Veda Merrill
Avon, NC
Veda Gray Merrill, 68, of Avon, NC died on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 in a Chesapeake, VA hospital. Mrs. Merrill, a native of Avon, was a manager for the Outer Banks Motel and a member of St. Johns United Methodist Church. She was the daughter of the late Burgess and Amanda Gray. She was also preceded in death by a son, Darrell “Buddy” Merrill, Jr., and a brother, Tillman Ray Gray.
Mrs. Merrill is survived by her husband, Darrell Thomas Merrill of the residence; a daughter, Della Ray Green of Avon; a son, William “Billy” Merrill also of Avon; a brother-in-law, Winston Merrill of VA; and three grandchildren, Amanda Hooper, Michael Green, Jr., and William Merrill, Jr.
Funeral services will be held at the Avon Worship Center on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 1:00 pm with Rev. Bryan Gray officiating. Burial will be in the Gray Family Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church on Friday from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.
Twiford Funeral Home, Hatteras, NC is assisting the family with arrangements.
Franklin Burnham
Benjamin Franklin “Frank” Burnham, 79, of 276 Horseshoe Road, South Mills, NC died Sunday, November 27, 2011 at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Born in Camden County, NC, he was the son of the late Isaac Almond and Ella Louise Weeks Burnham and was the husband of the late Karen Howard Burnham. Mr. Burnham was a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church; a graduate of South Mills High School; a veteran of the U.S. Army; and the owner/operator of Burnham’s Service Station. He enjoyed stock car racing; had won the Virginia State Sportsman Championship in 1966; and had been active in horse racing for twenty-five years.
Mr. Burnham is survived by his son, Mike Burnham and wife Leona of South Mills, NC; a sister, Myra Gregory and husband Joe of Brandon, FL; two grandchildren, Jenna and Josh Burnham; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and his wife, he was preceded in death by a son, Chris Burnham.
A funeral service will be conducted Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at Twiford’s Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Frank Thigpen officiating. Burial will be in the South Mills Cemetery. The family will receive friends in the lobby of the funeral home immediately following the chapel service and at other times at their residence. The family suggests donations in memory of Frank be sent to Ebenezer Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 219, South Mills, NC 27976 or to one’s favorite charity. Twiford Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 405 East Church Street, Elizabeth City, NC is serving the Burnham family. Condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting www.twifordfh.com.
Keith Johnson-Smith
Colington, NC
Keith Allen Johnson-Smith, 44, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, November, 27, 2011. Born in Tioga County, New York, he was the son of Bonita Smith (nee Darrow) and Kenneth Smith, Sr., currently of Little Meadows, PA. Keith loved motorcycles and going to the beach. He will be remembered for his appreciation of eagles and was an avid collector of eagle memorabilia. In his spare time, Keith enjoyed surfing the internet and facebook. He will be deeply missed by his numerous friends and family members including several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
In addition to his parents, Keith is survived by his daughter, Amber Marie Johnson of Garfield Heights, Ohio, three brothers, Ricky of Little Meadows, PA, Michael Bradoski, and Kenneth Smith, Jr. of Colington, NC, and two sisters, Jennifer and Anita.
The Funeral will be held at 3:00 pm on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at Twiford Funeral Home in Manteo with visitation one hour prior to the service, 2 – 3:00 pm. At a future date, in accordance with his wishes, he will be cremated. In addition to flowers, contributions to the family, in memory of Mr. Keith Allen Johnson-Smith, can made to the East Carolina Bank, 2721 South Croatan Highway Nags Head, NC 27959-9023, (252) 441-5588.
Twiford Funeral Home, Manteo, NC is assisting the family with arrangements.
Ernest Berry
Ernest Ronald Berry, Sr. “Ford Plant Big D”, 82 of 603 First St. in Elizabeth City, NC died Monday, November 28, 2011 at his residence. He was a native of Norfolk, VA, son of the late Rodney and Mrs. Zola Mae Willoughby Berry and the widower of Shirley Ann Hite Berry. Mr. Berry had retired from the Norfolk Ford Plant with fifty-three years of service as a supervisor.
