Devire M. Cooper
Devire M. Cooper passed away March 10, 2011.
Ivadean Harrison
She is survived by two daughters, Gina Hewlett (Kerwin) and Lisa Bennett (Eric); one son, Douglas Harrison (Nina); 8 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.
James R. Spruell
James Russell Spruell was born on February 2, 1924 in South Norfolk, Virginia to the late George and Rosa Spruell. He was predeceased by his two sisters Christine Brown and Muriel Hicks.
James departed this life on Wednesday March 16, 2011 after a brief stay in the hospital.
James was educated in the Norfolk school system and graduated from Saint Joseph School in 1939. He served in the Army and received an honorable discharge after defending his Country in the Korean War until 1951. James went on to work with Smith- Douglas/ Borden as a foreman, retiring in the early 1990’s.
James married the late A. Lenora Mizell Spruell on July 3, 1971. They shared over thirty-eight years of marriage.
James was a member of Centerville Chapel A.M.E. in Chesapeake, VA where he served on the Usher Board, and the Steward Board. He was also an active attendee of Sunday school. One of his favorite hymns was “At the Cross”.
James possessed a kind and humble spirit and was always giving of himself and his resources to family and friends. He was instrumental in rearing one of his four step-children and three of his grand-children all of whom he loved as his own.
He loved children so much that he and Lenora foster-parented dozens of children for more than twenty years.
After the passing of his wife, his step-children dedicated themselves to continuing to care for him in his home as she requested prior to her death.
He leaves to cherish his memory one step-son Wilbur Mizell, Jr. and his wife Diane Mizell (Baltimore, MD), three step-daughters Angelina Barnes (Baltimore, MD), Linda R. Mizell (Sterling, VA), and Trudy Mizell (Chesapeake, VA), seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, nephews Tyler Hicks (Norfolk, VA) and James Hicks (Washington, DC), niece Audrey Smith (Virginia Beach, VA) and a host of great-nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.
Robert L. Barrett Jr.
Robert L. Barrett Jr., 59, of the 1000 block of W. 37th St. passed away March 15, 2011.
Christopher J. Smallwood
The Lord called Christopher “Chris” James Smallwood home to be with him on the afternoon of Wednesday March 9, 2011.He was born September 28, 1972, the third child to Gail Brown and the late James Frank Smallwood in the Bronx, New York.
Chris completed his elementary and middle school education in the Bronx, New York. The family in 1989 moved to Teaneck, New Jersey where he graduated from Teaneck High School, and went on to study liberal arts at Bergen Community College.
Christopher started his Christian walk at Emmanuel Pentecostal Faith Temple in Mt Vernon, New York under the leadership of Bishop Leon Dixon and Elder Dorothy Dixon.
In 2002 he moved to the city of Norfolk, Virginia where he worked in construction and graduated from Norfolk Technical Center where he earned his License in Plumbing. In 2006 Christopher Smallwood joined the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Norfolk, Virginia.
During his time here on Earth, Chris was truly a blessing to his family, church family, friends and the community.
He leaves to cherish his loving memory, his son Frederic Armani Moseley ,his Mother Gail Brown; Sisters Lisa Patterson, Janine Smallwood, and Malika Foster; Brothers: William (Wink) Sykes and Mark(Papo) Patterson ;Grandmother Mrs. Dora Purden, Great- Aunt Mrs. Helen Patterson; Special Nieces Joelina Lamara and Mia Ashley; Great Niece ,Little Amari Marie; Nieces: Brittany, Wendy, Chantel and Jaelyn; Uncles: Reginald, Robert Hakeem, Leonard, Edwin Patterson, Milton Riddick and Sam Armstead; Aunts: Jackie Smith, Ramona, Carol, Francesta Patterson, Glenda Riddick and Cheryl Armistead; Cousins: Toni, Deneice, Michael, Kathleen, Lamell, Lynette, Edwin Jr., Jimol, Leonard Jr., Timothy, Robert III, Jeffery, Ashley and Dovante, Special cousins Mrs. Blannie Mae Wiggins and Jessica; Special friends Davon Rowe, Wilbert Boggan, Trina Hall and Shauneille Parker.
And a host of family and friends to numerous to mention, but loved just the same; also not forgetting his Mt. Pleasant (MT. P) Baptist Church Family.
