Obituaries from the Wednesday, April 2, 2008 issue of the Roxboro-Courier Times

Eunice E. Ashley

The funeral for Eunice Evelyn Ashley, 79, of 1270 Ridge Rd., who died Saturday, March 29, 2008 at Durham Regional Hospital, was conducted at 3:30 p.m. Monday, March 31, in Longhurst United Methodist Church by the Rev. John Howle, the Rev. Jason Webster and the Rev. Herbert Brown. Burial was in the Providence Baptist Church cemetery.

Mrs. Ashley was a native of Person County, the daughter of the late John Albert and Marie Palmer Marston. Her late brothers were Haywood and Morris Marston.

She was a homemaker and a member of Longhurst United Methodist Church.

Surviving are her husband of 57 years, Lonzie Cletus Ashley; a daughter, Donna A. Pleasants and husband, Tommy, of Roxboro; a son, Mark Anthony Ashley and wife, Holly, of Roxboro; two sisters, Joyce Garrett and Doris Stephens; three brothers, Garnett, Kenneth and Reed Marston; four grandchildren, Shannon Lewis, Brooks Pleasants, Angel Ashley and Mark Ashley Jr.; and two great-grandchildren, Gaige Lewis and Abby Gail Lewis.

Pallbearers were Ronnie Ashley, Steve Ashley, Randy Garrett, Woody Marston, Daylon Seamons and Red Seamons.

Brian Futch and Al Morris were honorary pallbearers.

Memorials may be made to the Longhurst UMC, 291 Providence Rd., Roxboro, NC 27573.

Nellie S. Averett

OXFORD — The funeral for Nellie Slaughter Averett, 91, who died Saturday, Marsh 29, 2008, was conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, in the Gentry-Newell and Vaughan Funeral Home chapel. Burial was in the Rock Grove Baptist Church cemetery in Person County.

Mrs. Averett was a native of Granville County, the daughter of the late Moses and Della Davis Slaughter. Her late husband was Willie Averett. Her late brother was Herbert Yarborough.

She was retired from Burlington Mills, Oxford Plant.

She was a member of the Oxford United Methodist Church.

Surviving are a daughter, Patricia Averett Wilson and husband, James W. Jr., of Virgilina, Va.; a sister, Christine S. Rogers of Roxboro; three brothers, Elmo Slaughter of Roxboro, Henry Slaughter of Ashland, Tenn. and Paul Slaughter of Lancaster, Pa.; and a grandson, David James Wilson of Virgilina.

Condolences may be sent to www.gnvfh.com.

Kerri A. Cozart

Kerri Allyson Cozart age 50 of 73 Summer Ridge Road died Sunday, March 30, 2008 at her home. She was born in Person County. Her mother, Mary Alyce Chisholm Cozart proceeded her in death. Kerri was a 1975 Person Senior High School graduate. She was currently employed with E.M. Wilkerson & Son Contractors and prior to that was employed as manager of the Pizza Hearth for a number of years, she was also employed with Lewis Furniture Company and the NC Licenses Bureau both for a number of years.

Surviving are her father and step mother, Thomas Eugene Cozart, Sr. and his wife, Lee Brandon Cozart of Mt. Olive; two brothers, Tommy Cozart and wife, Penny, of Roxboro and Guy Cozart of Yulee, FL; one step-brother, Hart Pittard of Mt. Olive; two step-sisters, Lee Anne Hill of Deep Run, and Lisa Niemond of Mt. Olive; 7 nieces and nephews; and many beloved friends.

The family will receive friends 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM Wednesday, April 2, 2008 at Brooks & White Funeral Home

A memorial service will be 2:00 PM Thursday, April 3, 2008 at Brooks & White Chapel with the Rev. Herbert Brown officiating. A private burial will be at a later date.

Memorials Contributions may be made to the Person Memorial Hospital Oncology Clinic, Ridge Road, Roxboro NC 27573 or Home, Health, and Hospice of Person County, 355 S. Madison Blvd., Roxboro NC 27573

Condolences may be sent to www.brooksandwhite.com.

PAID FOR BY THE FAMILY

Cindy L. Crabtree

A memorial service for Cindy Lynn Crabtree, 40, of 1010 Holeman Ashley Rd., Timberlake, who died Sunday, March 9, 2008, will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 5, at Berry’s Grove Church by the Rev. Alfred Snipes.

Mrs. Crabtree was a native of Fairbourne, Ohio, the daughter of Billy and Linda Fowler of Green Sea, S.C., who survive.

Surviving in addition to her parents are her husband, Mitch Crabtree; five sons, Kaine Strickland of Green Sea, Will Bell and Kyle Bell, both of Gallavants Ferry, S.C., Lucas Crabtree of the U.S. Army and Mitchell Lee Crabtree of Burlington; her grandparents, Clayton and Carrie Fowler of Green Sea; and a granddaughter, Alisa Crabtree of New York.

