William O. Brown

AHOSKIE n William Odell Brown, 80, of the 500 block of E. Memorial Drive, died Sunday, June 15, 2008, at Roanoke Chowan Hospital.

Mr. Brown was born in Bertie County, a son of the late Lewis Edgar and Odella Thomas Brown.  He was a member of Liberty Free Will Baptist Church and a former member of New Hope Baptist Church.  He was an Army veteran of the Korean Conflict.  Mr. Brown was retired as a welder for the Boilermakers and was a lifetime member of the Local Boilermakers Union #30.  William was a charter member of the Ahoskie Group of Alcoholics Anonymous and was active in all of the area groups for almost 30 years.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Dorothy Ferguson Brown; a daughter, Diane B. Smith and husband, Rob of Richmond, VA; a son Terry Brown of Greensboro, NC; two sisters, Mamie Mizelle of Colerain, NC, and Dorothy Baker of Windsor, NC; a brother, Jack Brown of Suffolk, VA; and special friends Tim and Vickie Edwards of Ahoskie, NC.  He was predeceased by a brother, Lewis E. Brown, Jr.

A celebration of life service will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18, 2008, at Liberty Free Will Baptist Church, Ahoskie, with the Rev. Paul Ange officiating.  Burial will follow in Highland Memorial Gardens.  The family will receive friends at Garrett Funeral Home-Ashley Chapel, 205 NC Highway 42 West, Ahoskie, from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 17, and other times at the home.  Flowers are welcome or memorial donations may be made to one’s favorite charity.

George Freeman

AULANDER n George Earl “George” Freeman, 68, a native of Lenoir County, died June 15, 2008 at his residence.

Freeman was a member of Providence Baptist Church in Chesapeake, VA, a volunteer with Search and Rescue Team for three years, volunteer firefighter for 10 years and a member of Aulander Ruritan Club. He was self-employment carpenter for over 50 years.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara Ann Whitley Freeman of the home; his stepmother, Precious Freeman of Virginia Beach, Va.; a son, George Earl Freeman Jr. of Harrellsville; daughters, Donna Marie White of Portsmouth, Debbie Lynn Short of Chesapeake and

Doris Renee Leonard of Portsmouth; brothers, Keith, Tom, Curtis and Jimmy; sisters, Cindy, Faye, JoAnn, Jenny, Becky and Rose; 11 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be conducted at 12 noon Thursday at Wilder’s Funeral Home Chapel, Aulander, by the Rev. John Smith. Interment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to the National Cancer Society or to the charity of your choice.

Ramon A Harmon

AHOSKIE – Ramon Alphonso Harmon, 70, a native of Newport News, Va., died June 14, 2008 at Roanoke Chowan Hospital.

Harmon was a member of Powellsville Baptist Church, and a retired businessman.

A celebration service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Garrett Funeral Home Ashley Chapel by the Rev. Robert M. May. A private burial will be in Ahoskie Cemetery at 12:30 p.m. The family will receive friends at the funeral home immediately following the funeral service. The family request that flowers be omitted and donations be made to The American Heart Association or favorite charity.

Survivors include three sons, Christopher Ramon Harmon of Boston, MA, Michael Wade Harmon of Yulee, FL and Gregory Scott Harmon of Ahoskie; two brothers, William Sidney Harmon of Wilson and Robert Malcom Harmon of Suffolk; and three grandchildren.

Roy C. Todd

ASKEWVILLE n Roy Carol Todd, 66, a native of Bertie County, died June 14, 2008 at Pitt County Memorial Hospital. He was the widower of Katherine Rose White Todd.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Askewville Baptist Church by the Rev. Freddie Harris. Burial will be in Edgewood Cemetery. Walker Funeral Home, Windsor, is in charge. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Askewville EMS, PO Box 74, Windsor, NC 27983. Online condolences may be made to www.walkerfh.net.

Todd was a truck driver for W.R. White Inc., he was also a member of Askewville Baptist Church. He served 22 years with Bertie County Rescue Squad.

Survivors include a son, Jeff Todd of Austin, Texas; daughter, Karen Dunn of Windsor; brothers, Billy Ray Todd of Windsor and Robert Todd of Lewiston; a sister, Carolyn Lassiter of Lewiston; and four grandchildren.

Ryan H. Mann

WINDSOR n Ryan Harris Mann, 21, a native of Groton, CN, died June 14, 2008.

A graveside funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Edgewood Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Walker Funeral Home on Tuesday from 7-8:30 p.m. and at other times at the home. Memorial gifts may be made to Askewville EMS, PO Box 74, Windsor, NC 27983. Condolences may be directed to www.walkerfh.net.

Mann was a dairy associate with Food Lion in Windsor.

Survivors include his mother, Sue Thompson of Windsor; his father, Patrick Lee Mann of Indianapolis, IN; a brother, Chris Mann of Suffolk, Va.; maternal grandmother, Lois Stamm of Indianapolis; and paternal grandmother, Janice Mann of Indianapolis.

Joe T. Carter

WINDSOR n Joe Thomas Carter, 63, a native of Bertie County, died June 12, 2008 at Bertie Memorial Hospital, Windsor.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Pleasant Oak Baptist Church, Windsor, by the Rev. Linward James. Burial will be in the Carter family cemetery. Cherry’s Funeral Home, Windsor, is in charge.

Marian D. Askew

AHOSKIE n Marian Doris Askew, 48, a native of Bertie County, died June 13, 2008 at Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Greenville.

She was a member of Elm Grove Baptist Church, Aulander. She was a CNA with Reliable Home Health.