He is survived by a daughter, Connie Jean Berry of Pamlico County, NC; two sons, Ronald Ernest Berry of Elizabeth City, NC and Ernest R. Berry III and wife Diane “Punky Poo” of Belvidere, NC; his fiancée, Maria Centura; two brothers, Howard “Chubby” Berry of Delaware and Joe Berry of Tennessee; five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Mr. Berry was loved by his family and friends. A special thanks to Diane Berry for three years of loving care by his bedside.
The family will receive friends at Twiford Funeral Home, Memorial Chapel 405 East Church Street, Elizabeth City, NC on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 from 7:00 until 8:00 p.m. A private burial will be at a later date. Twiford Funeral Home, Memorial Chapel, 405 East Church Street, Elizabeth City, NC is serving the Berry family. You may express condolences to the family by visiting www.twifordfh.com.
Bailey Sawyer
Bailey Purcell Sawyer, 75, of 1200 S. Highway 343, Shiloh, NC died Sunday, November 27, 2011 at Albemarle Hospital. Born in Camden County, NC, he was the son of the late Bailey Hales and Ruby Hughes Sawyer and was the husband of the late Myra Faye Evans Sawyer. Mr. Sawyer was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church, Hall Masonic Lodge #53 AF & AM and of the Camden Volunteer Fire Department. He was retired from the U.S. Army National Guard and had worked for Allstate Building Supply.
Mr. Sawyer is survived by two sons, Randy Sawyer of Shiloh, NC and Michael Sawyer of Goldsboro, NC; a Goddaughter, Amy Cole of Jacksonville, FL; a sister, Esther Harrison of Elizabeth City, NC; two brothers, Jimmy Sawyer and wife Mary and William Sawyer, all of Elizabeth City, NC; two grandchildren, Sarah Dahlke and husband Jacob and Dillon Sawyer; one great-grandson, Aiden Dahlke; and six nieces.
A graveside funeral service will take place Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at West Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at Twiford Memorial Chapel and at other times at the residence. Twiford Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 405 East Church Street, Elizabeth City, NC is serving the Sawyer family. Condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting www.twifordfh.com.
Margaret Howard
Margaret Boyd Howard, 73, of Wanchese, died Sunday November 27, 2011 in her residence. Mrs. Howard was born in Portsmouth, VA and was a homemaker. She was a member of Saint Andrews by the Sea Episcopal Church and was a former member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Portsmouth, VA. Mrs. Howard was an avid gardener and enjoyed sewing and quilting.
Mrs. Howard was predeceased by her parents Joseph Todd Boyd and Hazel Hope Buchanan Boyd Martin. She is survived by husband Leon Richard Howard of the home.
Besides her husband, surviving are four sons, L.R. “Dick” Howard, Jr of Aylett, VA, Robert Leslie Howard of Newport, NC, John Michael Howard of White Fish, MT and Joseph Carl Howard of Grandy; one brother, Allen Todd Boyd of Portsmouth, Va, two grandchildren, Sean Matthew Howard and Derek Andrew Howard and one step-granddaughter Olivia Bullock.
A service of remembrance will be in Trinity Episcopal Church in Portsmouth, VA, Friday December 2, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be in Trinity Episcopal Church Court Yard. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 930 B. Wellness Drive, Greenville, NC 27834.
Twiford Funeral Home, Manteo, NC is assisting the family with arrangements.
Rudolph Stetson
Rudolph Edward “Tater” Stetson, 93, of Colington, died Saturday November 26, 2011, in Virginia Beach, VA. Mr. Stetson was born in Colington and retired as a commercial fisherman. He was a member of Colington United Methodist Church and South Norfolk Moose Lodge. Mr. Stetson served his country honorably in the U.S. Army.
He was the son of the late John Tuttle and Etta Pugh Stetson. Surviving are two sisters, Ruth Gray and Nola Smith both of Virginia Beach, VA; a nephew Malcolm Stetson and niece Linda D. Palmer and two special friends, Pam Dunn and Virginia Smith.
