Obituaries from the Saturday, July 19, 2008 issue of the Roxboro-Courier Times

Chester W. Holbrook

The funeral for Chester Wallice Holbrook, 60, of 938 Ephesus Church Rd., Semora, who died Friday, July 18, 2008, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center, will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 22, in Ephesus Baptist Church by the Rev. L.L. Watlington. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Born in Mecklenburg County, Va., Mr. Holbrook was the son of the late John Wesley and Sallie Nanniebet Wilbourne Holbrook. His late wife was Lula Inez Napier Holbrook, and his late brothers were Floyd Holbrook and Wesley Andrew Holbrook.

He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served during the Vietnam Era.

He was the owner of a taxicab company and was a member of Ephesus Baptist Church. 

Surviving are a daughter, Stephanie Dawn Holbrook and husband, Phillip Reaves, of Semora; three stepdaughters, Valerie J. Whitfield of Rockville, Md., Donna D. Rudder of Hurdle Mills and Elizabeth J. (Deedle) Owen of Semora; three stepsons, Johnny R. Reaves of Semora, Don Terry Reaves of Milton and Kevin J. Reaves of Semora; two brothers, James Holbrook of Caswell County, and Edward (Pinky) Holbrook of Gretna, Va.; two sisters, Sallie Ann Nelson and Daisy Koch, both of Milton; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Mike Oakley, Bruce Holbrook, Allen Napier, William Napier, John Oakley, Floyd Holbrook Jr., John Wesley King and Chad Napier.

Visitation will be from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday, July 21, at the Brooks & White Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the Ephesus Baptist Church, 1894 Ephesus Church Rd., Semora, NC 27343.

Condolences may be sent to www.brooksandwhite.com.

Henry E. O’Briant Jr.

WESTERLY, R.I. — The funeral for Henry E. O'Briant Jr., 75, of Westerly, R. I., who died suddenly Saturday, July 12, 2008, at the Yale-New Haven Hospital was conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 16, in The Dinoto Funeral Home in Historic Mystic. Burial, with military rites, was in the Veterans Cemetery in Exeter, R. I.

Born in Roxboro, Mr. O’Briant was the son of the late Henry E. O'Briant and Thelma (Bumpass) O'Briant. His three late sisters were Margaret O’Briant Maurer, Faye O’Briant White and Carolyn O'Briant.

He was graduated from Roxboro High School and attended Campbell College before joining the U.S. Coast Guard, from which he retired after serving 22 years. While in the Coast Guard he served on several weather cutters and shore stations.

After retiring from the Coast Guard, he was employed as a technical aide with General Dynamics, from which he retired after 20 years.

A resident of Westerly, R.I. for the last 34 years, Mr. O’Briant enjoyed gardening, woodworking and raking for quahogs.

Surviving are his wife of 50 years, Josephine (Dinoto) O'Briant; his son Henry E. O'Briant III and wife, Pamela (LeRoy) O'Briant of Moncks Corner, S.C. and his second son Michael T. O'Briant of Westerly; a sister Mary Katherine O’Briant Davis and husband Edwin H. Davis, of Roxboro; a brother Thomas M. O'Briant and wife Nancy O'Briant of Priest River, Idaho; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the RI Community Food Bank, 200 Niantic Ave., Providence RI 02907.

Elbert H. Sherman

The funeral for Elbert H. Sherman, 82, of 6087 Hobgood Rd. Rougemont, who died Sunday, July 13, 2008, at Treyburn Healthcare, was conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 15, in Trinity United Methodist Church by the Rev. Stuart Crank and the Rev. Herbert Brown. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Mr. Sherman was a native of Granville County, the son of the late Herman T. and Nannie Hobgood Sherman.

He was a U.S. Army veteran.

He was retired from Certainteed Corp. and was a retired farmer.

He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church.

Surviving are a son, W. Bert Sherman and, wife, Linda of Roxboro; a daughter, Nancy S. Jeffrey and husband, Martin, of Rougemont; a sister, Cindy S. Parker of Ashboro; a brother, Thomas Sherman of Oxford; two grandsons, Drew Jeffrey of Seattle, Wash. And Chris Jeffrey of Rougemont; a stepgrandson, Kevin Carver of Roxboro; and two step-great-grandsons, Austin and Cody Carver, both of Roxboro.

Memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church in care of Mrs. Josephine Huff, 6622 Old Roxboro Rd., Oxford, NC 27565.

Condolences may be sent to www.gnvfh.com.

Dennis D. Stone

ZEBULON — The funeral for Dennis David Stone, 28, of 88 Appaloosa Ln., Zebulon, who died Tuesday, July 15, 2008, at his home, was conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, July 18, in the Brooks & White Funeral Home chapel by Pastor Steve Reed and Pastor Charles Rambeau Jr.

Born in Person County, Mr. Stone was the son of David and Gara Painter Stone of Roxboro, who survive. His late maternal grandfather was John Dalton Painter, and his late paternal grandfather was Douglas James Lyles.

He was employed with Carolina Countertops and was a member of Thanksgiving Baptist Church in Selma. 

He was an avid basketball and softball coach through the Selma Parks and Recreation Department. 

He had a love for all sports.

Surviving in addition to his parents are his wife, Carrie Ault Stone; three children Jakob Cooper Stone, Brandi Renee Leland and Gavin Robert Leland; a sister, Gara Michele Stone of Raleigh; his maternal grandmother, Lillian D. Painter of Roxboro; and his paternal grandmother, Gracie Ridgeway Lyles of Roxboro.

Memorials may be made to the UnitedWithDennis Fund, in care of any Wachovia Bank.

Condolences may be sent to www.brooksandwhite.com.