Florence C. Ronco

PORTSMOUTH, Va. –

Florence Cornelia Ronco, 86, a native of Roxobel, died January 9, 2006, in her residence.

Mrs. Ronco was retired from Sears, Roebuck and Co. where she was a salesperson for 29 years. She was a member of Bethany Baptist Church, Sears Retirement Club and Beazley Senior Citizens.

Survivors include her husband, Gilbert William Ronco; son, Gilbert Victor Ronco of Greensboro; sister, Grace Vick Ward of Rich Square; and a grandchild.

A funeral was conducted Wednesday in Sturtevant Funeral Home, Portsmouth Blvd. Chapel, by the Rev. Gene V. Primm. Burial was in Roxobel/Kelford Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Bethany Baptist Church.

Donald K. Aston

SUFFOLK, Va. – Donald Kent Aston, 71, a native of Nansemond County, died January 8, 2006.

Alston retired after 32 years of service from Planters Peanuts. He was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church and attended Bethlehem Christian Church. He was also an U.S. Army veteran after serving during the Korean conflict.

Survivors include his wife, Pansy Talton Aston; daughters, Wanda A. Boyce, Donna A. Pruitt and Denna A. Babb, all of Suffolk; a brother, Carl Aston of Sunbury; and four grandchildren.

A funeral was conducted Wednesday at Parr Funeral Home by the Rev. Wayne Gardner and the Rev. Dan Wickert. Interment was in Holly Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Bethlehem Christian Church Memorial Fund, 1549 Holland Road, Suffolk, VA 23434.

Clifford S. Morris

SUFFOLK, Va. – Clifford Speight “Joe” Morris, 86, a native of Sunbury, died January 9, 2006, at his home.

Morris was a member of First Baptist Church for 55 years and a member of the Good News Sunday School Class.

Survivors include his wife, Ernestine Smith Morris; daughter, Anna Morris Cross of Portsmouth; son, John Larry Morris of Suffolk; three granddaughters; and two great-grandsons.

A funeral was conducted Wednesday at R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home & Crematory by the Rev. Charles W. Thompson. Burial was in Cedar Hill Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Nansemond Suffolk Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 1515, Suffolk VA 23439. Condolences may be registered at www.rwbakerfh.com.

Evelyn M. Strickland

GOLDSBORO n Evelyn Miller Strickland, 66, a native of Norfolk, Va., died January 8, 2006 at Kitty Askins Hospice Center.

Mrs. Strickland was a graduate of the University of the Phillipines. She was an active member of St. Mary Roman Catholic Church. Memorials may be made to St. Mary Roman Catholic Church, 1000 N. Jefferson Street, Goldsboro, NC 27530. Seymour Funeral Home was in charge. A Mass of Christian burial was held Wednesday at St. Mary Roman Catholic Church with Rev. Tom Norris, O.S.F.S. Burial was at Cedar Lawn Cemetery in Rich Square.

Survivors include her husband, Donald Strickland; four children, Ben Strickland of Greenville, Kit Strickland of Cary, Kathryn Tawes of Cape Hatteras and Diana Strickland of Cary; and nine grandchildren.

Edward Taylor

GUMBERRY n Edward Davis Taylor, 75, a native of Northampton County, died January 9, 2006 at Halifax Regional Medical Center.

A funeral was conducted Wednesday at Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church by the Rev. Lindsay Green and the Rev. Lee Taylor. Burial was in the church cemetery. Massey Funeral Home, Jackson, was in charge.

Taylor was a retired farmer and a member of Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church.

Survivors include a brother, W. Carl Taylor of Gumberry; and a sister, Frances T. Stephenson of Gumberry.

Ada Jacob

RICH SQUARE n Ada Beatrice Debrow Jacob, 71, died January 6, 2006.

A funeral was conducted Wednesday at Chapel Hill Baptist Church by the Rev. Tony Flood. Burial will be in Cumbo Baptist Church Cemetery, Rich Square. Smith-Whidbee Funeral Home was in charge.

Bernard Mitchell

RICH SQUARE n Bernard Pernell Mitchell, 69, died January 5, 2006.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday at Cumbo Missionary Baptist Church by the Rev. Carroll Dickens. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Smith-Whidbee Funeral Home, Rich Square, is in charge.

Ray A. Hall

AULANDER – Ray Allen Hall, 62, a native of Hertford County, died January 10, 2006 at the Guardian Care Nursing Home in Ahoskie.

Hall worked as a painter for many years in the area.

He was a member of the Oak Grove Baptist Church in Aulander.

