Sep 2, 2010

Cherrion L. Andrews, 41, of New Brunswick, N.J., and formerly of Axton, died Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010, at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.

He was born in Virginia to James Andrews of Charlotte, N.C., and Doris “Dot” Andrews of Carteret, N.J. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, James and Hattie Andrews, and his grandfather, Elgin “Big Boy” Martin.

Surviving, in addition to his parents, are two children, Hyson Andrews and Ashley Andrews of the home; a sister, Rewa Andrews of Carteret; a brother, James “Lamont” Andrews Jr. of Carteret; his grandmother Levonia Martin of Axton; and a number of aunts, uncles and cousins.

The funeral will be at noon Monday at Anderson Funeral Home in New Brunswick. Burial will be in New Brunswick.

Hairston Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.

Sep 2, 2010

The funeral for E. Bernard Bowles, 90, of Bassett, who died Aug. 30, 2010, at the V.A. Medical Center in Salem, will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Moody Funeral Home in Stuart with the Rev. Rick Anderson officiating. Burial will be in the Bowles family cemetery with military honors by the Patrick County Veterans Memorial Honor Guard.

The family will receive friends for one hour before the service Friday at the funeral home.

Bowles was born Nov. 12, 1919, in Patrick County to Charles William Bowles and Carrie Lou Spencer Bowles. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters, Nellie Bowles, Bessie Via and Bertha Washburn; and six brothers, Sell Bowles, Kell Bowles, Everett Bowles, Claude Bowles, Lannie Bowles and Layman Bowles.

He served in the Army as a military policeman during World War II. He had worked at Fieldcrest Mills.

Surviving are two daughters, Gail Britt of Smithfield and Debra Perdue of Patrick Springs; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Sep 2, 2010

The funeral for Ethel Marie Cooper, 87, of 119 Halfway Road, Martinsville, who died Aug. 29, 2010, at Franklin Healthcare Center in Rocky Mount, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Morningside Baptist Church in Rocky Mount. The Rev. Kirby Whitfield will officiate. Burial will be in the Clements family cemetery in Virginia.

The family will receive friends at the church for one hour before the service.

She was born April 10, 1923, in Rocky Mount to Jessie Clements and Lucy Clements. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John Taft Cooper.

She was a seamstress at Jobbers Factory in Martinsville. She was a member of Morningside Baptist Church, where she served on the senior usher board, the deaconess board, the Christian Unity Club and the Ladies Auxilary.

Surviving are a daughter, Evelyn M. Gentle of Bronx, N.Y.; two sisters, Rubie Meadows and Lucille Holland, both of Rocky Mount; a brother, Joe Clements of Roanoke; three granddaughters, four great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson.

Stanfield-Miller Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Sep 2, 2010

Billy Wayne Craig, 58, of Patrick Springs, died Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010, at his home.

Moody Funeral Home in Stuart is in charge of arrangements.

Sep 2, 2010

Ora M. “Tippy” Holt, 74, of Martinsville, died Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010, at the Golden Living Center.

Bassett Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.

Sep 2, 2010

The funeral for Sestress “Junebug” Horton, 49, of Martinsville, who died Aug. 28, 2010, was held Wednesday at Bassett Funeral Service with the Rev. Palmer Lowery and Chris Robertson officiating. Burial was in the Horton family cemetery.

Pallbearers were Leroy Howell, Danny Horton, Dennis Winningham, Eric Horn, Jason Wright, Mark Harris, Bill Spencer, Jerome Smith, Ray Mullins, Wallace Teague, Kenneth Edwards and Gary Dickerson.

Sep 2, 2010

The funeral for Boney Raleigh “Snapper” Leftwich, 58, of Danville, who died Aug. 27, 2010, was held Wednesday at Hairston Funeral Home with the Revs. Jimmy Tarpley and T. Arrington and Pastor Sherman Craft officiating. Burial was at Carver Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers were Steve Leftwich, Timothy Brown, Amante Hagans, T.C. Edwards, Nicholas Edwards and Terance Brown.

Sep 2, 2010

Raymith Earl Newman, 89, of Mount Airy, N.C., died Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010.

He was born Jan. 4, 1921, in Carroll County to Claude Turner Newman and Martha Elizabeth “Lizzie” Cagle Newman. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Hazel Collins Newman; a sister, Vernell Wilson; and four brothers, Porter Newman, C.L. Newman and two infants.

Newman was a World War II veteran, having served in the Army from 1942 to 1946. He retired from Proctor-Silex and was a farmer.

