Gwendolyn Odell Baird Powell
Dec 3, 2025
Gwendolyn Odell Baird Powell, 88 of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by family on Wednesday December 3, 2025. Gwendolyn was born on April 24, 1937, in Halifax County. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert Lee Powell Jr., parents Richard Sims and Odie Rook Baird, her brothers Graham, Bill, Buck, Ronald, and...
Ann Bradley Ford
Dec 1, 2025
Ann Bradley Ford, 81, passed away on Monday, December 1, 2025 in Northampton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Jackson. Mrs. Ford was born on March 20, 1944 in Roanoke Rapids, the daughter of the late Maria Bradley and James Robert Bradley. She was also preceded in death by her husband Henry S. Ford, Sr.
Ann was very creative; she loved coloring...
Cynthia "Cindy" Diane Bissette
Nov 28, 2025
Cynthia “Cindy” Diane Bissette, 63, of Roanoke Rapids, passed away on Friday, November 28, 2025 in her home. Ms. Bissette was born in Halifax County, the daughter of the late Hazel Odell and JC Bissette. She was also preceded in death by her brothers Jerry Carl Bissette and Glenn Eugene Bissette and his wife Barbara, her brother-in-law Ellis “Bubba” Williamson...
Micheal Forte Edwards
Nov 24, 2025
Micheal Dean Forte Edwards, 68, passed away on November 24, 2025. Mrs. Edwards was born on July 7, 1957 in Roanoke Rapids, the daughter of the late Mary Dean Hurst and Joseph Michael Forte. She was also preceded in death by her siblings Eddie Forte, Brenda Shaw, and Peyton Parham.
Surviving include her husband James L. Edwards, her bonus children Brittany...
Edna Merritt Hudson
Nov 22, 2025
Edna Diane Merritt Hudson, 69, of Roanoke Rapids passed away on Saturday, November 22, 2025 in UNC Rex Hospital. Mrs. Hudson was born on February 19, 1956 in Halifax County, the daughter of the late Rachel Jones Merritt and William Sam Merritt. She was also preceded in death by her bother Donald Merritt.
Surviving include her husband Horace Mack Hudson, Jr.,...
Thomas "Tommy" Edward Francis Jr.
Nov 20, 2025
Thomas “Tommy” Edward Francis Jr, 74 of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, passed away peacefully at his residence surrounded by family on Thursday November 20, 2025. Tommy was born on January 21, 1951, in Halifax County, North Carolina. He was preceded in death by parents Thomas Edward and Betty Jo Francis.
He is survived by his wife Deborah P. Francis, son Thomas...
Charles "Bobby" Robert Cox
Nov 19, 2025
Charles Robert “Bobby” Cox, 81, of Roanoke Rapids passed away Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at his home.
Bobby was born February 5, 1944, in Halifax County to the late John and Gertrude Harrell Cox. Bobby was also preceded in death by his daughters, Terri Cox and Sherri Cox; his grandson, David Wayne Cox; his brothers, Billy Cox and James Cox; and...
Frank "Buddy" Delbert Hudson
Nov 15, 2025
With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Frank D. “Buddy” Hudson on November 15, 2025. His kindness, compassion, and gentle spirit touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. A devoted father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Buddy brought joy to a remarkable one hundred years of life.
Born on August 4, 1925, in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, Buddy grew up...
Victor Wiley
Nov 14, 2025
Although we only had Victor for one year, he couldn't have been a better pup. We took him in Oct of 2024 from one of our neighbors that neglected him for two years. He spent those years in a 6 x 8 kennel outside in any weather. He would talk and cry most of the time. I would talk to...
Brenda Ann White
Nov 14, 2025
Brenda White, beloved daughter, mother, aunt and grandmother, entered her eternal home in heaven on Friday, November 14, 2025. She was born the eldest daughter to Octavia Ward (Flushing, MI) and the late Johnny Cayton (Montrose, MI) on December 5, 1955. Brenda possessed an innate capacity for selflessness and compassion. Raised by a clan of strong and beautiful women, she...
Crystal Ann Peffer
Nov 8, 2025
Crystal Ann Peffer, 42 of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday November 8, 2025. Crystal was born on August 28, 1983, in Halifax County North Carolina. She was preceded in death by father David Peffer.
