Virginian-Pilot

June 8, 2003

Martha C. Williams

CHESAPEAKE -- Martha Cullifer Williams, 86, formerly of Orville Avenue, went to be with the Lord June 6, 2003. A native of Hyde County, N.C., she was the daughter of the late John William and Rhoena Harris Cullifer and the widow of Hubert Earl Williams. She was a member of Elizabeth River Baptist Church, Chesapeake.

She is survived by three daughters, Iris Gurganus and husband, Jimmy of Williamsburg, Marcia Forbes and husband, Reggie of Old Trap, N.C., and Judy Morin and husband, Bob of Virginia Beach; a son, Hubert D. ``Bud'' Williams of Phoenix, Ariz.; seven grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be held Monday at 7 p.m. in Graham Funeral Home, Greenbrier Chapel, with the family visiting with friends immediately following the service. A graveside service will be held Tuesday at 1 p.m. in Belhaven Community Cemetery, Belhaven, N.C. Friends may sign the guest register at www.grahamfuneralhome.com.

Evelyn Rogers

NORFOLK -- Evelyn Rogers, 56, of the 900 block of E. 29th St., died June 4, 2003. A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. today at First Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, N.C. Hertford County Undertakers, Winton, N.C., is in charge.

Lena Whitley

NORFOLK -- Lena Whitley, 109, of the 2200 block of Barraud Ave., went home to be with the Lord June 5, 2003. She was a native of Robinsville, N.C., and moved to Norfolk with her parents, John Robert and Della Hassell at an early age. She was the wife of the late Simon Whitley.

Mrs. Whitley was a member of First Calvary Baptist Church for more than 80 years. She was very active in the neighborhood and Civic League. She was a member of the Cora Brooks Sunday School Class, the Huntersville Garden Club, Emma V. Kelley Glee Club, and the Richardson's Chorus. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star of Virginia PSA St. Thomas Chapter 51 and the Daughters of the IBPOE of W Elks Temple No. 17.

She is survived by three daughters, Larnell Alston and Lenora Barnes of Norfolk and Mary Atkinson of Virginia Beach. She was predeceased by eight sons, Wiley Whitley Sr., Samuel Whitley, Joseph Whitley, James Whitley Sr., Peter Whitley, John Robert Whitley, Mack Whitley and Simon Whitley Jr.

A funeral will be held Tuesday at noon in First Calvary Baptist Church, 813 Henry St., Norfolk, by Dr. Johnnie White. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Norfolk. The family will assemble at 321 W. 38th St., Norfolk. Graves Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Charles Murray Jr.

PORTSMOUTH -- Charles Murray Jr., 67, of Sullivan Court, died June 4, 2003 in Ahoskie, N.C. in an automobile accident.

A native of Fairfield, N.C., he retired from the U.S. Postal Service after 35 years and was presently employed at First Team Auto Superstore as an inventory coordinator. Mr. Murray was a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Portsmouth, and Lebanon Lodge of Masons No. 34. He was a graduate of St. Joseph Catholic School and attended both Tidewater Community College and Norfolk State University. He was an Army veteran of the Korean Conflict.

Survivors include his wife, Eleanor P. Murray; a daughter, Deborah A. Hall (Virgil) of Chesapeake; two sons, Ronald A. Murray (Sylvia) and Charles R. Murray (Denise), all of Portsmouth; grandchildren, Tiffany Murray, Anthony Murray, Kendra Murray, Tanika Crawford, Maquaryla Murray, Dominick Hall and Darrius Hall; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his mother, Rebecca Murray; father, Charles Murray Sr.; and a brother, William Murray.

A funeral will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. in Ebenezer Baptist Church, Portsmouth, by the Rev. James Wynn Sr., interim pastor. Burial will be in Roosevelt Memorial Park, Chesapeake. Viewing will be Monday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The body will be placed in the church at 10 a.m. Fisher Funeral Home is in charge.

Norma J. Watson

PORTSMOUTH -- Norma J. Watson, 90, of the 2600 block of Lincoln St., died June 4, 2003, at Maryview Medical Center. Born in Jackson, N.C., she was a member of St. James Episcopal Church and Episcopal Church Women.

She is survived by her husband, Harold L. Watson Sr.; a son, Harold L. Watson Jr. of Hampton; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and other relatives, in-laws and friends.

A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at St. James Episcopal Church, Portsmouth, by the Rev. Dr. John O. Agbaje. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, Chesapeake. Viewing at Corprew Funeral Home will be from 2 to 5 p.m. today. The body will be taken to the church at 9:30 a.m. Monday. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home at 10 a.m. Monday for the procession.

Robert L. Blowe

VIRGINIA BEACH -- Robert Lee Blowe, 79, passed away June 7, 2003. He was born in Woodland, N.C., to the late Bennie Blowe and Nettie Futrell Blowe. He was a heavy-duty mechanic and had served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Sarah J. Blowe; five sons, Robert F. Blowe and wife, Linda of Seattle, Wash., William D. Blowe Sr. of Virginia Beach, Michael J. Blowe and wife, Kathy of Virginia Beach, Joseph L. Blowe and wife, Trudy of Chesapeake, and Allen W. Blowe and wife, Jamie of Virginia Beach; 11 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a sister, Mary Blowe Sessoms and husband, Ecky of Wilmington, N.C.

