Michael Peterson Jr.

AHOSKIE – Michael Kwame’ Peterson Jr. (4 months), died November 26, 2006 at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie.

He was born on July 18, 2006 in Hertford County, NC to Michael Peterson and Virginia Barrow.

Survivors include one sister, Nijah Peterson of Ahoskie; his paternal grandparents, Nathan and Sharon Peterson of Brooklyn, NY;

and his maternal grandparents, Tommie and Carolyn Barrow of Ahoskie.

A funeral will be conducted at 12 noon Saturday at Corinth Church of Restoration in True Holiness by Rev. Keith Urquhart. Burial will be in the Parker family cemetery.

Hunter’s Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie is in charge.

Derek Sessoms

AHOSKIE n Derek Sessoms, died November 30, 2006, at his residence.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church by the Rev. Joseph Powell. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery, Ahoskie. Reynolds Funeral Home, Inc., Ahoskie, is in charge.

Sessoms was a member of Calvary Missionary Baptist Church.

Survivors include a son, Braxton Sessoms of Hopewell, Va.; one daughter, Tereka Sessoms of Atlanta, Ga.; and one brother, Earl Gaskins Jr. of Winton.

Walter Davis

PENDLETON — Walter Davis, 71, a native of Hertford County, died November 29, 2006.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, Como, by the Rev. Elliott Hill. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Hertford County Undertakers, Winton, is in charge.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Davis of Pendleton; one son, Tacoma Davis of Pendle-ton; and one brother, Lewis Davis of Upper Marlboro, MD.

Zakira A. Gatling

PATERSON, NJ n Zakira “Zak” Angelica Gatling, 19, a native of Bergen County, NJ, died November 25, 2006 at Nash General Hospital, Rocky Mount.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Branches Chapel Baptist Church, Rich Square, by the Rev. Tony M. Flood Sr. Burial will be in First Baptist Church cemetery, also Rich Square. A celebration of life was held at Grace Chapel Baptist Church, Paterson, Friday, December 1. Also a memorial service will be held at 12 noon on Thursday, December 7 at St. Augustine’s College, Raleigh. Wilder’s Funeral Home, Inc., Aulander, is in charge.

Miss Gatling was a sophomore at St. Augustine’s College, Raleigh. She was a member of St. Augustine’s Gospel Choir, Dance Troop, Miss Kappa 2006, AKA Teens, Grace Chapel Youth Inspirational Choir, Paterson and 2004 graduate of Mary Help of Christians Academy, Paterson.

Survivors include her parents, Margaret Gatling of Paterson and Marshall Berry of Mobile, Ala; her grandmother, Claretta Gatling of Rich Square; and her godmother, Janifer R. Johnson of Paterson.

Lorene Bailess Mayhew

Gretna……. Lorene Bailess Mayhew, age 79, of 31113 US Highway 29, Gretna died Friday, December 1, 2006 in Autumn Care of Altavista.  She fought a long courageous battle against diabetes.

Born July 31, 1927 in Pittsylvania County she was a daughter of the late James T. Bailess and Maude Dove Bailess.  She was predeceased by five brothers, Lacy Bailess, John Bailess, Leonard Bailess, Billy Bailess and Hester Bailess, three sisters, Helen Merricks, Elizabeth Bennett and Marie Bailess.  She was a member of Midway Baptist Church, a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Altavista Chapter and was a home maker.  Lorene enjoyed playing bridge and making crafts for the different seasons.

She is survived by her husband, Lanier Mayhew of the residence; one son, Chris Mayhew and wife, Penny of Mechanicsville; two daughters,  Dee Pierce and husband, Carl of Ahoskie, NC and Cindy Beard and husband, Billy of Evington; one sister, Burma Bennett of Hurt; four grandchildren, Jason Roberts and wife, Missy, Chad Mayhew, Zachary Mayhew and Nathan Pierce; two great-grandchildren, Jonathon Tucker and Areial Williams.

Funeral services will be conducted 2:00 p.m. Sunday, December 3, 2006 at the Colbert-Moran Chapel by the Rev. Dr. Lynn Marstin.  Interment will follow in Carl O. Moran Memorial Garden.

The family will receive friends at the residence.

Colbert-Moran Funeral Home, Gretna, Va., is in charge of arrangements.