Frances J. Gunnells

RICH SQUARE – Mrs. Frances Joyner Gunnells, age 70, died peacefully at her home on Sunday, May 25, 2008.

She was married to Alec Gunnells in 1969.

She was a member of the Rich Square Baptist Church and previously a member of the Woodland Baptist Church. While at the Rich Square Baptist Church, Frances served as a member of the choir, she was a Sunday school teacher and a member of the Rich Square Young Baptist Women’s Circle.

Frances was responsible for starting the Red Hats in Rich Square and remained an active member.

She was also a member of the Rich Square Garden Club.

She worked as a bookkeeper for many years throughout the community.

Frances was loved by all that knew her, she was especially close to her nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death are her mother, Mary Miles Joyner, her father, James Henry Joyner and her brother, Donald Lee Joyner.

Survivors include her husband, Alec Gunnells of the home, three sisters; Edna J. Burkett and her husband William of Woodland, Shirley Ann Joyner of Ahoskie and Brenda J. White and her husband Russell of Seaboard, two brothers; Sidney J. Joyner of Woodland and Milton E. Joyner of Ahoskie.

Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 11 A.M. at the Rich Square Baptist Church with the Rev. Bob Rogers officiating.

The interment will follow at the Woodland Cemetery.

The family received friends at Sykes Funeral Service in Rich Square on Monday evening from 7:00-8:30 P.M. Memorial contributions may be made to the Rich Square Baptist Church, PO Box 589, Rich Square, NC

27869.

Ann F. Griggs

WINDSOR n Ann Furr Griggs, 79, a native of Stanley County, died May 23, 2008 at Three Rivers Nursing Home. She was the widow of Robah Lee Griggs, Jr.

Mrs. Griggs was a member of Merry Hill Baptist Church and a homemaker.

A graveside funeral was conducted Sunday at Edgewood Cemetery, Windsor. Memorial gifts may be made either to Merry Hill Baptist Church, 420 Old Merry Hill Road, Merry Hill, NC 27957 or to Merry Hill-Midway Fire Department, c/o Wood Perry, 1722 US 17 North, Merry Hill, NC 27957. Condolences may be directed to www.walkerfh.net. Walker Funeral Home, Windsor, was in charge.

Survivors include a daughter, Linda Griggs Elliott of Macon; a brother, Bob Furr of Albemarle; and a half sister, Brenda Furr of Albemarle.

Emily Blythe

WOODLAND n Emily Garnet Askew Blythe, 68, a native of Milwaukee, died May 24, 2008 at her home in Woodland.

Mrs. Blythe was a licensed beautician. She was also employed with Motzno’s Department Store in Woodland. She was also a member of Woodland Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school in the Children’s Department for 15 years.

Survivors include her husband, Joe Blythe of the home; two sons, Charles Blythe of Wilson and Michael Blythe of Rich Square; and one sister, Paula Askew Phillips of Murfreesboro.

A graveside service will be conducted at 11 a.m. in Woodland Cemetery with the Rev. Marcus Pond.

Laurie Jenkins Vann

CONWAY n Laurie Jenkins Vann, 92, died Saturday, May 24, 2008 at Sentara Obici Hospital in Suffolk, Virginia. He had been preceded in death by his wife Muesette McCaskey Vann and his son, Jay Vann.

A native of Northampton County, NC, he was an area farmer and was retired at age 72 from Davis & Company in Conway where he delivered automotive parts to their various customers. A member of Conway Baptist Church, he had been a Deacon and later an Honorary Deacon who enjoyed delivering sermon tapes and literature to the area shut-ins.

He is survived by his daughter, Joyce Vann Chitty and husband, Ronald of Surry, VA; three grandchildren, James Walter Wise, Jr. and wife, Summer, of Norfolk, Va., Dr. Jennifer Lee Wise and husband, Dr. Nok Keomahathai of Pasadena, CA, and Melissa Renee’ Vann of Conway; one great-grandson, Jackson Vann Wise of Norfolk, VA; one sister, Adele Bruce of Virginia Beach, VA; and one brother, Ivey Mason Vann and wife, Rocky of Norfolk, VA.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, 2:00 p.m. in Conway Baptist Church, Hwy. 35, Conway, NC with Rev. Willie McLawhorn presiding. Burial will follow in the Town of Conway Cemetery.