A funeral will be held Tuesday at 3 p.m. in the chapel of Woodlawn Funeral Home and Crematory. The Rev. Charles H. Stover will officiate. The family will receive friends and relatives at the funeral home Monday from 7 to 9 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters.

Irene B. Jones

SUFFOLK -- Irene Baines Jones, 95, died June 4, 2003. A native of Seaboard, N.C., she was the daughter of the late Richard Ashton Baines and Josie Mae Stephenson. She was also predeceased by her husband of 62 years, Vernon Edward Jones Sr.; her grandson, Paul B. Purcell; brothers, Rufus Ashton Baines Sr. and Richard Edward Baines Sr.; and nephew, Richard Henry Baines. She was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church where she attended the Ladies Adult Sunday School class and was also former hostess for the church.

She is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Vernon E. Jones Jr. and Ethel Jones of Suffolk; nieces, Joyce B. Riddick, Emily Faye McKinney and Nancy B. White; and nephews, Rufus A. Baines Jr. and Richard E. Baines Jr.

A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Parr Funeral Home by the Rev. Charles W. Thompson. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery. Friends may join the family today from 2 to 3 p.m. at the funeral home and other times at the residence of Vernon and Ethel Jones at 110 Cottonwood Court, Suffolk.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, 237 N. Main St., Suffolk, VA 23434 or to the Alzheimer's Foundation, Southeastern Virginia Chapter, P.O. Box 1224, Franklin, VA 23851.

Daniel M. Spell

HAMILTON -- The Rev. Daniel Methuel Spell, 86, of Hamilton and formerly of Powellsville, N.C., died June 7, 2003. A funeral will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Powellsville Baptist Church, Powellsville. Garrett Funeral Home, Ahoskie, is in charge.

Thaddeus J. Van Metre

WINSTON-SALEM -- Rear Adm. Thaddeus J. Van Metre, U.S. Navy, retired, died Friday, June 6, 2003 at Forsyth Medical Center, Winston-Salem. He was born May 2, 1907 in Anderson, Ind., to Thaddeus J. who died 17 days after his birth and Sarah E. Van Metre.

Rear Adm. Van Metre was educated in the Indiana public schools, George Washington University, the U.S. Naval Academy and did post graduate work at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

He served on the cruiser Detroit, Battleship Pennsylvania and various other destroyers in the Atlantic and Pacific until 1937. He was married Nov. 20, 1938 to Madeliene M. McCormick in Philadelphia, Pa., while serving on the staff of Commandant 4th Naval District. He left immediately for a two-year tour of duty on the Asiatic Station on the coastal gunboat, USS Tulsa. He was evacuated from Hong Kong in December of 1940 with his wife and one-year-old son, Brian. He was ordered to pre-commission detail for the Battleship USS North Carolina at the Naval Yard in Brooklyn, N.Y. and received favorable impressions of the North Carolina Governors Delegation to the commissioning of the battleship on April 9, 1941 influencing his decision to retire in 1960 in North Carolina. He served during the war on the USS North Carolina until October of 1944 in various assignments, the last two years as navigator. He received the Bronze Star with Combat Citation and commanded USS Hillary P. Jones and a destroyer squadron in the Pacific until wars end. His postwar duties included Naval Proving Ground in Dahlgren, Va., command of the USS Kenebec transporting oil from the Persian Gulf to the Philippines, Japan, Alaska and the West Coast. His shore duties include the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Washington, D.C., Senior Naval Officer as Chief of Military Assistance Group, Lisbon Portugal and the staff of CNO Washington, and Commander Service Squadron of 29 ships. He commanded the Naval Base at Norfolk and the U.S. Naval Station until he physically retired in November of 1959. He accepted a position with the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce and moved there in 1960. He was appointed by the Governor to establish the North Carolina Advancement School and by the the mayor to chair the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Development.

He served on the boards of Centenary United Methodist Church, the Retired Officers Association and Rotary Club. After several surgeries he confined activities to golf and supporting his wife (who died in 1988) Madeline's work on the boards of the North Carolina School of the Arts, the Winston-Salem Symphony, the Arts Council and the Ronald McDonald House.

Survivors include his son, Cmdr. R. Brian Van Metre, U.S. Navy retired; his four grandchildren, Mike Van Metre of Greensboro, Cmdr. Christopher R. Van Metre, U.S. Navy, PCO USS Hartford, Kevin Van Metre and Michelle Pittelli of Cary and eight great-grandchildren and grand dogs. He was a hero to all.

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to The Ronald McDonald House of Winston-Salem or the Duke Children's Hospital and Health Center Oncology Center.

Annie G. Webb

ROBERSONVILLE -- Annie Louise Haislip Goff Webb, 73, of the 1900 block of Winslow Road, died June 5, 2003. A funeral will be held today at 2 p.m. at Hassell Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church. Biggs Funeral Home is in charge.