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William H. Olmstead Jr.
FRANKFORD -- William H. "Bill" Olmstead Jr., 76, of Frankford died Sunday, March 6, 2005, at his home.
Olmstead was born in Washington. He was a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. He retired from a long career in sales from ITT-Gwaltney of Smithfield, Va., in 1983 and settled in Frankford with his wife.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Kay A. (Godwin) Olmstead, in 2003.
He is survived by a daughter, Kathleen M. Hoffman, and a granddaughter, Amy Christine Settle, both of Raleigh, N.C.
A Mass of Christian burial will be offered Thursday at 10 a.m. at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Bethany Beach. Interment with military honors will be in Roxana cemetery near Frankford.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Delaware Hospice/Southern Division, 600 N. DuPont Highway, Georgetown, Del. 19947.
Arrangements are being handled by Melson Funeral Services of Frankford.
Herman Theodore Everett
SNOW HILL -- Herman Theodore Everett, "T-Baby, " 75, of Gunby Street in Snow Hill died Saturday, March 5, 2005, at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury.
Born in Camilla, Ga., he was the son of the late Jesse and Jessie Thomas Everett.
He was a self-employed farmer and a former poultry grower for Perdue Farms.
His survivors include two nephews, whom he reared, