deaths and funerals

Mr. Batten was a former member of the Lions Club . He was retired from Michael's Arts and Crafts after 12 years of service, retiring as director of district development and was in retail management for over 50 years.

He is survived by his wife, Blanche LaRue Killette Batten; son, Steve J. Batten; daughter, Kathryn B. Culpin and husband, William, both of Midlothian; son, Wilbert "Jerry" Jerome Batten Jr., and wife, Sherri, of Mechanicsville; two brothers, Morris H. Batten and wife, Margie, of Oxford, and M. Leroy Batten and wife, Cathy, of Goldsboro; three sisters, Edna Mae Whaley and husband, Ken, of Goldsboro, Mary Pate and husband, Junior, of Pikeville, N.C., and Myrtle Munford and husband, Francis, of Kenly; four grandchildren, Karrington LaRue Culpin, Skylar Brooke Batten, Christian Batten and Elisabeth Mariah Batten.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, October 24 at 1 p.m. at Grove Avenue Baptist Church. Interment will be in Westhampton Memorial Park.

Contributions may be made to B.R.I.A.N., P.O. Box 4316, Glen Allen, Va. 23058.

C. MARTIN BROCK

Charles Martin Brock, 78, of Pikeville, died suddenly on Wednesday, October 24 at his home.

Martin was born in Wayne County on February 21, 1929 to the late Luby Brock and Lois Fields Brock. He was married for 52 years to the late Wilma Lee Brock. Martin retired from Franklin Baking Company and had served in the U.S. Army. He was a member of Watson Grove O.F.W.B. Church in Kenly, where he had served as a deacon.

Funeral services will be held tomorrow (Friday) at 7 p.m. at Seymour Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be held Saturday, October 27 at 11 a.m. at the Brock Family Cemetery.

Martin is survived by his sons, Danny Brock of the home, Warren Brock and wife, LaRose, of Pikeville; his grandsons, Brandon Brock and Bryson Brock; his sister, Maggie Jones of Pikeville; his brother, Milton Brock of Shreveport, La.; and his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ray and Jean Wilkerson of Emerald Isle.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a son, Charles Lee Brock; and his twin brother, Marvin Brock.

Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made to Watson Grove O.F.W.B. Church, 8712 Watson Grove Church Road, Kenly, N.C. 27542.

The family will receive friends Friday following the funeral service and other times at the home of Warren and LaRose Brock, 201 Western Wayne Drive, Pikeville.

HARTWELL "ED" EDMUNDSON

Hartwell "Ed" Lemuel Edmundson, 71, of Goldsboro, died Friday, October 19 at Kitty Askins Hospice Center.

Born in Wayne County on October 30, 1935, he was the son of the late Hartwell B. and Polly Paige Edmundson. He was employed with Howard's Service Center for 35 years and then Tipton's Service Center.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, October 24 at Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home with Dr. Aubrey Jones officiating. Burial followed in Wayne Memorial Park.

Mr. Edmundson is survived by his wife, Joyce H. Edmundson; two daughters and sons-in-law, Belinda E. and Darrell Walker of Pikeville, Michelle E. and Billy Wiggins of Fremont; one brother and sister-in-law, James Harrell and Robin Edmundson of Douglas, Ariz.; and four grandchildren, Nicole Walker, Carrie Walker, Candie Wiggins and Brandon Wiggins.

Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home of Goldsboro is serving the family and online condolences may be sent through www.shumate-faulk.com.

ETHEL F. SASSER

Ethel Fulghum Sasser, 88, of Pikeville, died Thursday evening, October 18, at Avante Nursing Home in Wilson.

Ethel was born in Wayne County on January 16, 1919 to the late Roy Fulghum and Effie Worrell Fulghum. She was married to the late Milford Jennings Sasser. Ethel was a member of Pleasant Grove Free Will Baptist Church.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon, October 21, at Seymour Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Barry Stallings officiating. Burial followed in the Pikeville Cemetery.

Ethel is survived by her daughters, Grace Sarvis and husband, Shelton of Pikeville, Jean Patton of Raleigh and Frances Fitch of Raleigh; her son, Jimmy Sasser and special friend, Elise of Macclesfield; six grandchildren, Michael Sarvis and wife, Mandy, Andy Patton and wife, Selina, Susan Patton, Melissa Fitch, Jessica Fitch, and Heather Sasser; and her great-grandchildren, Blair Sarvis and Rachel Patton;and her half brother, James Worrell Rollins of Wheatland, Wyoming.

Memorials may be made to Pleasant Grove Free Will Baptist Church, 1100 Pikeville-Princeton Road, Pikeville, NC 27863.

WARREN R. TAIT

Warren R. Tait, 86, of Wilson, died Tuesday, October 23.

Mr. Tait was a retired professor at Barton College. He was an active member for 50 years of the Wilson Evening Lions Club. Awards bestowed upon him for his service were N.C. Lions Foundation's Jack Stickley Fellowship and a Melvin Jones Fellow, the highest award in Lionism.

Funeral services will be held today (Thursday) at 2 p.m. at First Christian Church. Following the service will be a time of sharing and fellowship.

Surviving is his wife of 63 years, Dorothy Smith Tait, a native of Fremont; daughter, Diane Tait of Raleigh; son, Dennis Tait and wife, Elizabeth, of Lake Waccamaw; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

The family will be at home, 605 Glendale Drive, Wilson.

In lieu of flowers, memorial remembrances are suggested to the N.C. Lions Foundation, P.O. Box 39, Sherrills Ford, N.C. 28673.

Arrangements by Wilson Memorial Service, 252-237-7171, www.wilsonmemorialservice.com.

ALAN G. 'SPARKPLUG' WILLIAMS

Alan "Sparkplug" Gerrard Williams, 49, of Princeton, died Wednesday, October 24 at Wayne Memorial Hospital.

Born in Wayne County on April 15, 1958, he is survived by his wife, Carolyn, and was the son of Lucille S. Williams and the late Oscar A. Williams Jr.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held Friday, October 26 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church with Father Tom Norris O.F.F.S. presiding. Burial will follow at Willowdale Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday evening, October 25, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home.

In addition to his mother and wife, Mr. Williams is survived by two daughters, Melanie McClain and Alison Williams; seven brothers, Steve and Tony Williams, both of Goldsboro, David Williams of Mount Airy, Andy Williams of Fremont, Greg Williams of Cary, Mark Williams of Keller, Texas, and Danny Williams of Wilmington; three sisters, Cecilia Hollander of Florence, Mont., Rose Mary Little of Gastonia, Barbara Elam of Raleigh; and three grandchildren, Lily, Isaiah, and Jalen McClain.

A brother, Peter, preceded him in death.

Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home and Crematory of Goldsboro is serving the family and online condolences may be sent through www.shumate-faulk.com.

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