Joyce G. Vereen

DURHAM – Joyce Griffin Vereen, age 85, a resident of Croasdaile Village Retirement Community in Durham, died Friday, December 17, 2004. A native of Lemon Springs, N.C., she was the daughter of the late Mamie Caudle Griffin and John Lloyd Griffin, and was the widow of the Rev. LaFon Carpenter Vereen. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Wilma Riddle and Ruth Gibson.

The wife of a Methodist minister, she lived in several places throughout eastern North Carolina, the last being Lumberton, where she was the first business manager for the Wesley Pines Retirement Home, as well as a board member for the United Methodist Retirement Home Auxiliary. As an active member of Chestnut Street United Methodist Church, she served on various boards and committees. She was a member and past officer of the Lumberton Garden Club and a member of the Reviewers Book Club.

Funeral services were held Monday, December 20, 2005 at 11 a.m. at Asbury United Methodist Church in Durham, officiated by the Rev. Leonard Doucette and the Rev. Dr. James I. Warren, Jr. of Lake Junaluska, N.C. A reception followed the service. A graveside service was held at 3 p.m. at Lemon Springs United Methodist Church cemetery in Lemon Springs, with the Rev. Michael Coppock assisting Dr. Warren.

Surviving are one daughter, Marie Vereen Cooke and husband James Taylor Cooke of Wilmington; one son, Ronald Lloyd Vereen, M.D. and partner Rickey Wayne Hartman of Durham; one sister, Helen Griffin Frederick of Scottsdale, AZ; one granddaughter, Catherine Cooke Jones and husband Scott Carlton Jones of Wilmington;; and two great-grandchildren, Christopher Taylor Jones and Andrew Carlton Jones.

Memorial contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to the Methodist Home for Children Foundation, POB 10917, Raleigh, N.C., 27605-0917, or to the Vereen Family Endowment for Choral Vespers, Duke University Chapel, POB 90974, Durham, NC 27708-0974, Hall-Wynne served the Vereen family.

William S. Cherry Sr.

WINDSOR – William Sutton Cherry Sr., 76, a native of Bertie County, died December 17, 2004. He was the widower of this first wife, Betty Mardre Cherry.

A graveside service was conducted Sunday at St. Thomas Episcopal Church cemetery, Windsor, by the Rev. Noah Howard. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Mr. Cherry made to St. Thomas Episcopal Church Memorial Fund. Walker Funeral Home, Windsor, was in charge.

Cherry was formerly employed with Lea Lumber Co. and Car Quest.

Survivors include his wife, Mildred Wynne Cherry; two daughters, Peggy C. Keiger of Winston-Salem and Beth C. Sallenger of Wilson; two sons, William Sutton Cherry Jr. of Raleigh and Edward Mardre Cherry of Charlotte; two stepsons, Michael Clayton Hoard of Dallas, Texas and James Marion Hoard of Holden Beach; one sister, Alice C. Sanders of Tampa, Fla.; and 13 grandchildren.

William B. Stocks

WINDSOR – William Bryant Stocks, 66, a native of Bertie County, died December 16, 2004 at Bertie Memorial Hospital.

A graveside funeral was conducted Sunday in Edgewood Cemetery, Windsor, by the Rev. J.N. Baggett. Walker Funeral Home, Windsor, was in charge.

Stocks was a carpenter and a member of Republican Baptist Church. He also served in the Army.

Survivors include six sons, Michael B. Stocks and Victor Johnson, both of Windsor, William N. Stocks of Mocksville, Karl M. Stocks of Greenville, Billy W. Stocks of Virginia Beach, Va., and William J. Johnson of Colerain; one daughter, Rebecca S. Stanfford of Chesapeake; two brothers, Roy Stocks of Windsor and George Stocks of Ahoskie; two sisters, Pearl White and Louise Mizelle, both of Windsor; 15 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Clara R. Capehart

MERRY HILL – Clara C. Roulhac &uot;Candy&uot; Capehart, 91, a native of Merry Hill, died December 15, 2004. She was the widow of William Dozier Capehart Sr.

A funeral was conducted Saturday at Peterson Chapel Missionary Baptist Church by the Rev. W.J. Best Jr. Burial was in Ashland Baptist Church Cemetery. Gilliam Funeral Home was in charge.

Mrs. Capehart was a member of Ashland Baptist Church. She was a homemaker.

Survivors include her children, two sons, William D. Capehart Jr. and Willie Capehart, both of Merry Hill; two daughters, Gloria Capehart and Jean Robinson, both of New York City, NY; two sisters, Mary Watford of Murfreesboro and Odessa Harris of Plymouth; 25 grandchildren; 51 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Whit Hinton

FRANKLIN, Va. – Whit Hinton, 88, a native of Gates County, died December 14, 2004.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Red Oak Grove Baptist Church by the Rev. Riddick. Burial will be in the Cross family cemetery. Hunter’s Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Survivors include his wife, Helen Harris Hinton of Franklin; one son, Thaddeus Eley of Portsmouth, Va.; and three grandchildren.