Survivors include her mother, Lether Webb Askew of Ahoskie; a son, Malcolm Askew of Ahoskie; a daughter, Christian Askew of Ahoskie; brothers, Keevin Askew and Joe Askew Jr., both of Ahoskie, Elder Dr. James Askew and Ronnie Askew, both of Atlanta, GA, and Tracy Askew of Rocky Mount; and her sisters, Minnie Ruth Johnson of Winton, Barbara Yarborough of Hampton, Va., Sharon Askew, Lether Askew and Sharon Square, all of Ahoskie.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Carpenter Shop Church, Ahoskie, by Elder Dr. James Askew. Burial will be in the Wilder’s Cherry Family Cemetery, Aulander. Wilder’s Funeral Home Inc., Aulander, is in charge.

Roy L. Bond Jr.

WINDSOR n Roy L. Bond Jr., 62, a native of Bertie County, died June 14, 2008 at Norfolk General Hospital.

Bond was a football coach at Bertie High School.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday at Bertie High School gymnasium, Windsor, by the Rev. Dennis Cherry. Burial will be in the Outlaw family cemetery, Windsor. A viewing will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. Francis Baptist Church. Cherry’s Funeral Home, Windsor, is in charge.

Thurman Raleigh Johnson

WINDSOR n Thurman Raleigh Johnson, 73, of 303 Askewville Road, died Friday, June 13, 2008 in Pitt Memorial Hospital. He was born in Bertie County on December 7, 1934 to the late Raleigh and Lillie White Johnson. Thurman was a member of Askewville Baptist Church and a farmer.

The Rev. R.O. Denton, Jr. held funeral services on Monday, June 16, 2008 at 2 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home. Burial was in Edgewood Cemetery.

Survivors include his wife, Mildred Farmer Johnson of Windsor, NC; a daughter, Joy Johnson of Windsor, NC; a son, Roy and wife Laverne Johnson of Windsor, NC; a brother, David and wife Tondra Johnson of Windsor, NC; grandsons, R.T. and Kevin Johnson, both of Windsor, NC; and a sister-in-law, Martha Farmer Bryant of Windsor, NC.

The family received friends on Sunday, June 15, 2008 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home and at other times from the home. Memorial gifts may be made to either Askewville Fire Dept., c/o Mike Baker, 117 W. Askewville St., Windsor, NC 27983 or to Askewville EMS, PO Box 74, Windsor, NC 27983. Condolences may be directed to www.walkerfh.net.

DeAnna S. Hepler

WINDSOR n DeAnna Spain Hepler, 27, a native of Bertie County, died June 12, 2008. She was the widow of Michael Hepler.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Askewville Assembly of God by the Rev. Arron Timberlake and the Rev. R.O. Denton Jr. Burial will be in Edgewood Cemetery.

Memorial gifts may be made to the children of DeAnna c/o Jesse E. Spain, 528 Heritage Way, Cameron, NC 28623. Condolences may be directed to www.walkerfh.net. Walker Funeral Home, Windsor, is in charge.

She was a homemaker and member of Church of Crossroads, Ahoskie.

Survivors include two daughters, Krista and Taylor Sanders; three sons, Trevor, Nickolus and Thorne Sanders, all of the home; her mother, Pamela White Jernigan; two sisters, Renae and Jeana Jernigan, both of Colerain; two stepsisters, Mary and April Vertz; one brother, Lucas Spain of Colerain; a stepbrother, Jonathan Vertz; maternal grandmother, Shelby J. White of Colerain; and paternal grandparents, Anna and Jesse Spain of Cameron.

Margie Bynum

ROANOKE RAPIDS n Margie Bynum, 67, died June 15, 2008 at Halifax Regional Medical Center.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete. H.D. Pope Funeral Home is in charge.

Christine George

COLUMBIA, Md. n Christine George, died June 11, 2008 at Howard Co. General Hospital.

A funeral will be conducted at 12 noon Wednesday at Woodville Plains Baptist Church, Lewiston, by the Rev. Robert Walton. Burial will be in Weeping Mary Baptist Church Cemetery, Lewiston. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Gail R. Smith

NORFOLK, Va. n Gail Rebecca Smith, died June 13, 2008 at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Norfolk.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday at Newsome Grove Baptist Church, Ahoskie, by the Rev. Richard Smallwood. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

She was a member of Newsome Grove Baptist Church.

Survivors include two sons, Kenneth Jahmil Smith of Norfolk and Domanick Danell Smith of Rocky Mount; five brothers, Jessie Smith of Como, Winston and Brode Smith, both of Ahoskie, Johnny Clay Smith of Raleigh, and Ruben Smith of Florida; and five sisters, Lula Smith, Doris Mabane and Mary Lee Smith, all of Ahoskie, Connie Grant of Winton and Shirley Ray of Florida.

Oscar Bishop Jr.

MURFREESBORO n Oscar Bishop Jr., 69, a native of Hertford County, died June 11, 2008.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Hertford County Undertakers Chapel, Winton, by the Rev. Shirley Johnson.

Survivors include one son, Dwayne Bishop Sr. of Murfreesboro; one daughter, Talina Bishop of Ahoskie; one sister, Eloise Pearson of Wichita, KS; and four grandchildren.

Elva Jarrett

WINDSOR n Elva “Oliver” Jarrett, 69, died June 5, 2008 at Pitt County Hospital.

A funeral will be conducted Wednesday at Gilliam Funeral Home, Windsor. Visitation services will be held from 7-8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. There will be a private burial at the family cemetery.