Ruth V. Byrd

VIRGINIA BEACH n Ruth Vann Byrd, 83, of the 1600 block of Old Donation Pky, formerly of Murfreesboro, NC, died Saturday, October 7, 2006, in Sentara Windermere in Virginia Beach.

Mrs. Byrd was born in Northampton County, a daughter of the late Bennie H. and Bettie Futrell Vann.

She was preceded in death by her brothers Hinton Lee Vann and Benjamin Thomas Vann.

She was a member of Meherrin Baptist Church and had retired as a supervisor at Sunbeam Company and later Rollic Inc.

Left to cherish her memory is her husband, Southgate Byrd; children, Gerald Lee Byrd and wife, Carolyn of Bassett, VA, Donnie Vann Byrd and wife, Anita of

Elizabeth City, NC, LouAnn Fulks and husband, Bryan of Virginia Beach; daughter-in-law, Kathryn Byrd of Conway, NC; grandchildren, Nicholas Fulks, Angela White and husband Dean; Nicole Fleming and husband Patrick; Karen, Tyler, Brittany, Andy and Kim, Sandy and Jackie; and great grandchildren, Nathan, Ryan, Joshua, Daniel, Donna Rae, Olivia, Hannah, and Elizabeth.

A celebration service of Mrs. Byrd’s life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at Meherrin Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, NC, with the Rev. Billy Sellers officiating.

Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the church from 1:00 until 2:45 p.m. prior to services.

Memorial donations may be made to Meherrin Baptist Church, 519 Meherrin Ave., Murfreesboro, NC, 27855.

Garrett Funeral Home is serving the Byrd family.

Nettie S. Harrell

AHOSKIE n Nettie Sumner Harrell, 97, a native of Bertie County, died October 7, 2006, in Roanoke Chowan Hospital. She was the widow of Raleigh C. Harrell.

Mrs. Harrell was a member of Center Grove Baptist Church for 60 years.

She was a homemaker.

Survivors include six daughters, Evelyn Palmer of Holbrook, MA, Barbara Perry of Ahoskie, Lucy Paul of Sarasota, FL, Faye Askew of Suffolk, VA, Linda Montarono of Mesa, AZ, and Eleanor Runfola of Scottsdale, AZ; a son, Adolph M. Harrell of Ahoskie; 26 grandchildren; 56 great grandchildren; and 14 great-great-grandchildren.

A celebration service was conducted Monday at Center Grove Baptist Church by the Rev. Tommy Kiker.

Burial followed in Ahoskie Cemetery. Garrett Funeral Home, Ahoskie, was in charge. Memorial donations may be made to Center Grove Baptist Church Building Fund, 826 Center Grove Road, Ahoskie, NC, 27910, or to Colerain Rescue Squad, C/O Andrew Brabble, 3041 Wakelon Road, Colerain, NC, 27924.

Annette Lynch

ROANOKE RAPIDS n Annette Lynch, 48, died October 6, 2006 at Halifax Regional Medical Center.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete. H.D. Pope Funeral Home in Roanoke Rapids, is in charge.

Retha M. Vann

MURFREESBORO n Mrs. Retha Martin Vann, age 92, of Murfreesboro, NC, died Saturday, October 7, 2006.

Mrs. Vann was born Sept. 4, 1914, the daughter of the late Cola F. Martin and Quillie Askew Martin. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Charlie Q. Vann. She was a member of Ashley Grove Baptist Church.

Survivors include her sons, David Martin Vann and his wife, Vera, Albert William Vann and his wife, Linda, Kenneth B. Vann and his wife, Mary “Pinky,” all of Conway, NC and Charlie Ray Vann of Sherman, Texas. Her sister, Nettie Ruth Futrell of Milwaukee. Eleven grandchildren, Vera Ricks and her husband Anthony, David Q. Vann and his wife, Dianne, Loretta Clark and her husband Michael, Danny Vann and his wife Sondra, Wendy V. Howard and her husband Stuart, Albert Neil Vann, Shana Vann, Shelly Vann Cummings and her husband Phil, Charles Vann and his wife, Amanda, Mark Vann and his wife Melanie. Also many great-grandchildren and many great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held, Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 2 p.m. at Ashley Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. David Ross officiating. Burial will be follow at Milwaukee Cemetery.

The family received friends at Massey Funeral Home in Jackson, NC, Monday from 7 until 9 p.m.

Condolences may be sent to the family at MasseyFuneralHm@aol.com.

William E. Elliott

GATESVILLE n William E. “Buddy” Elliott, 73, died October 5, 2006 at Albemarle Hospital, Elizabeth City.

A funeral was conducted Monday at Greater Welch’s Chapel Baptist Church, Tyner, by the Rev. Franklin L. Griffin. Burial was in the church cemetery. Stallings Funeral Home, Gatesville, was in charge.

Survivors include his wife, Bertha Lee Elliott; two daughters, Elizabeth Elliott-Powell of Gatesville and Gloria Grant of Lewiston; one son, William Elliott Jr. of Sunbury; five sisters, Alice Sergent, Marie Jordan and Wyoming Elliott, all of Plainfield, NJ, Mary Holley of Chowan and Rosanell Nowell of Sunbury; and four brothers, Ercel Elliott of Hobbsville, Louis Elliott

and Charlie Elliott, both of Sunbury and Leroy Elliott of Plainsfield.

John Alan Hassell

GATES – John Alan Hassell, 43, Oct. 2, 2006.

Hassell had previously worked for W.E. Curling Contractors of Chesapeake for 22 years but was currently employed by Kennedy Construction Company.

Survivors include his mother, Mary M. Hassell; his wife, Angela M. Hassell; a daughter, Jacqueline O. Bell; two sons, Patrick &uot;Dale&uot; Foxwell and Adam Foxwell; three brothers, Christopher Kennedy, James Hassell, and Joseph &uot;Joey&uot; Hassell; and four grandchildren.

A memorial service will be conducted at 3 p.m. Tuesday in Sturtevant Funeral Home, Portsmouth Blvd. Chapel. The family will receive friends at the funeral home following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to John’s favorite national wildlife refuge.

Robert L. Baggett Sr.

KILL DEVIL HILLS -Robert Lee Baggett Sr., 84, a native of Rich Square, died Oct. 3, 2006. He was the widower of Mary Midgette Baggett.

Baggett was a veteran of the U.S. Army after World War II.

Survivors include his children, Roberta King of Kill Devil Hills, Gloria J. Wall of Colington, Robert Baggett of Powells Point, Carolyn Spencer of Chesterfield, Va., Juanita Gray of Point Harbor, Albert Baggett of Richmond, Va., and a foster son, Kenneth Newman, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; three sisters, Margaret Johnson of Courtland, Iona Whisenart of Morganton and Helen Toombs of Powhatan; 16 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren.

The family desires that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Cancer Society, either local or national organization. A memorial service was conducted Saturday at the Grandy Assembly of God Church by Pastor Steven King.

Maestas & Bailey Funeral Home and Cremation Care Center, 1801 Baltic Ave., Virginia Beach, was in charge.

Joseph Salter

GATES – Joseph &uot;Jo-Jo&uot; Salter, 29, died September 28, 2006 in Suffolk.

Survivors include his mom and dad, Dewey and Beverly Salter; and many siblings, Alana Palmer, Michelle Bosley, Dewey Salter, Marie Preas, John Salter and Mike Salter.

Private family services will be held. The Cremation Society of Virginia, Virginia Beach, is in charge. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Isaiah 40 Memorial Fund, c/o Southern Bank, 203 Main St., Gatesville, NC 27938.