Mary Lawson Hodges

Mary Lawson Hodges, 80, of Virginia Beach died December 20, 2006 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Virginia Beach. Mrs. Hodges was born in South Boston on August 30, 1926, the daughter of the late Joseph Stebbins Lawson and Elizabeth Houston Lawson and was married to the late Alexander Westwood Hodges. She moved to Virginia Beach in 1978 where she was a teacher at Town and Country Day School in Norfolk until her retirement. Survivors include three daughters, Mary Armistead Hodges Mack of Al;exandria, Elizabeth Hodges Sheriff and her husband, John of Virginia Beach and Anne Westwood Hodges McLaughlin and her husband Michael, also of Virginia Beach, eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren, a sister, Margaret Lawson Craighill and her husband Lloyd of Lexington and a sister-in-law, Kathryn Chaffin Lawson of South Boston. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alexander Westwood Hodges, her son, Alexander Westwood Hodges, Jr. and her brother Joseph Stebbins Lawson, Jr.
A graveside service was held at the Armistead Family Cemetery at 2042 Armistead Road, Nathalie at 12 noon on Saturday, December 23. Those wishing to give memorials are asked to conseder the Patrick Henry Boys Home, The National Down Syndrome Society or The Arthritis Foundation.

Mrs. Linda Ferrell Elliott

Mrs. Linda Ferrell Elliott of  2606 Halifax Road, South Boston, died Friday, December 22, 2006 after a long battle with "COPD" Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease . She is survived by her Husband Thomas R. Elliott Jr. of the home, two sons, Thomas C. "Chris Elliott and Michael Kevin Elliott both of South Boston and one daughter, Susan Denise Elliott of Charleston South Carolina, her Parents Mr.& Mrs. L.T. "Shoat" Ferrell Sr. of  Halifax Va, one sister, Susan Wilbourne of South Boston and one brother Tee Ferrell of Alton. She was an Officer with Elliott Electric, Inc. She was a member of First Baptist Church and a former member of the Junior Woman's Club of Halifax. Funeral Services were held on Sunday, December 24, at 3 pm at First Baptist Church with burial in the  Oak Ridge Cemetery. Arrangements were by Brooks Funeral Home, Inc

Mrs. Cary Lovelace Chandler

Mrs. Cary Lovelace Chandler of 2009 Crawford Road, Halifax died Wednesday, December 20, 2006 at The Woodview Nursing Home at the age of 97. Born in Halifax County on February 16, 1909 to the late Mr. John Lovelace and Mrs. Minnie Long Lovelace, she was married to the late Mr. Harrison Chandler and was a member of Berry Hill Baptist Church. Mrs. Chandler is survived by five daughters, Mrs. Bonnie Womack of Baltimore, MD, Mrs. Novella Leigh of South Boston, Mrs. Gladys Edmonds, Mrs. Louise Chandler and Mrs. Thelma Leigh, all of Halifax, three sons, Mr. Earl Chandler of Philadelphia, PA, Mr. Lawrence Chandler and Mr. John Chandler, both of Halifax, a sister, Mrs. Sally Bowman of Pittsburg, PA and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by one son, Mr. Roger Chandler and one daughter, Mrs. Alberta Williamson. A funeral service for Mrs. Chandler was conducted on Saturday, December 23 at 11 a.m. at Berry Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. Tommy Crews officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Mr. Thomas Bernard Cowden, Jr

Mr. Thomas Bernard Cowden, Jr. of South Boston died Thursday, December 21, 2006 at Halifax Regional Hospital. Born in Red Bank, New Jersey on March 24, 1941, he was 65 at the time of his death. He was the son of the late Thomas Bernard Cowden, Sr. and Evelyn Doyd Cowden and was married to Janet Brady Cowden. He was a member of St. Paschal's Catholic Church.
Mr. Cowden is survived by his wife of the home, two daughters, Dorothy Cowden of Plymouth, Connecticut and Patricia C. Walton of Howell, New Jersey and one son, Thomas B. Cowden, III of Larkspur, California and one sister, Dorothy C. Duncan of High Land, New Jersey. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Bruce and Bernie Cowden, and a sister, Helen Keefer.
A memorial service was held Saturday, December 23 at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with Father Steve Andes officiating.

Mrs.. Bertha Fisher Motley

Mrs. Bertha Fisher Motley of Nathalie died Wednesday, December 20, 2006 at The Woodview Nursing Home. She was born March 2, 1912 in Halifax County and was 94 years old. She was the daughter of George William Fisher and Lean Stowe Fisher and was married to Willie Raymond Motley. She was a member of the Catawba Baptist Church. Mrs. Motley is survived by two daughters, Virginia M. Anderson and husband Billy of Nathalie and Mary Edness Smith of Norfolk, four grandchildren, Carroll Anderson and wife Marie of Nathalie, Regina LaPorte and husband, Gary of Nathalie, Lorrie Todd and husband, Richard of Cary, NC, Ginger Abreu and husband, Wesley of Virginia Beach and five great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by seven brothers, George, Richard, Ocie, Horace, Floyd, Lewis and Roy Fisher and four sisters, Lydia Fisher, Gracie Dodson, Thelma Wilkerson and Elsie Fisher.
A funeral service for Mrs. Motley was conducted Saturday, December 23 at 2 p.m. at Catawba Baptist Church with the Rev Tony Sisk and the Rev. David Dickerson officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery. For memorials please consider a charity of choice.