Ulis Wilson

HOBBSVILLE – Ulis Wilson, 78, died December 17, 2004.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday at Blanchard’s Grove Missionary Baptist Church. Stallings Funeral Chapel, Gatesville, is in charge.

Inez S. France

PORTSMOUTH, Va. – Inez S. France, 88, a native of Ahoskie, died December 17, 2004, in her residence. She was the widow of William H. Frances.

A funeral will be conducted at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday with Dr. Leo Whitaker in Mount Hermon Baptist Temple. Burial will be in Roosevelt Memorial Park, Chesapeake. Fisher Funeral Home, 1520 Effingham St., Portsmouth, is in charge. The family will be at the residence and the body will be placed in the church at 11:30 a.m. Condolences may be sent to www.fisherfuneral.com .

Mrs. France was a retired X-ray film technician. She was a member of Mount Hermon Baptist Temple where she served in the Widows Ministry, Usher Board No. 2, Missionaries, and the Wednesday Noon Bible Study.

Survivors include a daughter, Doris Jean Vass; a sister, Louise S. Roberts; four grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and 12 great-great-grandchildren.

Anne W. Mitchell

SUFFOLK, Va. – Annie Sue Williams Mitchell, 90, a native of Gates County, died December 18, 2004. She was the widow of Aldro Wayne Mitchell.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Parr Funeral Home by the Rev. Timothy Piland. Interment will be in Holly Lawn Cemetery. Contributions may be made to First Baptist Church Building Fund, 237 N. Main St., Suffolk, VA 23434.

Mrs. Mitchell was a bookkeeper for Russell’s Drug Store. She later went on to work for 20 years as the cafeteria cashier at Suffolk High School. She was a member of First Baptist Church, the Golden Age Sunday School Class and the Senior Citizens Group.

Survivors include her daughter, Susan M. Coley of Suffolk; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Albert O. Harrell

FRANKLIN, Va. –

Albert Ollen Harrell, 75, a native of Gates County, died December 17, 2004, at Riverside Hospital in Newport News.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Wright Funeral Home with the Rev. Cecil Smith. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. in Parklawn Memorial Park, Hampton. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home and suggest memorials be made to a favorite charity.

Harrell was a member of the Grafton Baptist Church. He was the retired owner and operator of Harrell’s Trailer Park in Hays, Va.

Survivors include nieces and nephews.

Nola M. Ellis

PLYMOUTH – Nola Miller Ellis a native of Bertie County, died December 16, 2004.

She was the widow of

W.C. Ellis.

A funeral was conducted Saturday in Smith and Austin Funeral Chapel by the Rev. Robert Travis. Burial was in Hillside Memorial Gardens.

Mrs. Ellis was a homemaker.

Survivors include a son, Ricky Cullipher of Smithfield, Va.; three daughters, Betty Bollinger of Plymouth, Mary Ellen Powell of Hampton, Va., and Trena Cullipher of Hampton; two brothers, Darden Ray Miller of Williamston and George Alton Miller of Bear Grass; a sister, Jeannette Carson of Knotts Island; eight grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Iris L. Jordan

TYNER – Iris Lee Jordan, 64, died December 17, 2004.

A graveside service was conducted Saturday at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Elizabeth City. Stallings Funeral Chapel, Gatesville was in charge.

Lynwood J. Hall

RICH SQUARE – Lynwood Junior Hall, 82, a native of Northampton County, died December 19, 2004 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Chapel of Sykes Funeral Service, Rich Square by the Rev. Rob Rogers. Burial will be in Cedar Lawn Cemetery, Rich Square. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to University Hospice of Ahoskie, P.O. Box 272, Ahoskie, NC 27910 or Rich Square Baptist Church, P.O. Box 589, Rich Square, NC 27869.

Hall worked as a truck driver for his entire career, delivering caskets for Woodland Manufacturing, Parker Manufacturing and Northampton Casket Company, which is now Tarheel Casket Company. He retired in 1991 from Parker Manufacturing Company.

Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Robbins Hall; one son, Donnie Lee Hall of Cary; and two grandchildren.

Claudette K. Gardiner

MURFREESBORO – Claudette Kay &uot;Sam&uot; Gardiner, 60, a native of Albany, N.Y., died December 17, 2004 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

A funeral will be conducted at 12 noon Wednesday at Wilder’s Funeral Home Chapel by the Rev. Melvin Winborne. Burial will be in the Veteran Cemetery, Hampton, Va.

Gardiner was a retired convenience store clerk. He was a member of Last Day Church of Jesus Christ, Murfreesboro.

Survivors include his sons, John Gardiner of Murfreesboro; James C. Williams Jr. of Fayetteville and Fred Gardiner Jr. of Vidalia, Ga.; one brother, Fred Lathwood of Florida; one sister, Paulette Lathwood of Florida; and 10 grandchildren.