Martha Davis

CHESAPEAKE, Va. n Martha Rice Brett Davis, 83, died Friday, March 25, 2005 at Chesapeake General Hospital in Chesapeake. She had been predeceased by her parents, Paul Elder and Lavenia Cowan Brett, one sister, Elizabeth Brett Britton, and two brothers, Paul Elder Brett and Richard Curtis Brett.

A native of Hertford County, North Carolina, she was an Interior Decorator and accomplished seamstress.

Survivors include two sons, Thomas Elder Davis and his wife, Sumiko of Gainsville, Fla., and Richard Alvin Davis of Little Rock, AR; one daughter, Paula Davis Barrett and her husband, Bennie of Seaboard, NC; four grandchildren, Yevette Peveler, Teresa Edwards, Wesley Barrett, and Emily Barrett; three stepgranddaughters, Michelle Leding, Katie Johnson, and Adrienne Crowell; three great-grandchildren, Russell Peveler, Ethan Peveler, and Macie Edwards; four step-greatgrandchildren, Carlton, Brandon and Emily Leding, and Sam Ferguson; a special niece, Betty Jo Young, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, March 29, 2005 at 11 a.m. at Conway Baptist Church, Conway, NC, by the Rev. Willie McLawhorn. Burial will follow in the Town of Ahoskie Cemetery.

The family received friends at Bridgers Funeral Home, Inc., in Conway, on Monday from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Lavenia Pierce

ROANOKE RAPIDS n Lavenia Viola Futrell Pierce, 88, a native of Northampton County, died March 26, 2005, at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie. She was the widow of James William Pierce.

A funeral will be conducted at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Massey Funeral Home, Roanoke Rapids, by the Rev. Tim Murray. Burial will be in the Futrell family cemetery.

Mrs. Pierce was retired from J.P. Stevens Company and was a member of Roanoke Valley Original Free Will Baptist Church.

Survivors include daughters, Lavenia P. "Dean" Harmon of Ahoskie and Ruth Geneva Pierce Wright of Roanoke Rapids; five grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren.

Thelma W. Baines

RICHMOND, Va. – Rose Thelma West Baines, 88, a native of Isle of Wight, passed away after an extended illness.

Survivors include her husband, Raleigh J. Baines; a son, Kenneth Wayne Whitley Sr. of Portsmouth; a daughter, Debbie Deaton of Richmond; a sister, Nell Hollowell of Corapeake; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; and five stepgreat-grandchildren.

The funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Sidney F. Harrell Chapel of Harrell and Hill Funeral Home, Suffolk. Entombment will be in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens. Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army in her name.

Sarah O. Fentress

PORTSMOUTH, Va. – Sarah Overman Fentress, 96, a native of Gates County, died March 24, 2005, in a Portsmouth hospital. She was the widow of Charles Wesley Fentress Jr.

Mrs. Fentress attended Norfolk Business College and was a notary public, a retired bookkeeper and a Baptist.

Survivors include a son, Curtis Overman Bass; a sister, Eula O. White; a stepson, Skip Fentress; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

A graveside service was conducted Monday at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. Sturtevant Funeral Home, Portsmouth Blvd. Chapel, was in charge.

Winfred L. Fleetwood

RALEIGH n Winfred Lee Fleetwood, 51, died March 24, 2005.

A funeral will be conducted at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Springfield Baptist Church. Burial will be in Woodland. Albright Funeral Home, Inc., Apex, is in charge.

Edna B. Joyner

Ahoskie, N.C.: Edna Bush &uot;Mickey&uot; Joyner, 80, of 125 Evergreen St. died Sunday March 27, 2005 at Guardian Care of Ahoskie.

She was a native of Alleghany County, Va., a

private retired secretary to the plant manager at Tallon Division of Textron, a member of First Baptist Church of Ahoskie, and the daughter of the late Emitt and Bernice Underwood Richardson, and was predeceased by a brother, Emitt &uot;Ricky&uot; Richardson.

Surviving are he husband Cecil Alvin Joyner, a son; Colburn B. Joyner, Sebring, Fl.

A Memorial service will be held At Garrett Funeral Home Ahoskie, N.C.

on Wednesday March 30, 2005 at 11:00 A. M. with the Rev. Dr. Jesse J. Croom officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home for 10:00 to 11:00 A. M. Prior to service.

The family request that flowers be omitted and memorial donations be made to The Ahoskie Chapter of the American Cancer Society.

Garrett Funeral Home is serving the Joyner family.

Melvin Bell

GARYSBURG n Melvin Bell, 48, died March 26, 2005 at Halifax Regional Medical Center.

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

Howard Worrell

MURFREESBORO n Howard Worrell, 71, a native of Hertford County, died March 24, 2005 at Albemarle Hospital, Elizabeth City.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Hunter's Funeral Home Inc., Murfreesboro. Burial will be in Mill Neck Baptist Church Cemetery.

Worrell was a retired logger. He was a member of Mill Neck Baptist Church.

Survivors include a host of cousins and other relatives.

Willie R. Vaughan

PARKSLEY, Va. n Willie Roosevelt Vaughan, 55, a native of Hertford County, died March 22, 2005 at Peninsula Regional Hospital.

A funeral will be conducted at 3 p.m. Tuesday at New Haven Baptist Church by the Rev. Lloyd Gatling. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Hunter's Funeral Home, Inc., Murfreesboro, is in charge.

Vaughan was a member of New Have Baptist Church and was employed with Lankford Sysco.

Survivors include a daughter, Channel L. Way of Newark, N.J.; mother, Eddie M. Vaughan of Murfreesboro; three brothers, Horace Vaughan of Norfolk, Va., Bernard Vaughan and William Vaughan, both of Murfreesboro; and six sisters, Essie Britt of Cofield, Francis Peterman of Greensboro, LaVerne Vaughan, Kim Vaughan and Shirelle Whitehead, all of Murfreesboro and Anne Vaughan of Raleigh.