McCoy D. Holley

AHOSKIE n McCoy D. Holley, 59, a native of Hertford County, died March 14, 2008 at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday at New Haven Baptist Church by the Rev. Lloyd Gatling. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Hertford County Undertakers, Winton, is in charge.

Survivors include his wife, Ann Holley; one brother, Henry Lee Holley of Ahoskie; and two sisters, Carolyn C. Mills of Ahoskie and Willie Edna Cherry of Greenville.

Johnnie Cherry Jr.

AULANDER n Johnnie Albert “John Boy” Cherry Sr., 45, a native of Hertford County, died March 13, 2008 at Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Greenville.

Cherry was a deacon at Miracle Temple Church, past drummer at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, 1981 graduate of Bertie High School, graduate of Martin Community College with a diploma in electrical installation and

a charter bus driver with various companies

Survivors include his daughter, Brittany Jenkins of Ahoskie; brothers, Billie Cherry of California, William Cherry of Woodland and Wesley Cherry of Statesville; and sisters, Alee Todd of Windsor, Brenda Harris of Creedmoor and Bettie Cherry of Statesville.

A funeral service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Aulander First Baptist Church by Elder George Foreman. Wilder’s Funeral Home Inc., Aulander, is in charge. 

Margaret M. Neal

TARBORO – Margaret M. Neal, 88, a native of Halifax County, died at the Heritage Hospital in Tarboro March 17, 2008.

She was the widow of Joe Neal.

Survivors include, one daughter Urtie Raye Donaldson of Scotland Neck, two sisters; Edna E. Rose of Roanoke Rapids and Doris E. Davis of Oxford, two brothers; Robert Evans and David Evans, both of Oxford, four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Graveside services were conducted Wednesday at the Sunnyside Cemetery with the Rev. Billy Poteat and Rev. Bobby Hunt. Sykes Funeral Service, Scotland Neck was in charge.

Modie M. Byrum

AHOSKIE n Modie Mizelle Byrum, 69, of the 400 block of East Memorial Drive, died Tuesday, March 18, 2008, in Roanoke Chowan Hospital.

Mrs. Byrum was born in Hertford County, a daughter of the late Johnie and Cora Mizelle.  She was a member of Earlys Baptist Church and had retired as manager of Fast Fare Convenience Store in Ahoskie. 

Left to cherish her memory is her son, Michael A. Byrum and wife, Kathy of Ahoskie; a granddaughter, Amanda Beachboard of Askewville; a great granddaughter, Kaydee Beachboard of Askewville; sisters, Addie Mae Askew, and Hazel Harmon of Ahoskie, Louise Lowe of Anderson, SC, and Jackie Outland of Aulander; and a brother, Thomas Godwin of Ahoskie. Modie was a loving and faithful friend to all, a loving and devoted mother, grandmother and great grandmother and will be greatly missed.

A graveside celebration of life service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 20, 2008, at the Ahoskie Cemetery with the Rev. Ronald W. McSwain officiating.  Flowers are welcome or memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 930B Wellness Drive, Greenville, NC, 27834.

Garrett Funeral Home-Ashley Chapel is serving the Byrum family.

Juanita Boyce

WOODLAND n Juanita Boyce, 53, a native of Northampton County, died March 16, 2008 at Halifax Regional Medical Center, Roanoke Rapids.

She was a member of Jerusalem Baptist Church and a personal care aide for Regional In Home Health Care Agency.

Survivors include her daughters, Cierra Cherry and Shanita Cherry, both of Woodland; brothers, Unray Boyce of Rich Square, John H. Boyce Jr. of Woodland and Melvin Bush of Watha; and her sisters, Jean Boyce, Mary Boyce Boone and Barbara Boyce, all of Woodland, and Connie B. Faison of Ahoskie. 

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday at Jerusalem Baptist Church, Woodland, by the Rev. Jane Mann. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Wilder’s Funeral Home Inc., Aulander, is in charge. 

Louis J. Young

GATES – Louis Jackson Young, 75, a native of Exmore, Va., died March 17, 2008 in his home.

Young was a retired electrical engineer from Norfolk Naval Shipyard after 28 years of employment, he was a Baptist by faith.

Survivors include his wife of more than 57 years, Shirley Windley Young; his daughter, Debi Y. Rose of Currituck; a sister, Margaret Casto of Portsmouth; a brother, Jimmy Young of Chesapeake; four grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday in the Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. Entombment will follow services. Friends may join the family Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. in Snellings Funeral Home, George Washington Highway Chapel. Miller Funeral Home, Gatesville, is assisting the family with arrangements. Floral tributes are welcomed or contributions in his memory may be made to Operation Smile, 6435 Tidewater Drive, Norfolk, VA 23509.

Grover Newton

ROCKY MOUNT n Grover Newton, 81, died March 14, 2008 at Nash Rehab & Nursing Center.

A funeral will be conducted at 12 noon Saturday at Mt. Herman Baptist Church by the Rev. Dennis Gunter. Interment will be in the Gardens of Gethsemane. A visitation will be held from 11 to 12 noon Saturday at H.D. Pope Funeral Home.

Roland Mitchell

CHARLOTTE n Roland Levi Mitchell, died March 17, 2008 at Presbyterian Hospital, Huntersville.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 pm. Saturday at Conoconary Baptist Church, Aulander, by Sis. Cornell Watson. Interment will be in the Cherry-Mitchell Cemetery, Ahoskie. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Survivors include three sons, Levi Jeron Mitchell of Charlotte, James L. Mitchell of Ahoskie and Brandon Hills of Atlanta, Ga.; two daughters, Crystal Mitchell of Greenville and Rolanda Mitchell of Charlotte; his father, Cleveland Mitchell of Yatkinville; four brothers, Bernard Mitchell Sr. of Wilson, Michael Mitchell of Winston-Salem, William Mitchell of Charlotte and Larry Mitchell of Ahoskie; three sisters, Yvette Coley of Ashboro, Brenda Hills of Winston-Salem and Etta D. Mitchell of Plymouth; and one grandchild.

Alexander Lassiter

POTECASI n Alexander Lassiter, 96, died March 16, 2008 at Guardian Care of Ahoskie.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday at Hood Chapel in Conway by the Rev. Raymond Bradley. Interment will be in Langford Cemetery, Potecasi. The family will receive friends at Fannie Joines home in Potecasi. Jesse Hood Funeral Home, Conway, is in charge.

Clifton D. Beale

MURFREESBORO n Clifton D. Beale, died March 19, 2008 at his residence.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.