She is survived by her sons Jayden Johnson, Attikus Johnson, mother Paula Peffer, brother Travis Peffer, father of her children...
Clara Hope Walker
Nov 8, 2025
Clara Hope Walker, 48, of Roanoke Rapids, NC passed away on Saturday, November 8, 2025 in VCU Medical Center in Richmond, VA. Miss Walker was born in Chapel Hill, NC, the daughter of the late Elsie Charles Walker and Robert Earl Walker. She is also preceded in death by her sisters Elsie Diane Jackson, and Teresa Jean Hargrave, her nieces...
Odessa Hall Shearin
Nov 8, 2025
Odessa Hall Shearin, 78, of Northampton County passed away Saturday, November 8, 2025, at her home. She was born to the late Louis E. Ellis and Estelle Louise Shaw Ellis on June 13, 1947. She is also preceded in death by her brother William “Boots” Hall, her sisters Christine McCraney and Jean Hall Grant, and her son-in-law Jimmy Hubbard.
Odessa enjoyed...
James "Hobie" Hobert Lee
Nov 4, 2025
James “Hobie” Hobert Lee, 79, of Roanoke Rapids, passed away on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 in ECU Health North Hospital in Roanoke Rapids. Mr. Lee was born on August 23, 1946 in Roanoke Rapids. He is preceded in death by his wife Frances Harris Lee, his mother Dezzie Lee Spruill Bateman, his grandparents Fay Hobert Spruill and Alice Biggs Spruill,...
Dee Pittman Tucker
Nov 2, 2025
Dee Pittman Tucker passed away on Sunday, November 2, 2025 in Wilmington, North Carolina. She was 66 years old.
She was preceded in death by her father, James A. (Jimmy) Pittman, Her mother, Trilla M. Pittman, her stepmother, Ganell H. Pittman, and her twin sister, Deb Pittman Weeks. She is survived by her brothers, Dennis Pittman and Jim Pittman, and her...
Sue Garner Barnes
Oct 28, 2025
Sue Garner Barnes, 68, of Roanoke Rapids, passed away on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 in her home. Ms. Barnes was born on November 15, 1956 in Roanoke Rapids, the daughter of the late Jimmie Brown.
Surviving include her sons Jerry Wayne Barnes and wife Tina and Stephen Lee Barnes and wife Beverly; her brothers Chris Brown and wife Christy, Victor Garner...
Matthew Randolph Franklyn
Oct 27, 2025
Matthew Randolph Franklyn, 68, of Roanoke Rapids, passed away on Monday, October 27, 2025 at his home. Mr. Franklyn was born on August 11, 1957 in Grenada.
All Services will be held in New York. Friends may sign the online register by visiting www.hockadayfs.com. Hockaday Funeral & Cremation Service is serving the Franklyn Family.
Jewel Smith Allen
Oct 27, 2025
Jewel Smith Allen, 83 of Roanoke Rapids passed away on Monday, October 27, 2025. Born to William Henry Smith and Etta Gray Britt Smith in South Rosemary, North Carolina, Jewel Gray entered the world small in stature but mighty in spirit.
With three older siblings—Lewis Smith, Alice Faye Smith Brewer, and Doris Jean Smith Michael —she made her presence known from...
Beverly Tripp Etheridge
Oct 26, 2025
Beverly Lynn Tripp Etheridge, 82, of Roanoke Rapids North Carolina, left this earthly life for an eternal one on October 26th, 2025.
Beverly was born on December 12th, 1942, in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. She was the daughter of the late William Lawrence “Willie” Tripp Sr. and Lila “Blanche” Weiss Tripp. She graduated from Roanoke Rapids High School in 1961 and...
Jeanette Reese Clary
Oct 25, 2025
Jeanette Reese Clary, 87 of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, passed away peacefully at River View on the Appomattox in Hopewell, Virginia on Saturday, October 25, 2025. Jeanette was born on July 14, 1938, in Halifax County, North Carolina. She was preceded in death by her husband Henry Clary, parents James and Maggie Reese, brothers Herbert Reese, Owen Reese, and sisters...
