THE ROANOKE RAPIDS
VOLUME TWENTY-FIVE ROANOKE RAPIDS, N. C. THURSDAY, NOV. 9, 1939 NUMBER 17
J. C. SMITH DIES
HOTEL OWNER AND
CITY COMMISSIONS
DIES SUDDENLY
John C. Smith, 52, prominent bus
iness man, builder, extensive
property owner, and popular civic
Official, died in the Roanoke Rap
ids Hospital Tuesday morning at
10 o’clock following an illness of a
few hours. He suffered a stroke j
Of paralysis about 3 o’clock Tues
day morning and was carried to
the Hospital at 8. Although he
had been suffering from high blood
pressure for some time, his death
came suddenly and was a great
Shock to his family and host of
friends throughout the city.
He is survived by his wife, for
merly Mrs. Mae Cannon whom he
married in 1928; a daughter, Mary
Ann, 3; a stepson, Carlton Cannon,
a senior at the University of North
Carolina; his mother, Mrs. Olivia
Smith of Roanoke Rapids; and a
sister, Mrs. Rosa Byrd, also of Roa
noke Rapids.
Funeral services were conducted
at the Roanoke Rapids Presbyte
rian Church, where he had been a
member for several years, Wednes
day afternoon at 4:30 by the Rev.
Lawrence Stell, assisted by the
Rev. Gordon Price of the First
Baptist Church. He was buried at
the Roanoke Rapids Cemetery.
One of the largest crowds ever
Been at a funeral here attended the
ceremony, filling the church audi
torium and Sunday School room to
overflowing. People from every
Walk of life were on hand to pay
their respects to the deceased. Hun
dreds of floral offerings were bank
ed high around the altar and later
around the grave. The majority
of business houses in the city were
Closed during the funeral services.
Active pallbearers were: Julian
Allsbrook, Charlie Briggs, J. Win
field Crew, Jr., Carl Murray, Jack
Fanny, Carl Green, Alfred Martin,
and Mort White.
Honorary pallbearers were: Jam
ie Brown, Dr. R. P. Beckwith, Louis
Ashton George C. Green, Dave
Traynham, Carroll Wilson, John
Hobbs, L. G. Shell, Winfield Crew,
Sr., Lynn George, W. E. Williams,
N. D. Cox, Allie Wood, Thos. Har
ris, C. C. Shell, O. Griffin, W. A
Thorne, Hix Hill, H. E. Gibson,
Robert Allen, Tom White, William
White, Marvin Jordan, Dr. Weath
ers, T. J. Alford, Dr. John Martin,
->r- T. W. M. Long, George Taylor,
R. I. Starke, ^M. D. Collier, Byron
Gurley, Elliot White, M. M. Faison,
J. T. Chase, C. E. Matthews, Hal
Ross, Will Taylor, Geo. Sullivan, F.
C. Williams, Garland Wyricli, Ike
Rochelle, Dr. J. M. C. Covington,
Dr. R. A. Daniel, Bill Alligood, A.
(Continued on Page 6)
Funeral Yesterd'y
JOHN C. SMITH
SEEK NEW DIRECT
BUS FOR RALEIGH
VIA SHORT ROUTE
It was learned here this week
that the Carolina Coach Company,
with head offices in Raleigh, has
applied to the Utilities Commission
of North Carolina to grant per
mission to run buses from Raleigh
over the new “short route” via
Louisburg, Warrenton and Little
ton to Roanoke Rapids. It is under
stood that under the franchise
asked for, there would be three
round-trips from the capitol city
to Roanoke Rapids daily, and in
addition, one of the buses from
Raleigh would make a round-trip
to Norfolk, Va, Roanoke Rapids,
thence to Weldon, Garysburg,
Jackson, Conway and Murfrees
boro, thus giving many of the lat
ter towms mentioned a bus connec
tion where no bus is in operation
at the present time.
Local businessmen are thought
to be thoroughly in accord with
the Utilities Commission granting
the franchise for a bus connecting
the city directly with Raleigh, as
1 it is not possible to go from here
to the state capitol except by way
of Rocky Mount, necessitating a
change of buses there. The new
route would also decrease the dis
tance between the two points ma
terially, and in the opinion of
many, would tend to route much
traffic from Raleigh to Richmond
via Roanoke Rapids, as it is point
ed out this would be a shorter
route between the two state Capi
tols since the opening of the new
road from Raleigh to Louisburg.
If the Utilities Commission grants
the franchise, as applied for by
the Caro'ina Coach Co., it would
also give Roanoke Rapids one bus
daily from here to Norfolk—a ser
vice that has not been possible for
the past several years, in addition
to giving residents of the nearby
territory, reaching as far as Jack
son and Conway, logically conced
ed to be Roanoke Rapids’ “trade
territory” direct bus connection
with this city.
The Carolina Coach Co. has been
operating through this city for the
(Continued on Page 6)
TUESDAY
OPENING
OF DRIVE
Tuesday, November 14th, will be
the opening day for the annual
Red Cross Roll Call for member
ship in the Roanoke Rapids Chap
ter, according to Chairman Gordon
L. Price. He has appointed Crank
C. Williams as Roll Call Chairman
again. Mr. Williams served in that
capacity last year when the Roll
Call passed all other previous
drives.
The goal this year is again set
at one thousand dollars by Mr.
Price. Same goal as last year, it
is hoped the response will be as
good when $1,347.11 was raised.
Roll Call workers will be ap
pointed by chairman Price this
weekend and will be notified in
time for the annual supper meet
ing which will be held Monday
night in the basement of the First
Baptist Chijrch. At this time, com
mittees of the local Chapter will
report on the year's activities and
material will be given all workers
for the Roll Call. It is hoped to
reach or pass the quota set by the
end of next week, with final re
ports next Saturday night.
The Roanoke Rapids Chapter
last year was fourth in the entire
State in money raised on the basis
of population of the Chapter, which
includes Roanoke Rapids, Littleton
and Aurelian Springs.
MASONS GUESTS OF ROANOKE RAPIDS LODGE
Masons from Halifax and Northampton Counties were guests of the Roanoke Rapids Lodge last
Thursday night with special rites at the Masonic Hall and an oyster supper at the local Dr.Pepper
Bottling Co. plant. Photo by Grant.
Armistice
Shaw Post 38 of the American
Legion, comprising ex-service men
from Roanoke Rapids and Weldon,
will celebrate Armistice Day with
a barbecue and stew at the Wei
non tommunuy tjenter starting at
6:30 p.m. this Friday, November
10th.
In a letter to all ex-service men,
Commander C. C. Shell, pointed
out that it was unnecessary to be
a Post member to participate and
all ex-service men in this section
were invited and urged to attend.
fie also urges ex-service men to
bring their wives, mothers and
sweethearts to the supper. There
will be a special speaker and some
singing of the old familiar war
songs.
On Saturday, Nov. 11th, all the
banks in Roanoke Rapids will be
closed for Armistice Day. ABC
stores in the county will also be
closed but all other stores in Roa
noke Rapids will be open. The
State Employment Office and the
Post Office will observe the holiday
by closing their doors. The Post
Office will be open Saturday be
tween the hours of 10 and 11 a