Frances Mobley White

RALEIGH – Frances Mobley White, age 74, passed away July 3, 2008, at Rex Hospital after a long fight with leukemia.

Mrs. White was born in Martin County, NC, August 1, 1933, the daughter of the late Andrew and Carrie Mobley.

She married Cohen O’Neal White

in 1954 and moved to Raleigh where he began a long career with the N.C. Dept. of Transportation and she maintained a loving home, raising three children.

Frances loved to travel and continued doing so, even after O’Neal’s death in 1996.

She was active at New Hope Baptist Church in Raleigh and joyously kept in touch with a large number of relatives and friends.

Frances was an avid reader, an accomplished gardener, and a dedicated volunteer.

A perfect day for ‘Nana” was with a good book on a sunny beach surrounded by family, friends and especially grandchildren, and then preparing a wonderful lunch for the group.

She is survived by three children:

Douglas White, and his wife Lena, of Raleigh; Roy White, and his wife Sara, of Charleston, SC; and Kathi White Lizak, and her husband Chris Lizak, of Raleigh.

Four grandchildren include Kelly and Alex White of Raleigh and Daniel and Andrew White of Charleston.

She is also survived by her sister, Madeline Bland of Vanceboro, NC.

She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

The family would also like to thank the members of New Hope Baptist Church for their love, visits and prayers; the medical staff in 5 West and the Cancer Center at Rex Hospital for their excellent care and compassion.

The family received friends on Saturday, July 5 from 6-8 pm at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Millbrook Rd.

Her funeral service was at 3 PM Sunday at New Hope Baptist Church.

A graveside service was held Monday, July 7, at 11:00 AM at Highland Memorial Gardens, Ahoskie, NC.

Flowers accepted or memorial contributions may be made to New Hope Baptist Church or the Tammy Lynn Center.

Tributes may be made to the family at www.brownwynne.com

Doris Mewborn Ferguson

Doris Mewborn Ferguson, 90, of Murfreesboro, passed away on June 30, 2008.

A daughter of the late Joshua Eugene and Emma Turnage Mewborn, she was born and grew up on her parents farm in Greene County, North Carolina.

Doris began her education at Mewborn School, a two-room school to which she and her sisters walked through woods and fields several miles round trip. She was a graduate of East Carolina Teachers College and taught Home Economics in the public schools of Hertford County.

In 1939 she married Finton Blount Ferguson a native of Murfreesboro. As a homemaker and mother of their four daughters, she applied her home economics knowledge and skills and enjoyed a reputation as an accomplished seamstress and excellent cook.

Doris was a longtime member of the Murfreesboro United Methodist Church where her Christian Banners are used in worship. She found pleasure in making these banners and was honored by the congregation for this contribution.

She is survived by daughters, Huldah Anderson and husband Wyndham of Richmond, VA., Nancy Leslie and husband Jim of Lexington, VA., Jennie Pulley and husband Robert of Yorktown, VA, and Emma Josie Ferguson of Santa Clara, CA.

Surviving sisters are Alma Mewborn of Wyomissing, Pa., and Ruth Martin of Greenville, Surviving brothers are Henry F. Mewborn of Snow Hill and J.M. Mewborn of Coats.

She is also survived by grandsons, Giles Carter Anderson and wife Elizabeth of New York City, Claude Venice Jones III and wife Stephanie of Wilmington; Fenton Blount Ferguson Jones and wife Rachel of Chatham County and granddaughters Sharon Pulley Alberts and husband Wayne of Owings Mills. MD, and Nancy Ruth Pulley of Yorktown, PA.

Doris was predeceased by her husband Finton and siblings, Thelma Smith, Grace Aycock, Joshua E. Mewborn and Edith Martin.

A graveside service was held at Riverside Cemetery in Murfreesboro on July 3, 2008 with the Reverend Arthur Warren officiating. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Murfreesboro United Methodist Church, 313 East High street, Murfreesboro, NC 27855 or the Como Volunteer Fire and Rescue, P.O. Box 117, Como, NC 27818 or a charity of choice.

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

Rayford J. Stanley

KENLY n Rayford Junior Stanley, 51 of Kenly, passed away July 4, 2008 at Wilson Medical Center after a brief but courageous battle with cancer.

Funeral services were held Sunday, July 6, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. at Minshew-Coley Funeral Chapel.