Melissie Cole Carter,

Melissie Cole Carter, 79, of 3979 Halifax Road, South Boston died Tuesday, December 19, 2006 at Person Memorial Hospital. Born in Person County, she was the daughter of the late Arthur Chappel and Mammie Wilbourn Cole. She was a homemaker and a member of Mill Creek Baptist Church, the Todd Sunday School and sang in the church choir. Mrs. Carter was preceded in death by three sisters. Mrs. Carter is survived by her husband of 59 years, 11 months, George Raymond Carter, a daughter, Nancy Carter Hall and husband Kenneth of Sutherlin, three brothers, Arthur Cole of Mebane, Robert Fred Cole of Roxboro and Dandy Cole of Timberlake, three sisters, Nannie Talley and Hattie Mae Warren, both of Alton, and Florence Yarboro of Roxboro, one grandchild, Dianna Wray Hall of Sutherlin, three step grandchildren and seven step great grandchildren. A funeral service for Mrs. Carter was held at 2 p.m. on Friday, December 22 at Mill Creek Baptist Church with the Rev. Brian Hager and the Rev. Tommy Robertson officiating. Burial followed in Alton Baptist Church cemetery in Alton. Memorials may be made to Mill Creek Baptist Church, 1890 Mill Creek Road, Roxboro, NC 27574.

Mrs. Phebe Roberts Ward,

Mrs. Phebe Roberts Ward, 91, formerly of Halifax County, died December 16, 2006 at her home in Annapolis, Maryland. Born in Halifax County on September 11, 1915 she was the daughter of the late Thomas Reeks Roberts and Lucy Careless Nash and was married to the late Arthur Easton Ward. She was a member of Dan River Baptist Church and was a registered nurse.
Mrs. Ward is survived by a daughter Lucy Carter of Laurel, Delaware, sons, Thomas Ward of New Mexico, Arthur Ward of Seattle, WA, Mervin Ward of Riverdale, MD, Edgar Ward of Halifax, seven grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.

 Ruby Hite Jones

 Funeral services for Ruby Hite Jones, 74, of Clarksville were held Thursday at Clarksville Baptist Church with interment at the Eternity Mausoleum in Oakhurst Cemetery. The Rev. Gregory Randall officiated. She died Tuesday, December 19, at MeadowView Terrace in Clarksville.
Mrs. Jones was a daughter of Silas Costello and Hallie Nunn Hite, and the widow of Edward Earl Jones. She worked in retail and administration for many years at Burlington Industries, and at Clarksville Florist and Hite’s Department Store. Surviving Mrs. Jones are sons and daughters-in-law, Edward Earl Jr. and Lucy Jones of Fuquay-Varina, N.C., Jeffrey Hite and Carol Ann Jones of Clarksville, and Todd Scott and Tanya Jones of Nelson. Also surviving is one sister, Gwendolyn H. Talley of Virgilina, and brothers Silas Linwood Hite and Dale Lane Hite, both of Clarksville, Donald Leon Hite of Buffalo Junction, and grandchildren Ian Jones, Chandler Jones, Lauren Jones and Hite Jones. Those considering a memorial are asked to consider the Pittard Park Fund, c/o Clarksville Baptist Church, P.O. Box 126, Clarksville, Va. 23927.
Condolences may be expressed at www.wclfh.com.

Bernard Howard Wilkerson

Bernard Howard Wilkerson, 89, of 4080 Clays Mill Road, Halifax died December 20, 2006, at Halifax Regional Hospital. Mr. Wilkerson was born in Halifax County on December 9, 1917, to the late Willie Wilkerson and Ellen Foster Wilkerson and was married to the late Susie Penick Wilkerson. He was a member of Traynham Grove Baptist Church. Survivors include five daughters, Laura W. Dance of Paterson, N.J., Yvonne W. Hankerson of Woodbridge, Althea W. Penick, Susan W. Wyche and Cecil Lorraine W. Dance, all of Halifax; one son, Richard R. Wilkerson of Halifax; 18 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; one daughter-in-law, Emma Wilkerson of Halifax; three sons-in-law, William H. Hankerson of Alexandria, Ledges L. Penick and Lindbergh Wyche Jr., both of Halifax; two sisters-in-law, Mamie White and Amanda Wilkerson, both of Nathalie; and one brother-in-law, Lester Collins of Bennettsville, S.C. One son, Willie Junior Wilkerson; one grandson, Jeffrey Allen Wilkerson; four brothers Arthur, Durrell, Waverly and Willie Wilkerson; and one sister, Laura Wilkerson, preceded Mr. Wilkerson in death. Funeral services will be held December 26, at 11 a.m. at Traynham Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Keen officiating. Burial will follow in Crystal Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. The family is receiving friends at the home. Public viewing will be December 24, from 2 to 6 p.m.