The R-C News-Herald Obituaries for July 24, 2007
Published 12:00 am Saturday, July 28, 2007
Adelene M. Godwin
AHOSKIE – Adelene McGregor Godwin, 90, of the 700 block of North Colony Avenue, died Sunday, July 22, in her home.
Mrs. Godwin was born in Nash County, NC, the daughter of the late Rev. Staley and Effie Vester McGregor.
She was married for 49 years to the late Clarence Ray Godwin, Sr. who preceded her in death in 1991.
Adelene graduated as class Valedictorian from Gatesville High School, attended Mars Hill College, Wake Forest and Chowan College, now Universities.
Upon graduation from Chowan, she began her 30 plus years of teaching in Colerain, NC, and retired from Ahoskie Graded School in 1978.
Mrs. Godwin was a member and past deaconess of First Baptist Church Ahoskie, and was Sunday school teacher for the Beasley-Milne class. She was also a member of the Ahoskie Woman’s Club, the Retired Teachers Association, and a volunteer at Roanoke Chowan Hospital.
Surviving is one daughter; Susan Nicholls and husband, Bill of Wilson, NC;
two sons; Ray Godwin and wife, Elaine of Holly Springs, NC, Tommy Godwin and wife, Robin of Raleigh, NC;
grandchildren, Scott Godwin and wife, Sarah of Winterville, NC, Ashley Godwin and fianc\u00E9, Rob Williams of Mebane, NC, Jane Godwin of Cary, NC, Sarah Godwin of Raleigh, NC, Catherine Nicholls of Wilson, NC; a sister, Elsie Edwards and husband, Fred of Newport News, VA; and several nieces and nephews. Besides her husband she was predeceased by two sisters; Minnie Gentry of Roxboro, NC and Dot Edwards of Hampton, VA.
A memorial celebration of life service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday July 25, at First Baptist Church Ahoskie with Rev. Daniel Glaze and Rev. Dr. Jesse Croom officiating.
The family will receive friends at Garrett Funeral Home, 205 NC Highway 42 West, Ahoskie, NC, from 7:00 until 8:30 PM Tuesday, July 24, and other times at the home. Memorial donations may be made to University Health Systems Hospice Care, P.O Box 272, Ahoskie, NC. 27910.
The family would like to thank Dr. Charles Sawyer, Nancy Jenkins, and their staff for their care.
Garrett Funeral Home is serving the Godwin family.
Henry G. Bridgers
MILWAUKEE – Henry Grady Bridgers, 90, died Saturday, July 21, 2007, at Rich Square Health Care Center in Rich Square.
He had been preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Blannie Pauline Bridgers.
A native of Northampton County, he was a farmer and was retired from Riverside Manufacturing Company in Murfreesboro where he worked as a Quality Control Supervisor. He was, previously, a member of Potecasi Baptist Church and then joined Bethany United Methodist Church in Milwaukee, was a member of Farm Bureau and, also, the Doolittle Mill Pond Association.
Survivors include two daughters, Sylvia Bridgers St. Martin and husband, Ron, of Mechanicsville, Va., and Blannie Bridgers Robinson and husband, Lin of Shelby; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one sister, Eunice Hope Wilson of Conway; and one nephew, William Henry Bridgers of Milwaukee.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 24, 11:00 A.M. at Bethany United Methodist Church with Rev. Sid Collins presiding. Burial will follow in the Milwaukee Cemetery.
The family received friends at Bridgers Funeral Home, Inc., Conway, Monday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and have requested that anyone wishing to share a memorial gift may do so to Bethany United Methodist Church, 1612 Doolittle Mill Rd., Conway, NC 27820.
Gregory Cowan
GREENVILLE – Gregory Mack Cowan, 50, died July 20, 2007 at Pitt Memorial Hospital, Greenville.
A memorial service will be conducted at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Massey Funeral Home, Aulander. The family will receive friends from 7 until 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home and other times at the home of his brother, Thomas Cowan.
