Verlie Burch

AULANDER n Verlie Mae Peede Burch, 90, a native of Hertford County, died November 26, 2006, in Suffolk, Va. She was the widow of William Russell Burch.

A graveside service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Ahoskie Cemetery. Massey Funeral Home, Aulander, was in charge.

Survivors include a daughter, Ann Burch Mitchell of Windsor; sons, Joseph A. Burch of Hertford and Donald M. Burch of Suffolk; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Thomas Cullipher

WINDSOR n Thomas Cullipher, 75, of 237 Hoggard Mill Road, died Saturday, November 25, 2006 at his home. He was born in Bertie County on April 14, 1931 to the late Augustus and Julie Ann Pierce Cullipher and was predeceased by his first wife, Idona Hoggard Cullipher and a granddaughter, Dana Tinkham. Mr. Cullipher was a retired merchant and farmer. He was a member of Edgewood Baptist Church.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. at Edgewood Baptist Church by the Rev. Chris Lee, Rev. Ken Bunch and Rev. R.O. Denton, Jr. Burial will follow in Edgewood Cemetery. The family received friends from 7-8:30 p.m. Monday, November 27, 2006 at Walker Funeral Home and at other times from the home.

Survivors include his wife, Lois Phelps Cullipher of Windsor, NC; three daughters, Rachel C. Pierce of Windsor, NC, and Louise C. Cooke and Peggy Goodwin, both of Aulander, NC; a stepdaughter, Elizabeth Chilton of Newport, NC; sons, Ronald Cullipher and Donald Cullipher; a stepson and Larry Hoggard, all of Windsor, NC; two sisters, Evelyn Daniels and Beulah Grizzard, all of Ahoskie, NC; 14 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Melvin Lewis Sr.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Melvin Lee “Pop,” “Big M”, “Red Ronion,” Lewis Sr., a native of Princess Anne County, died November 22, 2006.

Lewis was employed as a heavy equipment operator for E. V. Williams and Contractor Paving. He attended Morning Star Baptist Church in Virginia Beach.

Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Lula Mae Sanderlin Lewis; three sons, Melvin Lee Lewis Jr. of Norfolk, Donnie Ray Lewis Sr. and Drew Avery Lewis of Virginia Beach; three daughters, Cheyenne Lewis Brockett, Sandra Lewis Davis and Paulette Land of Virginia Beach; 24 grandchildren; 57 great-grandchildren.

A homegoing service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 875 Baker Road, Virginia Beach, with the Rev. Terron M. Rodgers. A graveside service will be held at Pleasant Plains Baptist Church Cemetery, 801 US Highway 13 South, Ahoskie, NC 27910. The family will receive relatives and friends for remembrance and visitation from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Beach Funeral Services Inc., 4456 Bonney Road, Virginia Beach. The family will assemble at 5815 Burton Station Road one hour prior to the service for the procession to the church. You may send condolences to the family online at www.beachfuneralservices.com. Kevin A. Sanderlin, funeral director.

Horace A. Culpepper

CHESAPEAKE, Va. – The Rev. Horace A. Culpepper, 85, a native of Norfolk, died November 23, 2006.

Culpepper was in the United States Navy during World War II. After serving in the military, he became the owner of the Princess Anne Boarding Kennel, served as clerk of the Virginia Beach Municipal Court. Following his retirement, he served as pastor at Cool Spring Baptist Church in Eure, N.C., and interim minister in several other churches.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Susie M. Culpepper of Chesapeake; daughter, Helen Sue Carlton of Norfolk; son, Herbert A. Culpepper of Virginia Beach; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and a sister.

A funeral was conducted Monday in Kempsville Baptist Church in Virginia Beach by Dr. Kelly Burris. Burial was in Rosewood Memorial Park. Smith and Williams Funeral Home, Kempsville Chapel, was in charge. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial donations be made to the Kempsville Baptist Church Lottie Moon Christmas offering. Condolences may be made to the family at www.mem.com.

Bettye D. Banks

NORFOLK, Va. – Bettye Doretha Banks, 65, a native of Southampton County, died November 21, 2006, in Sentara Leigh Hospital. She was married to the late Luther Randolph Porter.

Banks graduated from C.S. Brown High School in Winton.

After 20 years of service, Detective Porter retired from the police force in May 1993.

Survivors include a son, Gayland Randolph Porter; and one granddaughter, Alexis Porter of Brooklyn, N.Y.; four sisters, Essie Myrick, Metilda Rodgers of Chesapeake, Elane Strudwick of Sandston and Ruth Wall of Raleigh; an adopted sister, Loretta Porter of Franklin; four brothers, James Alton Banks of Coefield, Frederick Cardell Banks of Westwood, N.J., Wallace Clifton Banks of Ahoskie and Leon Banks of Newport News, Va.; and one granddaughter.

Services were rendered by Apostle John Rodgers Saturday at the C.S. Brown Multi-Purpose Center in Winton. Burial was in the Millneck Church Cemetery, Como.

