Recent Articles

ROCKY MOUNT –- Kelly Jerod Anderson, 30, of Rocky Mount, passed away  August 5, 2014.

ROCKY MOUNT –– Ms. Lois Mae Cherry, 85, of Rocky Mount, died on August 6, 2014.

KNIGHTDALE –– Mr. Edward Matthew Freeman, Sr. 62, of Knightdale, died on August 8, 2014.

Mr. William Eugene Green, Sr., 72, of Rocky Mount, died on August 11, 2014.

ROCKY MOUNT  –– Debra McClain, 46, of Rocky Mount, passed away August 3, 2014.

ROCKY MOUNT –– Alice Mae (Perry) Murphy, 60, of Rocky Mount, passed away August 1, 2014.

ROCKY MOUNT –– Catherine L. Sessoms, 84, passed away Tuesday, August 5, 2014.

ROCKY MOUNT - Meredith Jones West, 55, passed away Thursday, August 7, 2014.

Bettie Burt White, 74, died August 4, 2014.  Funeral arrangements to be announced.  Arrangements by Strokes Mortuary, Inc.

Cecelia Elaine Williams, 61, of Rocky Mount, died Saturday, August 9, 2014.  Funeral Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the Rocky Mount location of H.D. Pope Funeral Home.

Durwood Lee Shreve, 67, passed away Sunday August 10, 2014. He was born January 16, 1947 in Reidsville NC to the late Levi Weldon and Norma Mitchell Shreve. He was preceded in death by a brother, Larry Shreve and sister, Sheryl Hill.

Gerald Douglas Daniels, Sr., 60, passed away August 7, 2014. He was born September 7, 1953 in Wilson County to the late Barnes Eric and Edna Pierce Daniels.  In addition to his parents, Gerald is preceded in death by his sisters, Janice D. Richardson, Annette Daniels, and an uncle, Marvin Pierce.

Judith Ann Baines, 72, passed away Wednesday, August 6, 2014.  She was born October 7, 1941 in Nash County to the late Gordon W Dawes, Sr. and Lucy Ann Joyner Jordan.  Along with her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband Johnny Garland Baines, step-father Herman Jordan, and step-mother Avis Baker Dawes.

Charles William Johnson “Butch”, 61, passed away Tuesday, August 5, 2014.

Frederick “Fred” Armstrong Joyner, age 87, passed away Friday, August 8, 2014. Born in Edgecombe County on October 18, 1926, he was the son of the late Arthur Charles Joyner and Ethel Dixon Joyner. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Fannie Mae Roebuck Joyner and his son, Randy Wynn Joyner.

Louise Hall, 88, of Middlesex, passed away Wednesday, August 6, 2014.

James Henry Moore Jr., 90,  passed away Wednesday, August 6, 2014. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Henry Moore Sr. and Maude Clay Moore, his wife Nellie Daughtridge Moore, and his brothers, Luther Ray and Reuben Moore.

Dorothy “Tootsie” Farmer Flowers, 85, of Rocky Mount, passed away  August 5, 2014. Dorothy was born in Wilson County on March 31, 1929 to the late Julius and Ida Jane Gardner Farmer. She was married to the late Curtis Flowers for 62 years. She was preceded in death by her daughters, Sheila Elaine and Donna Flowers Woodcock.

The cause of an early morning fire in Nashville is still under investigation.
Nashville Firefighters were dispatched to a single story duplex apartment structure fire on Brake Street on Saturday, August 9 in the early hours of the morning. Upon arrival, Captain Jason Edwards said flames were visible from a bedroom and through the roof.

As the last three animals rode off in the back of a minivan (more on that later), an era came to an end. My family and I are no longer goat herders. It was a been a strange week.
Five years ago, we started a great experiment on our small slice of the family farm I grew up on in the county. My wife and I wanted to improve the “sourcing” of some of the staples our three children consumed on a regular basis.

In late June, I had the opportunity to cover the retreat of the Nash-Rocky Mount Board of Education.
It was a long retreat and there was a ton of information presented.
One item that has been a highlight in one Rocky Mount community, was the board’s decision to move students from O.R. Pope Elementary School to Fairview and D.S. Johnson Elementary Schools.

BLUEBERRIES –- This photo was found in The Graphic’s archives. We believe it was taken in 1961 or 1962. These young ladies look to be ready to sell fresh blueberries for only 35 cents a quart.

The Nash County Sheriff’s Office arrested nine people last week during a continuing effort targeting drug dealers operating in Nash County.
The arrests occurred during the week of August 4 and will continue, as the Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate drug crimes in the area.

A breaking, entering and larceny of a residence was reported on 8/4/14 at 7470 Sara Way
A fraud was reported on 8/4/14 at 12237 Burgess Road
A breaking, entering and larceny of a residence was reported on 8/4/14 at 10835 Smith Road
An assault on a female, breaking and entering and residence and violation of an exparte was reported on 8/4/14 at 11379 Simms Road

Castalia commissioners are planning to hold a local retreat in October in order to discuss issues of importance to the town and plan for future projects. The six-hour retreat is tentatively scheduled for October 4 at the Gardner’s restaurant on Hwy. 301 in Rocky Mount.
Mayor Ellene Leonard said that she felt that the retreat was necessary because she feels that the “morale and actions of the board are in dire need of change.”