Larry N. Ward

HOBBSVILLE n Larry Nixon Ward, 61, a native of Gates County, died April 29, 2008 in Sentara Careplex, Hampton, VA.

A funeral was conducted Thursday in the chapel of Miller Funeral Home by the Rev. E. Vernon Gilmer Jr. Burial was in Sandy Cross Baptist Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 870 Greenbrier Circle, Greenbrier Tower II, Suite 404, Chesapeake, VA 23320.

Ward was a highway construction inspector with the Virginia Department of Transportation. He was a member of Sandy Cross Baptist Church and had served in the US Army during the Vietnam War.

Survivors include his wife, Marie Moore Ward; his son, Brian Christopher Ward of Chapel Hill; two sisters, Margie Stallings and Dorothy Stallings, both of Belvidere; and four brothers, Earl Ward of Hobbsville, Bobby Ward of Raleigh, Vernon Ward of Graham and Roger Ward of Sunbury.

Jesse Liles Sr.

GATESVILLE n Jesse Stuart Liles Sr., 94, a native of Halifax County, died April 29, 2008 in Down East Health and Rehab. He was the widower of Dorothy Stephenson Liles.

Liles worked for the editor of the Baptist “Biblical Recorder.” He was an Army Veteran of World War II. He became the first soil conservation technician in Gates County. He was also a rural mail carrier in Gates and Bertie counties and magistrate for Gates County.

Survivors include two sons, Jesse Stuart Liles Jr. of Durham and Thurston Allen Liles of Harrellsville; three grandsons; and four great-grandchildren.

A funeral service was conducted Friday in Gatesville United Methodist Church by the Rev. Tracy Clayton and the Rev. Billy Presley. Burial was in Gatesville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Gatesville United Methodist Church, Gatesville, NC 27938.

William L. Foy

AHOSKIE n William Lee “Bill” Foy, 90, of North Street, died Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at Roanoke Chowan Hospital. Bill was born January 25, 1918 in New Bern, NC to the late Carlile and Inez Foy. He was the husband of the late, Blanche Ivey Foy. He was Vice President of North State Provision Company in Ahoskie and sat on the board of directors for more than 60 years. Mr. Foy was a member of Ahoskie United Methodist Church, Ahoskie Masonic Lodge and was a charter member of Beechwood Country Club.

He is survived by his daughter, Sallie Foy Barnes and husband, David; grandson, Karl Helmkamp and wife, Crystal; great-granddaughter, Abigail Helmkamp; and nephews, Rossie and Margaret Williams and Ed and Faye Harper.

A memorial service was conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 2, 2008 at Ahoskie United Methodist Church with Dr. John Dutton officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Ahoskie United Methodist Church. Cremation Sociaty of Virginia, Virginia Beach, assisted the family.

Hardy L. Whitfield

ROCKY MOUNT n Hardy Lee Whitfield, 65, died April 26, 2008 at Nash General Hospital.

A visitation was held Friday at H.D. Pope Funeral Home Chapel.

Ronald E. Chitty, Sr.

LEXINGTON, S.C. n Ronald Eugene Chitty, Sr., passed away Friday, April 25, 2008 on his 65th birthday. He was born in Murfreesboro, N.C. to the late Reuben Duncan and Virgie Northcott Chitty.

He was predeceased by a brother, R.D. Chitty, Jr. and a grandchild.

A graduate of Murfreesboro H.S. and a U.S. Air Force veteran, Mr. Chitty was an active member and former Board member of Columbia First Church of the Nazarene, a former Board member of the S.C. Residential Care Home and National Residential Care Facilities.

Survivors: wife, Angela Smith Chitty; sons, Ronald E. Chitty, Jr. of Chattanooga, TN, Scott S. (Michelle) Chitty of N. Augusta; daughters: Donna J. (Bryan) Bair of Elloree, Amie C. (Tracy) McKay of Leesville, Anita M. (Ric) Boatwright of Monetta; brother, William B. (Sharon) Chitty of Cleveland, OH; sisters, Margaret C. (David) Brinkley of Ahoskie, N.C., Louise C. (Curtis) Howard of Murfreesboro, N.C.; sister-in-law, Ruth Chitty of Evans, GA; eight grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; and one step-great-grandchild.