Chester G. Rawls

AHOSKIE

Chester Godwin Rawls 86, of the 900 block of West Stokes St., died November 26, 2006, at The Oaks of Carolina, in Raleigh, N.C.

Mr. Rawls was a native of Hertford County, a son of the late Hersy G. and Dessie Blowe Rawls, he was a charter member of The Ahoskie Lions Club, where in 1998 he was presented the Jack Stickley Fellow Award. He retired in 1982 as a Nationwide Insurance Agent and Owner of Rawls Insurance Agency, and was a Member of First Baptist Church Ahoskie. He was an Army Veteran of WWII, and worked at the Norfolk Naval Yard following his Army Service.

Mr. Rawls was a life long resident of Hertford County, and was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Gwendolyn Beale Rawls, and a sister Carrie Morris. Mr. Rawls loved his family, friends and the town of Ahoskie where he served on the town council from 1983 to 1989, and the Ahoskie Planning Board from 1967 to 1983

Surviving are a daughter; Arlene Rawls Raiford and husband Hunter P., and a son Chester Keith Rawls and wife Deborah N. all of Ahoskie, N.C., three brothers; Felix W. Rawls, John T. Rawls both of Ahoskie, N. C., Jesse Raymond Rawls, Yorktown, Va., one grandson; Neil H. Raiford and wife Karen B. MD., Decatur, Al., two granddaughters; Sherri R Burgess and husband Stephen, Ahoskie, N.C., Kristy R Overton and husband Russell, Apex, N. C., four great grandsons; Alexander Boyd Tisdale, Benjamin Hunter Raiford, Thomas Holt Raiford, Patrick Reid Burgess, one great granddaughter; Mackenzie Elizabeth Overton.

A Celebration Service of Mr. Rawls life will be held 10 a.m.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006 at First Baptist Church Ahoskie, with Rev. Dr. Jesse J. Croom officiating.

The family will receive friends at Garrett Funeral Home, 205 N. C Highway 42 West Ahoskie, N.C. from 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 28, 2006 and other times at the home of Sherri R. Burgess 126 Beechwood Rd. Ahoskie, N.C.

Memorial Donations may be made to First Baptist Church Ahoskie, 320 West Main St. Ahoskie, N. C. 27910 or to a favorite charity.

Garrett Funeral Home is serving the Rawls family.

Sybil B. Early

AHOSKIE – Sybil Britton Early, 95, of the 400 block of Early Station Rd., died November 27, 2006 at Roanoke Chowan Hospital Ahoskie, N.C.

Mrs. Early was a native of Hertford County, a daughter of the late Charlie Nathan and Lillie Teaster Britton, and was a member of Earlys Baptist Church, where she served as church pianist for over 50 years, was a former youth director, a member of the W.M.U., and a former member of the Roanoke Chowan Ladies Auxiliary.

Mrs. Early and her late husband James Bertram Early, Sr. donated the land for the construction of Roanoke Chowan Hospital in early 1940’s.

Surviving are two daughters; Carolyn Early Brinkley and husband Robert E., Elaine Early Myers and husband Lawrence Wood

of Ahoskie, N.C., two sons; J.B. Early, Jr. and wife Linda, Joel David Early and wife Helen of Ahoskie, N.C., one sister; Nancy Britton Early, Ahoskie, N.C., three granddaughter; Paige Myers, Odenton, Md., Ashley Johnson , Ahoskie, N.C., Heather Lane, Rocky Mount, N. C., four grandsons; Robert E Brinkley, Jr. and Doug Brinkley of Ahoskie, N.C., Don Brinkley, New Bern, N.C., Joel David Brinkley, Jr. Greenville, N.C., four great granddaughters; Christie Brinkley, Jessica Brinkley, Jenna Brinkley, Elizabeth Brinkley, five great-grandsons; Robert E. Brinkley, III, Justin Brinkley, Jared Brinkley, Daniel Lane, and Devin Johnson.

A Celebration Service of Mrs. Early’s life will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 29, 2006 at Garrett Funeral Home 205 N.C. Highway 42 West, with Rev. Ronald W. McSwain and Rev. Dr. Jesse J. Croom officiating, burial will be in Highland Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends at the Funeral Home from 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 28, 2006, and other times at the home. Memorial Donations may be made to Earlys Baptist Church, 310 South Early Station Rd. Ahoskie, N.C. 27910 or to J. B. Early, Sr. scholarship fund, Chowan University, #1 University Place, Murfreesboro, N.C. 27855

Garrett Funeral Home is serving the Early family.

Larry Avent Jr.

HALIFAX n Larry Avent Jr., three-years-old, died November 25, 2006 at University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete. H.D. Pope Funeral Home, Roanoke Rapids, is in charge. Condolences may be sent to: www.hdpopefuneralhome.com.

Anthony Davis

BROOKLYN, N.Y. n Anthony Davis, died November 22, 2006 in Brooklyn.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Rosa Eaton

KELFORD n Rosa Eaton, died November 27, 2006 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.