He was a harmonica player with the group “From the Heart,” and he was a member of Mayberry Baptist Church.

Surviving are four daughters, Josie Faye Dodson of Collinsville, Patricia “Pat” Nolen of Martinsville, Karen Sue Turner of Bassett and Vickie Lyn Wimbish of Mount Airy; 10 grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; three stepgreat-grandchildren; five stepgreat-great-grandchildren; four sisters, Bertha Mae Coulson, Ella Mitchell and Anita Mosley, all of Mount Airy, and Wilner Purdy of Hampton; two brothers, Monroe Newman of Mount Airy and Dillard Newman of Shackleford; and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Mayberry Baptist Church with Dr. Craig Edwards, the Rev. Randy Bartley, the Rev. Johnny Johnson and Lt. Col. Gray Cockerham officiating. Burial will be in Skyline Memory Gardens with military honors by the VFW Memorial Honor Guard.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Moody Funeral Home in Mount Airy and other times at the family home.

Memorials may be made to Mayberry Baptist Church Building Fund, 283 Belvue Drive, Mount Airy, N.C. 27030, or to Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, 401 Technology Lane, Suite 200, Mount Airy, N.C. 27030.

Sep 2, 2010

The funeral for Robert Edward Penn, 50, of 994 Preston Road, Martinsville, who died Aug. 30, 2010, at his home, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Mayo Missionary Baptist Church, Ridgeway. The Rev. Dwight Mack will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the church for a half-hour before the service Saturday and other times at the home.

Penn was born Jan. 16, 1960, in Virginia to Dallas Junior Penn and Elizabeth Martin Penn of Martinsville.

Surviving, in addition to his parents, are four brothers, Junior Penn of Aberdeen, Md., Larry Penn of Millersville, Md., Frank Penn of Martinsville and David Penn of Richmond; two sisters, Loretta Scales and Sandra Gentry, both of Martinsville; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Hairston Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Sep 2, 2010

The funeral for Austin Curtis Rakes, 17, of Bassett, who died Aug. 28, 2010, at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C., will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Bassett Funeral Service. Pastor Kenny Daniels will officiate. Burial will be in Mount Hermon Church of the Brethren Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

He was born July 16, 1993, in Martinsville, to Gary C. Rakes and Tina Martin Rakes of Bassett. He was preceded in death by grandparents, Norman Rakes, Shelby Rakes and Bessie Martin.

He was a senior at Bassett High School this year and played on it’s baseball team until his junior year.

In 2000 and 2001, he played baseball with the Henry County Parks and Recreation Department for the Reliable Welding Fun League.

In 2006, his team won the USSA Baseball 12 and under AA World Series-Tennessee, Consolation Bracket.

In 2007, his winnings included runner-up in the September Smash tournament (age 14 and under), first place Time Out Invitational Award, runner-up trophy in the Virginia USSA Baseball May Classic (13 and under), the eighth grade FCMS Baseball Contour Co-Champion, and first place in the Pepsi Pitch Hit and Run Competition for ages 11 and 12. Also, in 2007, his team won fourth place in the Virginia State AA USSA Baseball for ages 12 and under.

In 2005, Rakes played for the Virginia Dragons traveling team, of which he was the leading hitter for the 2006, 2007 and 2008 seasons.

In July 2006, he led the team to the World Series-Tennessee, finishing with four wins and three losses, and was named “best pitcher.”

In 2007, he was the winning pitcher that led the Virginia Dragons to win the state title against the number two team in the state.

Again in 2008, he led the team in hitting and pitching and traveled to Washington, D.C., for the state tournament.

After becoming too old to play in the leagues, he assisted children in the Little League program, including the first year’s T-Ball program at the Smith River Complex.

He attended the Ridgeway Church of God.

Surviving, in addition to his parents, are his grandfather, Harold Wright of Bassett.

Memorials may be made to the AA USSA Virginia Dragons Baseball Team, Martinsville DuPont Credit Union, c/o Tina Rakes for Austin Rakes, P.O. Box 2158, Martinsville, Va. 24113.

Sep 2, 2010

The funeral for Mattie Ayers Smith, 97, of Bassett, who died Aug. 28, 2010, was held Wednesday at Collins-McKee-Stone Funeral Home in Bassett with the Revs. Ben Sturgis and Belle Robertson officiating. Burial was in the Ayers family cemetery in Glade Hill.

Pallbearers were J.C. Ayers, Eugene Ayers, Rabon Smith, Sammy Shelton, Paul Smith and her grandsons, Jason Forbes, John Forbes and Lee Forbes.