Visitation was 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Barr-Price Funeral Home. Funeral services held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday at Columbia First Church of the Nazarene with Rev. Geoff Kunselman officiating. Burial was private.

Gloria J. Sauls

ROCKY MOUNT n Gloria Jean Sauls, 48, died April 30, 2008 at Nash General Hospital.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday at Refreshing Springs, Rocky Mount, by Pastor Donnie Graves. Burial will be in New Hope Baptist Church, Leggett. H.D. Pope Funeral Home is in charge.

Julia J. Sparkman

CHESAPEAKE, Va. – Julia Johnson Sparkman, 88, a native of Como, died April 29, 2008, in her home. She was the widow of William Mills Sparkman Jr.

Mrs. Sparkman was a member of Rosemont Christian Church where she was a deaconess emeriti, a member of the women’s Bible study and the Betty Gibson Bible Class. She was a member of the South Norfolk Senior Citizens, South Norfolk Civic League and Meals on Wheels.

Survivors include two sons, James Sparkman and William T. Sparkman, both of Chesapeake; a daughter, Mary S. Rice of Eure; seven grandchildren; and

two great-granddaughters.

The funeral was conducted Friday in Rosemont Christian Church, Chesapeake, by the Rev. Jerry Kilyk. A graveside service was also conducted Friday in the Sparkman family cemetery, Eure by the Rev. Michael Brinkley. Francis Gay Chapel of Oman Funeral Home & Crematory, Chesapeake, was in charge.

Mariah C. Parker

COLERAIN n Mariah Clark Parker, 100, a native of Bertie County, died April 30, 2008 at Bertie Memorial Hospital.

Mrs. Parker was a deaconess at First Baptist Church Colerain and a member of the Mother Board at the church. She was also retired from Perry-Wynn Fishery.

Survivors include her daughters, Lula Parker Watford of Colerain, Pauline Watford of Middletown, CT, and Marie Blackstone of Roanoke Rapids; sons, Randolph Chapman of Bridgeport, CT and Hubert Thompson of Ahoskie; and a brother, George Stewart of Philadelphia, Pa.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Sunday at First Baptist Church of Colerain, Colerain, by the Rev. Mary Drake. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Wilder’s Funeral Home Inc., Aulander.

 

Jean V. Freeman

COMO n Jean Vaughan Freeman, 49, a native of Hertford County, died April 30, 2008 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

Survivors include daughters, Kelisha Bazemore and Shannon Vaughan, both of Como; a son, Dontaey Porter of Como; her mother, Bessie Vaughan of Murfreesboro; brothers, Selton Vaughan, Michael Vaughan, Roy Vaughan and Earl Vaughan, all of Murfreesboro; sisters, Gwendolyn Lassiter and Cynthia Bank, both of Murfreesboro and Janice Pierce of Philadelphia; and three grandchildren.

A graveside service will be conducted at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Vaughan family cemetery, Murfreesboro. Wilder’s Funeral Home Inc., Aulander, is in charge.

Mary V. Hardy

PATERSON, NJ n Mary V. “Big Ma” Hardy, 94, a native of Bertie County, died April 27, 2008.

She was a member of Sandy Branch Baptist Church, Roxobel, a member of the Prince Hall Order of Eastern Star and Royal Star Chapter No. 606.

Survivors include her daughters, Maude Bowser of Englewood Cliffs, Alice Brooks and Marjorie Lewis, both of Paterson; and sons, Leo Hardy of Paterson and Gilbert Cherry of Irvington.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at Sandy Branch Baptist Church, Roxobel, by the Rev. Robert Walton. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Wilder’s Funeral Home Inc., Aulander, is in charge.