Survivors include his daughter, Bailee Cowan of Williamston; his sister, Faye C. Harris of Ahoskie; and his brothers, Thomas Cowan of Aulander and Jerry Cowan of Murfreesboro.
Icalene Briggs Skillman
SOUTHPORT – Icalene Briggs Skillman, 82, a native of Hobbsville, died July 21, 2007. Mrs. Skillman was a retired registered nurse and served more than 20 years at Virginia Beach General Hospital in addition to working in private practice. She was an active member of Lynnhaven Presbyterian Church in Virginia Beach for more than 50 years. Survivors include her husband, John Frederick Skillman; a son, Steve Skillman of Southport; a brother, Clyde Briggs of Edenton; and two grandchildren.
A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the chapel of Peacock-Newnam & White Funeral Home, 1411 N. Howe St., Southport. Entombment will follow in Cape Fear Memorial Park Mausoleum. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lynnhaven Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 136 S. Lynnhaven Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23452. Peacock-Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service, Southport (910) 457-6944.
Emmie L. Stephenson
GARYSBURG – Emmie Lee Stephenson, 95, died July 20, 2007.
A funeral was conducted Monday in Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church. Massey Funeral Home, Jackson, was in charge.
Elma Martin Lassiter
CONWAY – Elma Martin Lassiter, 83, died July 20, 2007.
A funeral was conducted Monday in Creeksville Baptist Church. Massey Funeral Home, Jackson, was in charge.
Nelle D. Rawles
SUFFOLK, Va. – Nelle Dixon Rawles, a native of Gates, died July 20, 2007, in Inova Alexandria Hospital.
Miss Rawles worked at the Federal Reserve Bank and the Conference of State Bank Supervisors in Washington, D.C. She was an active member of the Pilot Club in the D.C. Metropolitan area and a lifelong member of the United Church of Christ, Holland, Va.
Survivors include a number of cousins.
A graveside service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Holland Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are being handled by R.W. Baker Funeral Home, Suffolk. Condolences may be registered at www.rwbakerfh.com.
Celestine Singleton
AHOSKIE – Celestine Singleton, 98, died July 23, 2007 at Brian Center Health and Rehabilitation, Windsor.
A service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday at Reynolds Funeral Home Chapel by the Rev. Dr. Daniel L. Smith Sr. Interment will be in Highland Memorial Gardens.
She was a member of Ahoskie Christian Center.
Survivors include one grandson.
Junious Bland Sr.
SUFFOLK, Va. – Junious Thomas Bland Sr., a native of Suffolk, died July 20, 2007 in Autumn Care of Suffolk.
The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Friendship Cathedral COGIC by Pastor Joseph A. Chase. Interment will be in Oakland Cemetery. Crocker Funeral Home is in charge.
Armetha Barnes
SUFFOLK, Va. – Armetha Barnes of Suffolk, Va. departed this life on Sunday, June 22, 2007 at Sentara Hampton Complex, Hampton, Va.
Services are incomplete at this time. Hunter’s Funeral Home, Inc. n Ahoskie is handling services.
Philip L. McDonald
AHOSKIE – Philip Le McDonald, 84, a native of Minneola, KS, died July 22, 2007, in his home.
McDonald was a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Ahoskie, Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and a Mason.
He was an army veteran of WWII and had retired as a mechanical engineer from Lockheed Martin Corporation after 30 years of service.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia W. McDonald; a daughter, Kyle M. Simonds of Murfreesboro; three sons, Stuart Allen McDonald of Philadelphia, PA, Dana Kent McDonald of Marietta, GA and Timothy Lee McDonald of Canton, GA; and eight grandchildren.
A memorial celebration of life service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Ahoskie, with the Rev. Jeff Douglas.
In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial donations made to St. Thomas Episcopal Church or to a charity of choice. Garrett Funeral Home, Ahoskie, is in charge.