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B.C. Wiggs, 89, of Spring Hope passed away Wednesday, March 11, 2015.

Laura Jane Hesaltine, 61, passed away, Wednesday, March 11, 2015. She was born August 25, 1953 in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. She was preceded in death by her mother, Nancy J. Waring and her husband, Jerry Wayne Presley.

Marjorie Hayes Turner, 92, of Nashville, passed away Saturday, March 14, 2015. She is predeceased by her parents James and Lucy Hayes and a brother, Earl Hayes.

Lonnie Perry Shearin, 76, passed away Sunday, March 15, 2015. He was born in Nash County, in the community of Essex on May 7, 1938 and was the youngest child of Jasper Luscious and Betty Will Harper Shearin. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Mary Gladys Shearin and Lois Shearin Joyner and brothers in law Oliver Dawes Joyner, Chester Carpenter and W.J. Minchew.

John "Jack" T. Resico, Sr., 88, passed away, Tuesday, March 10, 2015.

Franklin "Frank" Dale King, age 55, passed away on Sunday, March 15, 2015. He was the son of the late Alonza King, Jr. and Margaret Perry King.

Joyce Blunt Rose of Rocky Mount and Elm City passed away on Friday, March 13, 2015. She was born on December 15, 1930 to the late Joseph D. Blunt and Lillie Mae West Blunt. She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, David Jeptha Rose II; her step mother, Mary Savada Coggin Blunt; sister, Anne Blunt Dorsett; brother, Robert W. Joyner, Jr.; brother-in-law, Dr. I. W. "Boojack" Rose, Sr.

Dolores Williams, age 85, of Nashville, passed away on Thursday, March 12, 2015. She was born on August 7, 1929. She was preceded in death by her husband, Loyd; her son, Joseph Williams and her grandson, Bobby Williams.

Norma Thelma Cuthrell, 89, passed away Thursday, March 12, 2015. She was born in Rocky Mount on May 24, 1925 as the first daughter of the late Joseph Monroe Cuthrell and Thelma Scammell Cuthrell. She was preceded in death by her sister Joyce Cuthrell and nephew Ron Smith, Jr.

Carolyn Marie Proctor Stanfield, age 67, passed away on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. She was born in Nash County on January 18, 1948 to James Proctor and Ethel Lee Williams Proctor. She is preceded in death by her father, James Proctor.

Joseph William Cockrell, age 63, passed away on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. He was born in Nash County on April 12, 1951 to the late Dorsey Manuel Cockrell and Effie Stone Cockrell. In addition to his parents, Joseph was predeceased by brothers, James Clee Cockrell and an infant brother.

Lula Wyatt Wilkinson Bailey, 93, of Rocky Mount passed away Thursday, March 12, 2015. She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years Millard Thomas Bailey; and sister Nan W. Price of Greensboro. She was born May 4, 1921, the eldest of three daughters in the family of Lula Daughtridge Wilkinson and William Stronach Wilkinson.

Joseph Alton Beard, 82, died Sunday March 15, 2015. He was born November 17, 1932 in Nash County, son of the late Lester J. and Rene Bullard Beard. Joseph was also preceded in death by a sister, Vivian Rita Beard and brothers, John Lester Beard, Marcus D. Beard and William A. Beard, his niece Susan Beard Bunn.

Sunday morning, I sat up in a chair and did something really significant: I put on a fresh pair of cotton athletic shorts and a soft new t-shirt. That probably sounds ridiculous, and a month ago, I could not have imagined writing such a sentence. But after this past week, I've come to a new understanding of how to appreciate.

As you know, I've been out for several weeks on maternity leave. Last week was my first official week back. I've tried to keep up with the happenings in the area but I spent my maternity leave in Pitt County to be closer to family so I really haven't been "in the loop." I missed several board meetings while I was out, one of which was Nashville's budget retreat. I'm still trying to catch up on all the happenings at that meeting but one thing I'm a little sad I missed was Nashville Town Clerk Cynthia Richardson's departure .

CELEBRATION -- This photo was found in The Graphic's March 26, 1970 archives. Teens are pictured riding in the All American Parade held in Rocky Mount. The parade was part of a celebration of Rocky Mount winning one of the 11 awards in the nation as an All-America City. (Graphic photo by Baines)

The recent recognitions awarded by the Nashville Chamber of Commerce were truly well deserved by the two recipients. As you may recall reading in The Graphic last week, James Ervin was named Nashville's 2015 Distinguished Citizen of the Year. Mr. Ervin's nomination came with three full pages of reasons he earned such an honor. He is sincerely committed to his community which is evident in everything he does. He works tirelessly for the American Legion, Oak Level Ruritan Club and many other veteran affiliated agencies. He is part of a local group of men we locals call the "Ramp Guys," which provides ramps to those in need in our communities. Plus he's likely to be found on most any given day lending a helping hand to local citizens.

A traffic stop at Highway 301 and East NC 97 led to the arrest of a Rocky Mount woman for trafficking drugs. Deputies with the Nash County Sheriff's Office responded to Highway 301 and East NC 97 around 10 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11 at the request of the North Carolina Highway Patrol. The vehicle was being driven by Deborah Denice Cherry, 30, of Sunset Avenue, Rocky Mount. Deputies located 50 morphine pills inside the vehicle.

INCIDENTS A larceny was reported on 3/9/15 at Wal-Mart, 1205 Eastern Avenue

An attempted breaking and entering and injury to real property was reported on 3/9/15 at 7589 Watson Seed Farm Road, An identity theft was reported on 3/9/15 at 12235 Old Raleigh Wilson Road, A fraud identity theft was reported on 3/9/15 at 1243 Cobb Corner

Nash County Planning and Inspections issued the following building permits from March 9 through March 13.

Maggie Lee Nelms and Jerauld Brian Pafford were united in marriage on December 31, 2014 at 4 p.m. at the Church of the Good Shepherd. The ceremony was officiated by the Reverend Bob Hudak of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Greenville. The bride is the daughter of Cy and Cathy Nelms, of Nashville.

Michael and Jamie Staton Valentine, of Nashville, announce the birth of their baby boy, Jasper William Valentine. He was born on January 6, 2015 at Nash General Hospital in Rocky Mount and was 6 pounds, 9 ounces and 21 inches long. Maternal grandparents are Dennis and Sue Staton of Spring Hope. Paternal grandparents are Craig and Joyce Valentine of Rocky Mount. Maternal great-grandparents are Wiley and Shirley Staton of Rocky Mount.

Nash Community College student, Anna Inscoe of Louisburg, knows with certainty where she wants her future to take her. But Anna has not always been laser-focused on her career goals. When she graduated from Bunn High School in 2010 she was unsure of a field she might find interesting. As a lover of art she decided to try her hand at graphic design and realized she enjoyed every minute of it. She began looking for a college where she could further her education as a Graphic Designer.

Nashville's American Legion Post 110 held its traditional Ladies Night on Monday at Nashville United Methodist Church. The event was rescheduled from last month due to the weather. Ladies Night is held each year as a way for the post to honor the ladies of the post, including widows, as well as those in the community that support the Legion.