William G. Thorne III
William G. Thorne, III passed away March 15, 2011.
Margretta Y. Meynard-Brothers
Margretta Y. Meynard-Brothers, 56, of the 2900 block of Aaron Dr. passed away March 11, 2011.
Rosa L. Taylor
Rosa Lee Taylor, 81, of 15 Grand Street, passed away peacefully in her home on Thursday, March 10, 2011. She was a native of Wilson County, NC. Rosa was a member of Garden of Prayer Worship Center, Norfolk. She was predeceased by her husband, Herman Taylor, and her two daughters, Mary L. Lynch and Gloria J. Tyler.
Survivors include one daughter, Claudine T. Austin (Melvin); two brothers; seven sisters; ten grandchildren; eleven great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
David J. Harrell
David Jerome Harrell, 50, of the 4200 block of Sedgewyck Cr. Passed away March 15, 2011. He was born Sept. 14, 1960 to the late Mary E. Spruell Harrell and Arthur R. Harrell in Trenton, NJ. He received his Master’s Degree in Business Administration.
Jerome was a member of Grove Baptist Church, Portsmouth. He retired from the U.S. Navy after 24 years of service. He was also employed with the Portsmouth Naval Hospital as a staff educator.
He is survived by his stepmother, Esther F. Harrell; one sister, Theresa M. Harrell-Watkins (Herbert); one brother, Arthur E. Harrell (Dorothy); special friend, Loretta Muller; two nephews, one great-nephew; several great nieces.
Alice C. Ferguson
The Flame of Life has been extinguished on one of Hampton Roads’ most energetic and productive citizens. Willie Alice Crowell Ferguson departed this life on Saturday, March 12, 2011. A Norfolk native, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Hattie Stevens Crowell, Sr.
Alice was a seeker of knowledge and her objective was, “To utilize personal knowledge to deliver optimal goods and services to humanity via educational, social and psychological procedures.” She received degrees in Health and Physical Education, a B.S. Degree from Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama and a M.A. Degree from New York University, New York, New York. She continued her professional growth by taking courses at a variety of institutions including The American National Red Cross National Aquatic School, Hammondsport, New York.
Love found Alice in New York where she met the handsome sailor, William Ferguson, Jr. They were married on March 5, 1947. Although they didn’t have any children, Alice befriended many children of her friends and taught them to swim and play tennis. She mentored many young adults who became a part of her family. They were her adopted daughters, nieces and nephews.
Alice worked in the Norfolk Public School System for over forty years. She began her career at Booker T. Washington High School and ended her career at Granby High School where she was appointed the first female Department Chair of Health, Physical Education and Driver Education in Virginia.
Alice was a devoted Christian and worshipped at First Calvary Baptist Church, Norfolk, Virginia. She served in many capacities including serving as a Sunday school teacher and a Bible School teacher. She enjoyed the early morning worship service so much so that she founded and chaired the Early Morning Breakfast Committee.
Alice’s Vita details her many interests to include sports, traveling, opera, bridge, pinochle, dancing and civic work. Notably, she served on the Boards of the Southside Boys and Girls Club; Women’s Studies, Old Dominion University; the American Association of University Women, Norfolk Branch; the Kempsville Kiwanis and the Greenbrier Country Club. Among the many organizations to which she belonged, she especially enjoyed her membership in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Norfolk Alumnae Chapter; The Links, Inc., Chesapeake-Virginia Beach Chapter; Chums, Inc., Norfolk Chapter; The Moles, Norfolk Chapter; Pinochle Bugs Social and Civic Club, Inc., Norfolk Chapter; The Drifters, Inc., Portsmouth Chapter; The Holidays, Inc., Chesapeake Chapter; the Urban League of Hampton Roads and the National Council of Negro Women.
She was predeceased by her parents; sisters, Marguerite Hall, Mocile C. Wilson, Phyllis Rotan and her brother, James Brown. Left to cherish her memory are her husband, William Ferguson, Jr.; her brother, Joseph Crowell, Jr.; sister-in-law, Martha “Liz” Brown; a special cousin, Alta Moorhead and many nieces, nephews, cousins, “adopted” family and special friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Southside Boys and Girls Club.
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