolences and sign the online guest book at www.omanfh.com.

Melvin L. Earley

NORFOLK, Va. – The Rev. Melvin L. Earley, 74, a native of Woodland, died July 13, 2007, in Bayside Health Care Center, Virginia Beach.

Earley retired as pastor of Pine Level Baptist Church, Capron, in June 2005 after 13 years of service. He also retired from Kempsville Building Materials in Virginia Beach after 14 years as a truck driver.

Survivors include his wife, the Rev. Beulah M. Earley; a daughter, the Rev. Lorraine Majett; a son, James Earley Jr.; mother, Rebecca Alston; brother, Joseph Earley; and three grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday in Jerusalem Baptist Church, Woodland, by the Rev. G.W. Pugh. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Remains will be placed in church at 10 a.m. Saturday. Pine Level Baptist Church family members and friends are asked to assemble at Pine Level Baptist Church in Capron at 9 a.m. Saturday for the procession to Woodland. Engram Funeral Home Inc., 21451 N. Main St., Courtland, VA 23837 is in charge.

Jean B. Sladek

SUFFOLK, Va. – Jean Elizabeth Baker Sladek, 65, a native of Elizabeth City, died at her home July 19, 2007.

Mrs. Sladek was a graduate of Obici School of Nursing and had served in the Navy as a hospital corpsman. She was a member of the of North Eastern Historical Society and the Genealogical Societies of Terrell, Albemarle, Hyde and Gates Counties.

Survivors include her husband, James A. Sladek; stepdaughter, Lisa Kohlmyer of Columbia, S.C.; stepson, James Sladek of Newport News; and brothers, James Baker of Knoxville, Tenn., and Timothy Rogers of Suffolk.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday at the R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home by the Rev. Deb Jenkins. The family will receive friends in the funeral home Saturday from 7 to 8 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 604 Constance Woods Drive, Suffolk, VA 23434 or a favorite charity. Condolences may be registered at www.rwbakerfh.com.

Joyce M. Conner

AULANDER n Joyce Morris Conner, age 60, died Thursday, July 19,2007.

Joyce was born August 20, 1946 in Hertford County, NC, the daughter of the late Percy Lee Morris and Fannie Rawls Morris. She was also predeceased by two brothers, Bobby Morris, P.L. Morris and a sister, Ethel Inez Morris.

She is survived by her two sons, Keith Conner and his wife, Jennifer of Tyner, NC and Kevin Conner and his wife, Julie of Hatteras, NC; her former husband, Carroll G. Conner and his wife, Miriam of Ahoskie, NC; her brother, Sidney Ray Morris of Aulander, NC; six grandchildren, Kristen, Brandon, Payton, Lauren, Dustin, and Charlie Conner.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, July 22, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at Aulander Baptist Church in Aulander, NC, with Rev. Jerry Johnson and Rev. Paul Ange. Burial will follow at Aulander Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at Massey Funeral Home in Aulander, NC, Saturday from 7 until 9 p.m. and other times at the home in Millennium Road, Aulander, NC

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life or the American Lung Association.

Ella Howell

GATESVILLE n Ella Mae Rodgers Howell, 87, died July 19, 2007 at her residence.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Monday at First Baptist Gates, Gates, by the Rev. John W. Felton. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A viewing will be held from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. The family will receive friends at the home of the deceased. Stallings Funeral Chapel, Gatesville, is in charge.

Survivors include four daughters, Maude Smith of Gates, Joyce Eure of Gatesville, Betty Harvey of the home and Ella Langston of Hollis, NY; two sons, William Howell of Hertford and Lloyd Howell; two brothers, Elisha Rodgers of Sunbury and French Rodgers of Virginia; 19 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.