A celebration of life will be in Colington United Methodist Church, Wednesday November 30, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. by Rev. Teresa Holloway. Burial with military honors will be in Hilltop Cemetery in Colington. Friends may join the family at Twiford Funeral Home Tuesday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Twiford Funeral Home, Manteo, NC is assisting the family with arrangements.
Anne Alexander
Anne M. Hardison Alexander, 76, of 123 Nixonton Loop, Elizabeth City, NC 27909, died Friday, November 25, 2011 at her home. Born in Pasquotank County, NC, she was the daughter of the late Charles Leamon and Cora McKimmey Hardison and was the wife of the late George Worthington Alexander. Mrs. Alexander was an accountant for Dolphin Systems.
She is survived by her son, Robert Dean Carlson, Jr. of Silver Spring, Maryland; her sister, Sharon Harris of Elizabeth City, NC; her close friend and sister-in-law Susie A. Gonzalez; as well as many loving and loved nieces and nephews in and around the area.
At Mrs. Alexander’s request, there will be no memorial service planned. For those wishing to visit with the family there will be a visitation at the Alexander home at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 29, 2011. Burial will be in New Hollywood Cemetery. Twiford Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 405 East Church Street, Elizabeth City, NC is serving the Alexander family. Condolences may also be expressed to the family by visiting www.twifordfh.com.
Aver Wilkins
Aver Hales Wilkins, 88 of 1206 Salem Church Road in Elizabeth City, NC died Friday November 25, 2011 in the Albemarle Hospital. She was a native of Wayne County, NC, the daughter of the late Charles Wilbert Hales and Martha Mable Rich Hales and the widow of William “Bill” Wilkins. Mrs. Wilkins was retired from the Albemarle Hospital as second floor charge nurse (LPN) and a member of the Blackwell Memorial Baptist Church.
She is survived by a daughter Phyllis Burgess and husband Dan of Elizabeth City, NC, two sons Hugh E. Hales and wife Linda of Tarboro, NC, William “Billy” Wilkins and wife Katherine of Florida, a daughter in law Margaret Ralph of Elizabeth City, NC, two sisters Evelyn Clay of Enfield, NC, Peggy Carlisle and husband George of Princeton, NC, one brother Eleman Hales and wife Sally of Goldsboro, NC, twelve grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son Marion Ralph Sr. and a special brother-in-law, Melvin Ralph.
A graveside service will be held Monday, November 28, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at West Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Bryan Pease officiating. The family will receive friends Sunday evening from 5:00 p. m. till 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home and all other times at the residence. Twiford Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 405 East Church Street, Elizabeth City, NC is serving the Wilkins family. You may express condolences to the family by visiting www.twifordfh.com.
Earnest Morgan
Earnest Irdell Morgan, 83, formerly of Lane Drive, Elizabeth City, NC died Thursday, November 24, 2011 at Waterbrooke of Elizabeth City. Mr. Morgan, a native of Pasquotank County, was the son of the late Joseph Fentress Morgan and Martha Susan Chappell Morgan and the widower of Wyona “Gray” Bennett Morgan. He was a retired salesman for East Carolina Supply Company, a member of City Road United Methodist Church, Eureka Lodge # 317 AF&AM, Sudan Shriners in New Bern, NC, a former Boy Scout Leader and a veteran of the United States Air Force.
He is survived by two daughters, Paula Ewell and husband Roger and Sandra Herron and husband Clay all of Elizabeth City, NC; a son, Mark Fentress Morgan of Arlington, VA; two sisters, Doris Ward and husband Charles of Elizabeth City, NC and Carolyn Chevrier and husband Richard of Conover, NC; a brother, Cosby Jones Morgan and wife Cindy of Fletcher, NC; six grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.
No services are planned at his request. Twiford Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 405 East Church Street, Elizabeth City, NC is serving the Morgan family. You may express condolences by visiting www.twifordfh.com.