James M. Hester

The funeral for James Matthew Hester, 78, of Roxboro, who died Friday, March 28, 2008 at his home, was conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, in Mt. Zion AME Church.

Mr. Hester was a native of Orange County, the son of the late A.D. and Mary Torain Hester and the stepson of the late Alberta Howard Hester.

He received his education from the Orange County school system graduating from Central High School in 1949. He received a degree in Mortuary Science from Dallas Institute Gupton Jones School of Mortuary Science, Dallas, Texas, in 1954.

He was a U.S. Army veteran.

For more than 20 years, he worked at the Veterans Administration Medical Center, in Durham. After his retirement he became president and co-founder of Hester, Whitted, and Daye Funeral Service in Roxboro and Hillsborough.

He was a member of Mt. Zion AME Church in Hillsborough; a member of the Prince Hall Order of Freemasons, which he served as secretary; Battle Ax Lodge No. 120 and Worthy Patron, Fidelity Chapel No. 576, Order of the Eastern Star.

Surviving are his wife, Hassie Torain-Hester; a daughter, Marguerite M. Hester of Roxboro; two stepdaughters, Gwendolyn Torain of Burlington and Deborah Torain of Greensboro; a sister, Cora Bell Walton of Hillsborough; a brother, Henry Hester of Washington D.C.; and a stepbrother, Clarence Howard of Washington D.C.

Alex J. Hora

The funeral for Alex John Hora, 20, of 235 Wimbledon Dr., who died Saturday, March 29, 2008 at his home, will be conducted at 11 a.m. today, April 2, in the Brooks & White Funeral Home chapel by the Rev. Tim Hyatt.

Mr. Hora was a native of Durham County, the son of Jeff and Susan Hora. His late maternal grandfather was Dr. Richard G. Stuelke.

He was a 2006 graduate of Person High School.

Surviving in addition to his parents are two sisters, Sara and Kadi Hora, both of the home; his paternal grandmother, Mary Foster of Birmingham, Ala.; his paternal grandfather and wife, Jaro, and Joanne Hora of West Branch, Iowa; and his maternal grandmother, Janice Lee Stuelke of Waterloo, Iowa.

Memorials may be made to the Youth for Christ, 80 Danwin Ln., Roxboro, NC 27573.

Condolences may be sent online at www.brooksandwhite.com.

Bennie M. Lunsford

Bennie Madison Lunsford, 83, of 4553 Oxford Rd. died Saturday, March 29, 2008. He was the son of the late Madison Murah and Lucy Evans Lunsford.

Bennie was a World War II Veteran, having served in the 60th Portable Surgical Hospital of the U.S. Army in Africa, India, Burma, and China. For ten years he was a general contractor in Person County and retired from Roberts Construction Company in Durham after 20 years of service. He was a member of the American Legion for over 44 years.

Bennie was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Blalock Lunsford, by his son, Bennie M. Lunsford, Jr., and a granddaughter, Becky Lynn Lunsford. Surviving are daughters Joan L. Harris and husband, Tommy, and Tanya L. Eakes and husband, Randy; grandchildren Benya L. Johnson and husband Gerald, Lisa H. Martindale, and Garla L. Blackwell and husband Jerry. Eight great-grandchildren and a nephew, Marshall Lunsford, also survive.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 31, 2008 at Surl Primitive Baptist Church by Elder David Minter.

No visitation is planned.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Person County Council on Aging, 121 Depot St., Roxboro NC 27573.

Condolences may be sent online to www.brooksandwhite.com.

PAID FOR BY THE FAMILY

Vera H. Solomon

The funeral for Vera Haley Solomon, 75, of 209 Montpelier Ave., who died Sunday, March 30, 2008 at her home, was conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, in the Swicegood Funeral Home chapel, in Danville, Va, by the Rev. Victor Blackwell. Burial was in the Danville Memorial Gardens.

Born in Brosville, Va., Mrs. Solomon was the daughter of the late Claude and Vivian Haley.

She was retired from Collins & Aikman Corp. after 33 years of service. She went to work at Food Lion part-time where she had five years of service.

She was a member of Olive Branch Church.

Surviving are five children, Angelia G. Beasley of Raleigh, T.W. Solomon and wife, Angie, Garry Solomon, Wilma Williams and husband, Randy and Teena Solomon; a brother, Alfred Haley; three sisters, Edna Ingram, Louise Collins and Emma Dillard, all of Brosville; and six grandchildren, Samantha, Brandie and Tabitha Williams, Paul Solomon and Nicholas and Nathan Teller.