Ella Mae Davis

CHESAPEAKE, Va. – Ella Mae Davis, 74, a native of Ahoskie, died July 21, 2008. She was the widow of Ernest A. Davis.

Mrs. Davis worked for Nelco Department Store for more than 20 years.

Survivors include three daughters, Mary Christine Miller of Deland, Fla., Pat Ashburn of Chesapeake and Wanda Becker of Moyock; three sisters, Mary Francis Keningham, Sue Fairless and Earl Osborne; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

A graveside service will be conducted at noon Thursday in Riverside Memorial Park, 1000 Indian River Road, Norfolk, by Pastor Randy Wooden. The family will receive friends at Graham Funeral Home, Greenbrier Chapel, Thursday 10 to 11 a.m. Please share a memory with the family at www.grahamfuneralhome.com.

Troy A. Artis

ROCKY MOUNT n Troy A. Artis, 44, died July 19, 2008.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at The New Morning Star Church of Christ, located at 225 S. Glendale Avenue, Rocky Mount. Interment will be in Gardens of Gethsemane. A visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday at H.D. Pope Funeral Home Chapel.

Dorothy Hicks

ENFIELD – Dorothy Bell Hoyle Hicks, 86, a native of Nash County, died July 19, 2008 at the Blue Ridge Health Care Center, Raleigh. She was the widow of her first husband Fred Hoyle and her second husband, Robert Hicks.

Mrs. Hicks worked for the town of Enfield for a number of years.

She was a member of the Enfield Baptist Church where she sang in the choir.

Survivors include two grandchildren; and six great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Sykes Funeral Service, Scotland Neck, is in charge.

Tucie P. Vaughan

AHOSKIE n Tucie Elizabeth Phelps Vaughan, 97, of the 500 block of Memorial Drive, died Monday, July 21, 2008 at Roanoke Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

Mrs. Vaughan was born in Colerain, NC, on July 11, 1911 in the home of her grandparents, J. Dorsey Evans and Arthusa “Tucie” Godwin Evans.  She moved to Ahoskie with her parents in, R. E. L. and Maude Evans Phelps in 1912 and was baptized at Stoney Creek into the Ahoskie Baptist Church in 1917. Tucie was a 1928 graduate of Ahoskie High School, attended Meredith College from 1928 to 1931 and Duke University from 1931 to 1932.  In 1932 she married Craig Brette Vaughan of Ahoskie and with him cofounded Ahoskie Fish and Produce in 1935, the Tomahawk Restaurant in 1954, and Tomahawk Motel in 1959.  Mrs. Vaughan was dedicated to love of family and friends, to her church and to her town.

Left to cherish her memory is her son, Sammy Vaughan and wife, Colleen of Nags Head, NC; her daughter, Nita Day Michels of Kinston, NC; granddaughters, Elizabeth Day Irby of Atlanta, GA, Rebecca Day Smithers of Kinston, and Jessica Vaughan Rudd of Kill Devil Hills; a great granddaughter, Kendal Rudd of Kill Devil Hills; special caretaker, Gracie Twine and longtime employee and friend, Cleveland Watson.

A graveside service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 24, 2008, at Highland Memorial Gardens.  The family received friends at Garrett Funeral Home-Ashley Chapel, 205 NC Hwy 42 West, Ahoskie, from 7 until 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.  Those who wish, may make donations in her memory to their favorite Ahoskie-based charity.

Marion T. Drew

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. n Marion T. Drew, 80, a native of Northampton County, died July 15, 2008 at Lankenau Hospital.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday at First Baptist Severn by the Rev. Pamela Faison. Burial will be in the Harrell family cemetery. Hertford County Undertakers, Winton, is in charge.

Survivors include two daughters, Theressa McCormick and Pearl M. Jenkins, both of Philadelphia; and five grandchildren.

Rossie Clay Weaver

AHOSKIE n Rossie Clay Weaver, 82, a native of Roxboro, NC, died July 22, 2008 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

She was the widow of the late Dr. Joseph D. Weaver.

Survivors include her children, Dr. Jesse Robert Weaver (Alice) and Dr. Claudia Weaver Richardson (Robert); brothers and sisters, Winfred C. Holeman (Andrea) of South Boston, VA, Virginia C. Williams of Auburn, Alabama and Amos Godfrey Clay (Shirley); four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by one grandson, Christopher Brandon Weaver.

A wake will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church of Winton.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 26, 2008 at First Baptist Church of Murfreesboro, NC. The Rev. Robert Horton will officiate. The Rev. James Patrick Clay will do the eulogy. Burial will be in First Baptist Winton Cemetery. Hertford County Undertakers, Winton, is in charge of arrangements.

Mary Shell Duke

MURFREESBORO n Mary Shell Duke, 81, of the 300 block of West High Street, died Monday, July 21, 2008, at Rich Square Villa.

Miss Duke was born in Hertford County, a daughter of the late Jack V. and Viola F. Duke.  She was a member of Murfreesboro Baptist Church and was a caregiver for most of her life.  Having never had children of her own, Shell treated her nieces and cousins as her own children.  She was very family oriented and the best cook around.

Left to cherish her memory is her brother, Ryland S. Duke and wife Patricia; nephews, Ryland S. Duke, Jr., and James M. Duke; nieces, Leigh D. Bruner, Donna D. Matthews and Sylvia Duke Carraway; and numerous other cousins.

A graveside memorial service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 26, 2008, at Riverside Cemetery, Murfreesboro, with the Rev. Lee Canipe officiating.  The family will gather at Murfreesboro Baptist Church at 10:30 a.m. prior to services and will receive friends at the church fellowship hall following the service.  In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to University Health Systems Hospice Care, P.O. Box 272, Ahoskie, NC, 27910; Murfreesboro Baptist Church, P.O. Box 124, Murfreesboro, NC, 27855; or to a charity of choice.

Garrett Funeral Home-Ashley Chapel, Ahoskie, is serving the Duke family.