Sallie A. Sims

SUFFOLK, Va. – Sallie M. Applewhite Sims, a native of Gates, died October 20, 2007.

She retired from General Electric Corporation, Portsmouth. As a faithful member of Faith, Hope and Love Church Ministries, she served as president of the Missionary Board, superintendent of the Sunday schools and member of the Senior Choir. She was employed as a bookkeeper in a small family business and a &uot;line processor&uot; of General Electric for many years.

Survivors include three children, Caryles A. Howell of Detroit, Sallye A. Owens of Chesapeake and Abraham Applewhite of Franklin, Va.; three sisters, Hazel Turner of Suffolk, the Rev. Peggy Goulet of Wise, Va., and Rita Brinkley of Suffolk; and five grandchildren.

A funeral was conducted Wednesday in New Mount Joy Food for Living Ministries. Interment was in Carver Memorial Cemetery, Suffolk. T.E. Cooke-Overton Funeral Home was in charge.

Lela Mills

ENFIELD n Lela Mae Mills, 63, died October 18, 2007 at Halifax Regional Medical Center, Roanoke Rapids.

A visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m., with the funeral service beginning at 11 a.m. on Thursday in the Roanoke Rapids Chapel of H.D. Pope Funeral Home by Bishop Moses Williams. Interment will be at The Love of God Church of Christ Cemetery, Roanoke Rapids. Condolences may be sent to: www.hdpopefuneralhome.com.

Tanita A. Davis

ROANOKE RAPIDS n Tanita Anne Davis, 30, died October 19, 2007 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

A visitation will be held from 9:30-11 a.m. with the funeral service beginning at 11 a.m. on Friday in the Roanoke Rapids Chapel of H.D. Pope Funeral Home by the Rev. Ervin Mills. Interment will be in Oakridge Cemetery, Weldon. Condolences may be made to: hdpopefuneralhome.com.

Willie W. Tripp

AULANDER n Mr. Willie Warren “Sam” Tripp, age 77, of Aulander, NC, died Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at his home.

Mr. Tripp was born July 16, 1930 at the family home place where he lived all of his life. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Lawrence Tripp Sr. and Elizabeth Pollard Tripp.

Mr. Tripp was a farmer all of his life and for the past twenty years he was a Perdue Grower. He was a member of Connaritsa Baptist Church and will be remembered how he truly loved his family.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Evelyn Brown Tripp; his daughter, Joyce Tripp Mitchell of Washington, NC; his son, James Allen Tripp of Aulander, NC; three grandchildren, Reen\u00E9 Farmer, Caleb Mitchell, and Jason Earl Mitchell; two great-grandchildren, Will Thomas Mitchell and Brooke Freeman; his sister, Geraldine Keech of Greenville, NC; and a brother, Linwood Earl Tripp of Ahoskie, NC.

Graveside services will be held Friday, October 26, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at the Tripp Family Cemetery with Rev. William C. Dunning officiating.

The family will receive friends at Massey Funeral Home in Aulander, NC, Thursday from 7 until 8:30 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.

Mary Whitehead

ROCKY MOUNT n Mary Ellen Barnes Whitehead, 56, died October 22, 2007 at Duke Medical Center.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday at Light of Peace Missionary Baptist Church by Bishop Lonnie M. Braswell. Interment will follow at Gardens of Gethsemane. A visitation will be conducted from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at H.D. Pope Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent via e-mail at www.hdpopefuneralhome.com.

Roy W. Parker

AULANDER n Mr. Roy Willard Parker, age 77, of Aulander, NC, died Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at his home.

Mr. Parker was born April 7, 1930 in Bertie County, the son of the late Scarborough and Ruby Bazemore Parker. He was preceded in death by his sister, Edna Earl Whitaker.

Mr. Parker attended Aulander High School and graduated from Coyne Electrical School in Chicago, Ill. He retired from Roanoke Chowan Hospital as an engineer. He was a farmer and merchant and was a lifetime member of Connaritsa Baptist Church, where he served as Sunday School Secretary and Deacon.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Louise Davidson Parker; sons, Brent Parker of Aulander, Tim Parker and wife Kim of Williamston; daughter, Cynthia Parker Swain and husband Cullen of Goldsboro; sisters, Lucille Sylvia of Suffolk, Va., and Evelyn Byrd of Aulander; and grandchildren, Dustin Swain, Will Parker and Drew Parker.

Funeral services will be held, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2007 at 2:00 PM at Connaritsa Baptist Church with the Rev. Allison Haynes officiating with burial to follow in Aulander Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at Massey Funeral Home in Aulander, NC, Friday from 7 until 9 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Connaritsa Baptist Church, P.O. Box 160, Aulander, NC 27805 or to University Health Systems, Home Health and Hospice, 521 West Myers Street, Ahoskie, NC 27910.

Massey Funeral Home of Aulander is in charge of arrangements.

Ella M. Bryant

RICH SQUARE – Ella Mae Bryant, 83, a native of Hertford County, died October 21, 2007 at Pitt Memorial Hospital, Greenville.

She was a member of Willow Oak AME Church, Rich Square, and a retired nurses aide with Autumn Care Nursing Home.

Survivors include a son, Daniel L. Bryant of Poughkeepsie, NY; daughters, Shirley B. Porter of Rich Square, Georgia B. Dixon of Albany, Joyce B. Glover of Cincinnati, OH, and Mildred B. Oliver of Atlanta, Ga.; sisters, Katie Sessoms, Naomi Jenkins and Viola Jenkins, all of Ahoskie and Irene Moore of Aulander; 15 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday at Willow Oak AME Church by the Rev. James Baker. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Wilder’s Funeral Home, Inc., Aulander, is in charge.

Wayland Williams

LEWISTON n Wayland Williams, 88, a native of Bertie County, died October 22, 2007 at Williamston Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, Williamston.

Williams was a member of Sandy Branch Baptist

Church, Roxobel, and retired laborer with Planters Peanut Company, Aulander.

Survivors include his sons, James Edward Williams of Richmond, Va., Wayland Williams Jr. of New York City, NY, Gregory Sharpe of Raleigh and Ricky Sharpe of Goldsboro; sisters, Lillie Thompson and Emma Savage, both of Lewiston; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at Sandy Branch Baptist Church by the Rev. Milton E. Lee. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Wilder’s Funeral Home, Inc., Aulander, is in charge.