Miller Funeral Home

Robert Harold "Bob" Lowery, 84, of 899 US Highway 32 N., passed away Wednesday, August 28, 2024 in Sentara Obici Hospital, Suffolk, VA. Mr. Lowery was born in South Boston, VA on May 27, 1940, and was the son of the late Sherman and Virginia Sue Pool Lowery. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Betty Grubb, and by brothers, James "Jim" Lowery and Wayne "Cotton" Lowery. Known by many of his friends as "Pigtail," he had a long career as a water treatment inspector having retired from CH2M Hill Company. A member of Damascus Christian Church, other community involvement and memberships through the years included both the Sunbury Ruritan Club and Sunbury Memorial...

Betty Jean McCormick Byrum, formerly of Scotland Neck, NC, died Saturday, August 17, 2024, at her home after a period of declining health. She was 96. The beloved wife of Graham Vance Byrum, Sr., MD, she was born on April 12, 1928, in Leesville, FL. The daughter of the late John Joseph McCormick and Helen Riddick McCormick, she was raised in Jacksonville FL, and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University in 1949. Betty Jean met Vance, the love of her life, in Winston-Salem, NC in 1951, when as a medical student he asked her to help draw blood from a patient. They married six months later and remained so for 61 years, until his death in April 2013. Together they...

Edith Bowman undefinedEdieundefined Keyt, 79, of Willeyton Road, Gates, NC, died Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in Gates House Assisted Living in Gatesville. Mrs. Keyt was born in Bluefield, West Virginia on November 4, 1944, and was the daughter of the late Elmer Dodson Bowman and Gladys Collins Bowman Wells. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Lee Keyt, her sister, Frances Williams, and by her brother, Johnny Bowman A retired Certified Nursing Assistant, she had worked with Home Care & Hospice in Franklin, NC, and at both Sentara Obici Hospital in Suffolk, VA and Southampton Hospital in Franklin, VA. She was a faithful member of Mimosa Bible Chapel in...

Hannah Faye Riddick, of 401 Constance Woods Drive, left her earthly home for her heavenly home on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Hannah was born in Gates County, NC on November 20, 1938, and was the last surviving of ten children born to the late Alonzo Mack and Bessie White Riddick. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by sisters, her infant twin Pensie Rae Riddick, Thelma Rountree, Mollie Hadwin, Janice Fogarty, Betty Baines, and Priscilla Jones; by brothers, Norman, Alonzo, and Dan Riddick; and by her husband, Raul Ondarza. Hannah was a graduate and Valedictorian of the 1957 Class of Gatesville High School. She spent many years in Mexico and the US teaching Spanish and...

William Lee Umphlett, 48, of Chesapeake, VA, passed away Sunday, May 21, 2023 in his home. Born in Norfolk, VA on March 3, 1975, Lee was the son of the late William Leslie and Rosenell Bass Umphlett. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Lonnie Bass, and by his paternal grandparents, Elliott and Ruth Spivey Umphlett. Lee was employed in maintenance having worked with the Zuni Presbyterian Home and later with VersAbility Resources. Always having a servant's heart and never letting any disabilities slow him down, he deeply cared for providing for the needs of others, and loved to volunteer his time with area churches, and particularly with Meals on...

Darnell Lewis Riddick, 85, of 1341 Willeyton Road, died Thursday, January 19, 2023 in Nansemond Pointe Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, Suffolk, VA. Mr. Riddick was born in Gates County on March 2, 1937, and was the son of the late Treswell Harrison Riddick and Virgie Mae Bunch Riddick. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Brenda Rose Riddick, a niece, and a nephew. A lifelong farmer, he was a Baptist by faith, and had served in the Army from 1960 to 1963. Surviving are two sisters, Norma R. Lassiter of Sunbury and Kaye R. Byrum of Gates; three nieces and four nephews. Also surviving are many friends and extended family from the large Riddick and Bunch...

Tommy L. "Tom" Hutto of Elizabeth City died peacefully at his home on Wednesday, October 26, 2022. Born on October 19, 1931, in Blackville, SC, he was the son of the late Sam B. and Eva E. Hutto. A graduate of Blackville High School, he attended Columbia Commercial College, Columbia, SC, prior to entering the U.S. Navy in 1951, serving until February 1955. After being honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy, he returned to Columbia, SC and entered the University of South Carolina. Tom began his banking career in Charlotte, NC with First Union National Bank, transferring to Elizabeth City in 1971. In April 1976, he was chosen Chief Executive Officer of Farmers Bank of Sunbury,...

Robert Edward Lee, of 502 High Street, died peacefully on Friday, August 19, 2022, in his home where he was cared for by his family. Robert was born on November 24, 1933 and was the son of the late Obed and Minnie Clark Lee. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Olivia Lee Brabble; two brothers, James Benjamin "J.B." Lee and Obed Lenwood Lee; and by a grandson, Carl Ober II. Robert spent his first 11 years in Beaufort County, NC until the untimely death of his father. This event changed his life forever. He moved with his mother to Edenton where he graduated from John A. Holmes High School. Shortly after graduating he enlisted in the United States Navy...

Denise Elaine Riddick, 64, of 478 Sandy Cross Road, died Monday, July 4, 2022 in her home where she was cared for by her family. Denise was born in Chowan County on March 11, 1958, and was the daughter of the late Jimmie and Jessie Kelley Riddick. A secretary and bookkeeper with Griffin Oil & Propane in Suffolk, VA, she was a member of Sandy Cross Baptist Church. Surviving are three brothers, James Ronnie Riddick and Stacey Riddick (Karen), both of Hobbsville, and Grayling Riddick (Kathy) of Hertford; and nieces and nephews and their children, Brooke Casper (husband Travis, and children Haley and Hattie), Whitney Ryan (husband Chris, and children Hunter and Nathan), Daniel...

Joseph Eugene "Joe" Hollowell, Sr., 74, of 368 Spivey Road, died Sunday, April 3, 2022 in his home. Mr. Hollowell was a lifelong resident of Gates County and was the son of the late Curtis Eugene and Ozeal Bunch Hollowell. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 39 years, Delores Anne Fulcher Hollowell. A 1966 graduate of Gates County High School, and later a graduate of Pitt Community College, he had retired from George C. Moore Company in Edenton after 37 years of employment. A member of Hobbsville Baptist Church where he had served as Chairman of the Board of Deacons, he had also been a member of the Hobbsville Volunteer Fire Department where he served as its...

Michael Harris Poston, Sr., 72, of 1024 NC Highway 37 North, died Sunday, August 2, 2020 in Sentara Albemarle Medical Center, Elizabeth City. Mike was born in Statesville, NC (Iredell County) on October 23, 1947, and was the son of the late Jesse Willard Poston and Gaynell Harris Poston. He had retired after 33 years as a building supply salesman with W.H. Basnight & Co. in Ahoskie. A member of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Gatesville, and an Army veteran of the Vietnam War, he was an avid outdoorsman, and enjoyed his memberships in both the Gates and Gatesville Hunt Clubs, in both the Chowan and Gates County Bassmasters Associations, and the Eason's Crossroads Ballpark Association...