He is survived by his wife, Marsha Stanley and daughter, Leslie Ratkowski and husband Michael and two grandson, Dillon Michael and Levi Rayford Ratkowski, all of Kenly. He is also survived by his parents, Nathan and Annie Stanley of Smithfield. He will be missed by his sisters, Cindy Stanley of Murfreesboro, Cathy Stanley and Terry Ortega of Smithfield, Debbie Branch of Bracy, VA and Wanda Smith of Monroe, NC. He also leaves one brother, Jerry Stanley of Pine Level. He was preceded in death by siblings Annie Ruth and Thomas Glen Stanley. He was fortunate to have his family further extended when he married Marsha and gained three stepsons, Lee Pipkin of Cary, Chris Pipkin of Wilmington and Carey Pipkin of Kenly and their families. Rayford enjoyed a simple lifestyle and surrounded himself with people he loved. You were always welcome at his house to play cards, enjoy a drink or just good conversation. He was quick-witted always ready with a good joke and was never seen without a smile. He loved large with little words and expressed with actions rather than emotion. Honest and loyal you always knew where you stood with him and as a friend you knew he was with you through thick and thin. You could find him fishing, playing pool or on the golf cart to visit the neighbors. Rayford worked his entire life and was currently employed by the City of Raleigh. When he wasn’t finding a way to be with his family, he was at work finding a way to provide for them. His time on Earth was short but left an immeasurable mark behind. He was a walking example of human kindness with a touch of sarcasm. He spent every breath in his body being strong for his wife, his daughter and his family who could not bare to see him go.

There are no words to express his family’s sorrow and no amount of time will fade his memory. His beautiful 51 years on this earth can not be summed up simply. Those who were not fortunate enough to have crossed paths with him have surely missed the chance to be touched by his kindness and energy. Those of us who were so fortunate are forever changed by him and all are better people for having known him. The world would surely be a wonderful place if there were more people like Rayford Stanley.

Ronnie M. Thomas

NORFOLK, Va. n Ronnie Michael Thomas, 56, passed away on July 2, 2008.

Mr. Thomas was born in Windsor, NC to the late Robert Hall Thomas and Nellie Gray Lawrence White. He was a former college professor and retired as a training administrator for Texaco Oil Company.

Survivors include a nephew, Darryl McKeel and his wife, Loida and their son, Brendan McKeel of Chesapeake, VA; a niece, April Davis and her husband, Steve and their children, Brittney and Kaylea Davis of Aulander, NC; and a best friend, George Mercer of Portsmouth, VA.

A celebration of Mr. Thomas life will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2008, 4:00 p.m. at Sturtevant Funeral Home, Portsmouth Blvd. Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The National Cancer Coalition.

Annie W. Roulhac

COFIELD n Annie W. Roulhac, 80, a native of Bertie County, died July 4, 2008 at Williamston Rehabilitation Center.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Hertford County Undertakers Chapel, Winton, by the Rev. Lebron Britt. Burial will be in Philippi Church Cemetery, Cofield.

Survivors include two daughters, Janetta Johnson of Baltimore, MD and Cathyne Roulhac of Roanoke Rapids; two sons, Fredrick Roulhac of Cofield and Calvin Roulhac of Ahoskie; 16 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Larry D. Anderson

MURFREESBORO n Larry D. Anderson, 51, a native of Hertford County, died July 5, 2008 at Rich Square Health Care Center.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church by the Rev. Eddie Vinson. A wake will be held from 7-8 p.m. Tuesday at Hertford County Undertakers Chapel, Winton.

Survivors include his mother, Emma Anderson; sisters and brothers, James Anderson Jr. of Mobile, AL, Leon and Michael Anderson of Murfreesboro, Charles Anderson of Mineola, NY, Shirley Cashuell of Brooklyn, Sharian Speight of Como, and Marion Winborne of Murfreesboro.

Beulah W. Smith

AHOSKIE nBeulah Wynn Smith, 90, a native of Hertford County, died July 5, 2008 at Brian Center of Windsor.

A funeral will be conducted at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Philippi Baptist Church, Cofield, by Pastor Lassiter. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Hertford County Undertakers, Winton, is in charge.

Survivors include a daughter, Cynthia Tann of Ahoskie-Cofield Rd.; one sister, Janice Terry of Ahoskie; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.