The family will be receiving friends at Bridgers Funeral Home, Inc., 605 West Main St., Conway, NC, Wednesday, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and have expressed that flowers are welcomed or gifts may be made to Conway Baptist Church in his memory.

George M. Bullock

EVERETTS n George Michael “Mike” Bullock, 45, a native of Martin County, died May 18, 2008 at his home.

A memorial service was conducted Sunday at Everetts Baptist Church by the Rev. Jason Lineberger. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Everetts Baptist Church, Hwy. 64, Everetts, NC 27825. Condolences may be directed to www.walkerfh.net. Walker Funeral Home, Williamston, was in charge.

Bullock was a shift manager at Burger King. He was a member of Maple Grove Christian Church and attended Everetts Baptist Church.

Survivors include a daughter, Jessica Bullock of Greenville; and two sisters, Becky Mizelle of Bear Grass and Connie Coburn of Windsor.

Jeane J. Everett

AHOSKIE – Jeane J. Everett, 85, died May 24, 2008, in Roanoke-Chowan Hospital after several years of declining health. She was born in Lynchburg, Va., and moved to Ahoskie at the age of 2 where she grew up, played basketball at Ahoskie High School and married her World War II Marine Corps sweetheart, John. She graduated from what is now UNC – Greensboro with a one-year diploma in secretarial science. Jeane was preceded in death by her parents, William Ivey Johnson Sr. and wife Erma; brother, William &uot;Bill&uot; Johnson Jr. and wife Virginia; her daughter-in-law, Sandy Everett; that fun-loving husband of hers, John Everett; and also her beloved friends: Charlie and Bernice Pierce, Hazel and Linwood Britton and Ruth and Henry Holloman. A good time will be had by all at their Heavenly Reunion cocktail party. She is survived by her &uot;angel&uot; daughter, Johnna L. Everett of Ahoskie; son, Dennis O. Everett and wife Carole of Ahoskie; a son, G. Rush Everett and wife Liza of Atlanta. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, LeeNora Everett of Petersburg, Va.; her favorite aunt, Frances Johnson of Norfolk; and cousins, JoAnn Mentzer of Knightdale, N.C., Jane Jernigan of Wilson, N.C. and Sherry Warren of Portsmouth; as well as many nieces and nephews on both sides of her family. Jeane also will be missed by her caretakers, Linda Meeks, Linda Freeman and Ernestine Tann, who loved and cared for her during her final days; and her faithful neighbors, Lee and Lou Wilson. In addition, her former neighbors and &uot;adopted&uot; children, Carl and Carolyn Taylor of Chapel Hill, also are left behind to remember all of the good times and the great-tasting barbecued chicken (or fried fish or Brunswick stew) and &uot;fixin’s&uot; John and Jeane used to serve to the entire neighborhood. Jeane worked for more than 40 years as the bookkeeper for the Brinkley brothers, &uot;Mutt&uot; and Sam, at their Ford dealership (Brinkley Motors) and auto repair businesses. Prior to &uot;Mutt’s&uot; death, he assigned her to keep Sam’s attention focused on business, because Mutt knew he could count on Jeane for just that, and, as instructed she accomplished that task. She also was the bookkeeper for John’s Ltd. and Johnna’s Ltd. during the time in which both of these Main Street Ahoskie businesses were active and viable. Jeane and John were great &uot;parents&uot; to their children’s friends and kept a watchful eye on all who came into the Everett household to have fun, play pool or just hang out. Jeane was a loyal member of the Order of the Eastern Star for more than 60 years and in 2008 became a Lifetime Member of the organization, an honor usually reserved for only special dignitaries of the membership. In addition, she was a longtime member of the Ahoskie United Methodist Church, finding a seat on the &uot;next-to-the-last-row&uot; for more than 40 years. She rejoiced in her children and their accomplishments and became an avid Tar Heel basketball fan (both men’s and women’s). Jeane also kept current in the sport of golf, which all three of her children enjoy, and was often heard to comment, &uot;I know my children will all be together to mourn me – on some golf course somewhere.&uot; Her children, her family, and all those who were close to her find peace in knowing she is now pain-free and back to loving and partying with John and the other neighbors – just like the &uot;good old days.&uot; Above all, Jeane was a strong person and a fighter – she endured the pain, stayed at home and had it her way – going to Glory on her own terms and conditions – regardless. The family will receive visitors at the home of Carole and Dennis Everett, 321 Circle Drive, Ahoskie. A private burial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Ahoskie Cemetery, with a memorial service following at 11 a.m. at the Ahoskie United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. John Dutton officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ahoskie United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 665, Ahoskie, NC 27910. Garrett Funeral Home, Ashley Chapel, is serving the Everett family.

