Corine Russell Jones, 90, of 5625 Greenwood Road, died Saturday, Oct. 8, 2005, at Courtland HealthCare Center, Courtland. A native of Nansemond County, she was the widow of the late Edward Lee Jones and the fifth daughter of the late James Russell and Bessie Howell Russell.

She was educated in the public schools of Nansemond County and was a homemaker. She joined the Laurel Hill United Church of Christ at an early age and remained a faithful member until her health failed.

She was preceded in death by a son, Howard Lee Jones. She leaves to cherish her memory two sons, Herman (Mary) Jones and D. Nelson (Clarine) Jones; daughter-in-law Delois Jones; two sisters, Effie Russell of Suffolk and Lorraine Ransom of Cairo, Ga.; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; five sisters-in-law; two brothers-in-law; and a host of nieces, nieces, cousins and other friends.

The funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday Oct. 12, 2005, at Laurel Hill United Church of Christ by the Rev. J.J. Ferguson.. The body will be in the church at 11 a.m.

Interment will be in the Mt. Sinai Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive visitors and friends at the homeplace, 5625 Greenwood Road. Peebles Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Ricky J. Joe

Ricky J. Joe of 2396 Nansemond Parkway, Suffolk, died Oct. 8, 2005 in Obici Hospital. Funeral arrangements are pending with Crocker Funeral Home.

Frankie Lawrence

Frankie Lawrence of 45 Radford St., Portsmouth died Oct. 9, 2005, in Maryview Medical Center. Crocker Funeral home is handling arrangements.

Rufus D.

Lilley

Rufus D.

Lilley, 80, died Oct. 8, 2005. The retired owner and operator of R.D. Lilley Roofing, he was a native of Suffolk, a World War II U.S. Navy veteran, and a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church and the B&B Hunt Club.

He was the son of the late, Alice Dale and Floyd W. Lilley. He was also predeceased by a son, Robert D. “Bobby” Lilley; a sister, Jacqueline Lilley; and a brother, Robert Lilley.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Catherine T. Lilley of Suffolk; a daughter and son-in-law, Patricia L. Bailey and Phillip Bailey of Suffolk; a daughter-In-Law, Sherri B. Lilley of Suffolk and three granddaughters, Nicole Lilley, Heather Lilley and Christine Duke, all of Suffolk.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today at Hillcrest Baptist Church with Rev. Douglas Gibson and Rev. Jim George officiating. Friends may join the family at the residence. Interment will be held at Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens.

Contributions may be made to the Hillcrest Baptist Church Building Fund, 1637 Holland Road, Suffolk, Va. 23434 or the charity of choice.

James Mathias Sr.

James Wilson Mathias Sr. 66, died Oct. 8, 2005. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. today at the Eureka Baptist Church with the Rev. Cameron Currin officiating. Interment will be at Eureka Baptist Church Cemetery. Parr Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Ruth B. Peoples

Ms. Ruth Brown Peoples, 48, of 2618 Harrell Ave., Norfolk, died Oct. 7, 2005. A native of Ivor, she was the daughter of Vernice W. Brown and the late Richard H. Brown. She was preceded in death by a sister, Marnita Brown, and two brothers, John Earl Brown and Harvey Wayne Brown Sr.

She was a member of Gilfield Baptist Church where she served on several ministries, including the deaconess, choir and pastor’s aide.

Ruth attended public schools in Southampton County and graduated from Southampton High School in 1975. She continued her education at Norfolk State University and received a bachelor’s degree in education.

She later attended Old Dominion University where she received a master’s degree in early childhood education. Ruth was employed by Chesapeake Public Schools for 24 years.

She leaves to cherish her memory a son, Jesse Peoples Jr. and a daughter, Leah Peoples, both of Norfolk; her mother, Vernice Brown

of Ivor; a goddaughter, Chiqueita Clark of Wakefield; five sisters, Dorothy Butler of Portsmouth, June Charity of Windsor, Patricia (Wendell) Vaughan of Portsmouth, Joyce (Clyde) Holland of Suffolk; and Doris (James) Turner of Sedley; two brothers, Richard “Sonny” (Linda) Brown of Windsor and Beverly (DeAnne) Brown of West Jordan, Utah; three stepsisters, Monica Parker, Marion (Carroll) Stith of Wakefield and Stephanie (Wallace) Delk of Surry; a special aunt, Mrs. Ruth Lane; her ex-husband, Jessie Peoples Sr.; and a host of other relatives and friends.

The funeral service will be held at noon Thursday, Oct. 13, 2005, in Gilfield Baptist Church by the Rev. B. Eustice Mitchell. Interment will be in the church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 10 a.m. Thursday

The family will receive friends on from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Crocker Funeral Home Inc. and at other times at the home of her mother, Mrs. Vernice Brown, in Ivor. The family will assemble there on Thursday for the procession to the church.

Crocker Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Carrie P. Smith

Carrie Powell Smith, 88, of Sunbury died in Albemarle Hospital, Elizabeth City, N.C., on Oct. 7, 2005. The funeral service will take place at noon Oct. 11 at St. John AME Zion Church in Sunbury. Interment will follow at Drake Memorial Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Stallings Funeral Home in Gatesville.

Nettie Steward

Ms. Nettie Steward of Catensville, Md., died Oct. 9, 2005 in Mariner Health Care. Crocker Funeral Home is handling arrangements.