Jesse F. Benthall

AHOSKIE n Jesse Fretwell Benthall, 75, of the 400 block of Lee Jernigan Road, died Tuesday, October 2, 2007, in his home.

Mr. Benthall was born in Hertford County, a son of the late Allie Colbert and Hazel Fretwell Benthall.

He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Ahoskie where he served as an elder of the church.

In 2005, Jesse was named Outstanding Older Adult by the Albemarle Presbyterian and was also honored for his lifetime membership of the church.

He was a retired farmer and had worked several part-time jobs including working with the Hertford County Water System for the past 15 years.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Dolores Pierce Benthall, his daughters, Winnie B. Matthews and husband, Larry, and Debbie B. Daughtridge, all of Ahoskie, and Annette B. Askew and husband, Eddie of Harrellsville.

He is also survived by his grandchildren, Jessica Matthews, Sarah Beth Greene, Anna Greene and Nathan Askew.

A celebration of life service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 4, 2007 at First Presbyterian Church of Ahoskie with the Rev. Richard Rice and the Rev. Robert Clark officiating.

Burial will follow in Ahoskie Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at Garrett Funeral Home, 205 NC Highway 42 West, Ahoskie, from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday and other times at the home.

Garrett Funeral Home is serving the Benthall family.

Reaner G. Martin

RICH SQUARE n Reaner Gatling Martin, 88, a native of Northampton County, died September 30, 2007 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

Mrs. Martin was a member of Jerusalem Baptist Church, Woodland.

Survivors include her daughters, Elizabeth McPherson of Norfolk, VA, and Willie Mae Bowser of Rich Square, Hattie Jenkins, Frances Harris and Clarice Murphy, all of NY; and a son, Joseph Martin of Roxobel.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 pm. Saturday at Jerusalem Baptist Church by the Rev. John Grant. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Wilder’s Funeral Home Inc., Aulander, is in charge.

Ja’Marion P. Harvey

ROANOKE RAPIDS n Ja’Marion Portela Harvey, 23 months, died September 27, 2007 at Halifax Regional Medical Center, Roanoke Rapids.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Roanoke Rapids Chapel of H.D. Pope Funeral Home by Pastor Jarvis Brown. Interment will be in Oakridge Cemetery, Weldon.

Melvin Harrell

ROCKY MOUNT n Melvin Harrell, 83, died October 2, 2007 at his residence.

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

Ethel M. Rooks

LEWISTON n Ethel Mae Rooks, 93, a native of Bertie County, died September 28, 2007 at Three Rivers Rehab, Windsor.

She was a homemaker.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday at Beautiful Zion Baptist Church, Lewiston, by Bishop Bryant Hill. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Cherry’s Funeral Home is in charge.

Valerie R. Wiggins

COMO n Valerie Rene\u00E9 Wiggins, died September 29, 2007 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday in Woodland Kingdom Hall, Woodland. Interment will be private. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Survivors include two sons, Justin LeDari Wiggins and Devantae Rashaun Wiggins, both of Como; mother, Mamie L. Daniel Wiggins of Como; six brothers, Joseph Wiggins of Como, Arnold P. Wiggins, Robert Wiggins and Michael Wiggins, all of Ahoskie, Timothy Wiggins of Philadelphia, Pa., and Gregory Wiggins of Australia; five sisters, Mamie Virginia W. Keyes of Murfreesboro, Sylvia E. Miller and Gwendolyn W. Jernigan, both of Ahoskie, Connie V. Gregory of Newport News, Va., and Lynn Cherry Miller of Hampton.

George G. Mitchell

UPPER MARLBORO, MD n George G. Mitchell, died September 30, 2007 at Washington Hospital Center.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at Conoconary Baptist Church, Aulander. Interment will be in the family cemetery, Hexlena Rd. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Survivors include his wife, Hattie Bullock Mitchell of Upper Marlboro; one daughter, Tia Mitchell of Tallahassee, Fla.; two sisters, Cora M. Dunn of Brooklyn, NY and Terry M. Freeman of Newport News, Va.; and two brothers, John Mitchell of Hyattsville, Md., and Jimmie Mitchell of Greenville.