Survivors include three daughters, Tracy, Jackie and Lynn Hall, two sisters, Claudette Harris of Hephzibah, GA and Sandra Gagne of Aulander; three brothers, Charles Hale of Eure, Daniel Hall of Aulander, and Jimmy Hall of Winton.

Memorial services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday at the Oak Grove Baptist Church in Aulander by the Rev. Bob Skeens. Sykes Funeral Service, Rich Square, is in charge.

Hallie H. Perry

COLERAIN –

Hallie Harrell Perry 97, a native of Bertie County, died January 7, 2006, at Hanover Hospital Spring Grove, Pa. She was the widow of Waverly C. Perry.

Mrs. Perry was a member of Colerain Baptist Church, a retired employee of General Martin Airplane Company.

A funeral service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday at Garrett Funeral Home, Ahoskie, by the Rev. Ray Braun. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery, Colerain. The family will received friends at the funeral home from 9-10 a.m. Saturday prior to services.

Survivors include one daughter, Eloise Urie of Spring Grove, Pa; four grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; and a great-great-great-grandchild.

Rennie Futrell

CONWAY n Rennie Jernigan Futrell, 84, a native of Bertie County, died January 10, 2006 at Autumn Care of the Roanoke Valley, Rich Square. She was the widow of Cecil Futrell.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday at Ashley’s Grove Baptist Church by the Rev. Dr. David Ross. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Woodland Rescue Squad, Woodland, NC 27897. The family will receive friends at the home of her daughter, Phyllis Blowe, 9119 Hwy. 258, Conway, NC. Massey Funeral Home, Jackson, is in charge.

Mrs. Futrell was a member of Ashley’s Grove Baptist Church.

Survivors include her children, Phyllis F. Blowe, Libby Joyner and Winston Futrell, all of Conway; two sisters, Simone Miles of Woodland and Nita Boone of Raleigh; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Edward V. Blanchard

AHOSKIE – Edward Vermont Blanchard, 85, of the 500 block of North Curtis St., died Jan. 9, 2006, in his home.

He was born in Woodland, N.C., a son of the late Irving Thomas and Mamie Ward Blanchard.

He was the loving husband of Cordelia Day Jones Blanchard for 52 years until her death in 2000 and the father of four sons.

Ed was active in business and the community, founding and acting for more than 50 years as president of Blanchard Office Supply Inc. of Ahoskie. He also served on the Bertie County School Board, Aulander Town Council, a Sunday school teacher and served numerous terms of the Vestry of St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church in Ahoskie, as well as contributing to numerous other social and community organizations.

He was a Mason and member of Davie Lodge No. 39 AF&AM, Ahoskie.

He is survived by his four sons, Edward Vermont &uot;Monty&uot; Blanchard Jr. of New York City, Lyman Whittington &uot;Whit&uot; Blanchard of Greenville, N.C., William Eley &uot;Bill&uot; Blanchard of Ahoskie and Roger Woodson Blanchard of Burlington, N.C., two daughters-in-law, Vicki Blanchard and Erwin Blanchard; and nine grandchildren.

Memorial services will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, with the Rev. Jeff Douglas officiating. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, 424 West Church St., Ahoskie, NC 27910, University Health Systems Hospice, 521 West Myers St., Ahoskie, NC 27910 or The Masonic Home for Children, Oxford, NC 27565.

The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at the residence.

Garrett Funeral Home, Ahoskie, is serving the Blanchard family.

Walter Stephens

LEWISTON n Walter Timothy Stephens, 43, a native of Manhattan, NY, died January 9, 2006 at Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Greenville.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday at Wilder’s Funeral Home Chapel, Aulander.

Stephens was a graduate of George Washington High School and a certified chef. He was also employed with Perdue.

Survivors include his mother, Annie Jenkins Croft, his father, Walter Stephens Sr.; his stepmother, Louise Stephens; his stepfather, Johnny Croft; his daughters, T’Maisa Seda Crowder and Shaquasia Crowder; brothers, Johnny Croft Sr. and Wayne Stephens; his sisters, DeIsherrie Croft and Ninjia Stephens, all of New York and Michelle Goggins of Chicago, IL; and his grandmother, Gertrude Jenkins of Lewiston.

Barbara Hopson

WELDON n Barbara Hopson, 54, died January 8, 2006 at her residence.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday at Faithful Band Baptist Church, Pleasant Hill, by the Rev. W.R. Burston. Interment will be in the church cemetery. A visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday in the Roanoke Rapids Chapel of H.D. Pope Funeral Home.

Louise Warrick

JACKSON n Louise Futrell Warrick, age 80, of Firetower Road, Jackson, NC, died January 11, 2006 at Autumn Care in Rich Square, NC.