George B. Weaver

ALBEMARLE – George B. Weaver, 95, a native of Burke County, died May 24, 2008. He was the widower of Leonita Chason Weaver.

Weaver for nearly 40 years was news editor and editorial writer for the Stanly News and Press in Albemarle. A resident of Spring Arbor of Albemarle, he came to Albemarle on April 1, 1947, after serving as editor of three smaller newspapers, the Public Ledger in Oxford, the Bertie Ledger-Advance in Windsor, and the Wallace Enterprise in Wallace. During World War II, he served with the 6th A.R.U.F., United States Army Air Corps, in the Philippines and Japan.

Survivors include one son, George Arthur Weaver; two granddaughters; and one brother, Robert W. Weaver of Raeford.

A graveside service will be conducted at 1 p.m. at Stanly Gardens of Memory, in the Veterans’ Section, with the Reverend Roger Thomas.Visitation will be at the graveside after the service.

Memorials may be directed to the First Baptist Church of Albemarle, 202 North Second Street, Albemarle, NC 28001. Hartsell Funeral Home, Albemarle, is in charge. Online obituary and condolences at www.hartsellfh.com

Kenneth Brockhum

CONWAY n Kenneth Matthew Brockhum, 16, a native of Ahoskie, died May 19, 2008.

A graveside funeral service was conducted Thursday at Roxobel-Kelford Cemetery by the Rev. Doug Spivey. Memorial gifts in Kenneth’s memory may be made to Kenneth Brockhum Memorial Fund, PO Box 456, Windsor, NC 27983. Any food gift may be sent to the Kelford Baptist Church.

Kenneth was a 10th grade student at Northampton East High School. He was an avid hunter and fisherman.

Survivors include his father, Kenneth Brockhum of Windsor; his mother, Christine Deloach of Onteona, NY; brothers, Daniel Michael Brockhum and Dennis Alan Brockhum; half brother, Christopher Deloatch, all of Onteona; half sister, Jennipher Leavitt of Greenville; maternal grandfather, Everett Harold Leavitt of Conway; and paternal grandmother, Betty Lou Myers of Glovesville, NY.

Gregory Myrick

NEW YORK, NY – Gregory Myrick, 47, a native of Brooklyn, died May 22, 2008 at Calvary Hospital.  

Myrick was a member of the United States Navy.  He was a waiter.

Survivors include his parents, Gloria Manley Myrick and James Myrick of Hampton, Va.;  and one

brother, Darryl Myrick of Richmond.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church Winton by Rev. Robert Horton. Burial will be at Philippi Baptist Church Cemetery, Cofield. Condolences may be sent to www.huntersfuneralhome.com

Velma L. Mizell

SCOTLAND NECK n Velma Louise Minton Mizell, 95, died May 25, 2008. She was the widow of John Thomas Mizell Sr.

A graveside service will be conducted at 1 a.m. Wednesday at Baptist Cemetery, Scotland Neck, by the Rev. Doctor James Drake. The family will be receiving friends immediately following the service from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Letchworth Funeral Home, Scotland Neck.

Survivors include her daughters, Frances Daughtry of Tarboro and Dorothy Smith of Greenville; sons, John Thomas Mizell Jr. of Scotland Neck and Larry M. Mizell of Lewiston; sister, Annie Minton Williams of Baton Rouge, LA; nine grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.