Mrs. Warrick was born Dec. 22, 1925 in Northampton County, NC, the daughter of the late Jordan Futrell and Betty Joyner Futrell. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Elliott Futrell.

Survivors include her husband, Bruce Warrick; her daughters, Cathy Edwards and her husband, Steve of Jackson, Barbara Jernigan and her husband, Skip of Woodland, NC; her sons, Billy Warrick and his wife, Beverly of Murfreesboro, NC, Richard Warrick, Jerry Warrick and Steve Warrick, all of Jackson, NC; a sister, Margaret F. Johnson of Murfreesboro, NC; her brothers, Alvin Futrell of Potecasi, NC and Clyde Futrell of Milwaukee, NC; her grandchildren, Chris Warrick of Wanchese, NC, Dan Warrick of Charlotte, NC, Chad Warrick and his wife, Farah of Ayden, NC, Angel W. Rawls and her husband, Chad of Jackson, NC, Jo Barwick and her husband, A.G. of Wendell, NC, Stephanie Sloan and her husband, Brian of Wendell, NC, Stephanie Warrick of Roanoke Rapids, NC and Don Jernigan of Woodland, NC; her great-grandchildren, Kyli Warrick, Joey Early, Hunter Early, Gavin Sloan, Ali Barwick and Jordan Barwick.

Graveside services will be held Friday, January 13, 2006 at 11 a.m. at Jackson Cemetery with the Rev. Earl Whittemore officiating.

The family will receive friends at Massey Funeral Home in Jackson, NC, Thursday, from 7 until 8:30 p.m. and other times at the home of her daughter, Cathy Edwards, Jefferson Street, Jackson, NC 27845.

Fannie M. Wiggins

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ n Funeral arrangements for Fannie Mae Wiggins are incomplete. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., is in charge.

Georgia Macklin

ROCKY MOUNT n Georgia Macklin, 67, died January 10, 2006 at Nash General Hospital.

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

Maynard Langford

JACKSON n Maynard Langford, died January 9, 2006 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

A funeral will be conducted at 12 noon Saturday in Jerusalem Baptist Church, Woodland. Burial will be in the Grant family cemetery, Potecasi. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Survivors include one son, George Langford of Boston, MA; three daughters, Bevonne Stokes of Oxon Hill, MD, Ida Vincent of Gaston and Mattie Darden of Woodland; one brother, Otis Langford of Atlantic City, NJ; and one sister, Claudia Berry of Bronx, NY.

Paul Smallwood Jr.

MURFREESBORO n Paul Smallwood Jr., 72, a native of Northampton, died January 8, 2006 at Autumn Care Nursing Home, Rich Square.

A funeral will be conducted at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Nebo Baptist Church, Murfreesboro. Burial will be in the Smallwood family cemetery. A wake will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at Hertford County Undertakers, Winton.

Survivors include his wife, Chritine Smallwood of New York City, NY; two daughters, Mildred Barnes of New York, Joyce Arrington of Norfolk, Va.; a stepdaughter, Florence Martin of Greensboro; seven sons, Rudolph Smallwood, McCoy, Amos, Earl, Paul and Larry Smallwood, all of New York; two stepsons, James Brayboy and James Rogers, both of Richmond; one sister, Grace Mason of Severn; 15 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.

Janet Liverman

MURFREESBORO n Janet Warren Liverman, 87, died Tuesday, January 10, at Guardian Care in Ahoskie. She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter G. Liverman, an infant son, Walter G. Liverman Jr., a brother, G.B.Warren, and a stepson, Charles G. Liverman and his wife, Kathi of Holland, Va.

Born July 26, 1918, in Milwaukee, NC, she worked with her husband in their business, Walter’s Grill, in Murfreesboro for over 32 years. She was a member of Murfreesboro United Methodist Church and Pendleton Chapter #13, Order of the Eastern Star.

She is survived by a daughter, Brenda L. Davis and her husband, Spencer Dean Davis of Murfreesboro; three grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; five great-grandchildren; 10 stepgreat-grandchildren; 11 stepgreat-grandchildren; and a sister, Elizabeth Phillips of Murfreesboro.

Funeral services will be held in Murfreesboro United Methodist Church, Saturday, at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Bob Hagerty officiating. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery with Eastern Star Rites.

The family will be receiving friends at the home of Brenda and Spencer Dean Davis, 420 Harrell St., Murfreesboro, and a visitation will be held Friday, 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Bridgers Funeral Home, Inc. in Conway.

Flowers are welcomed and anyone wishing to share a memorial gift may do so to Murfreesboro United Methodist Church, 313 High St., Murfreesboro, NC 27855.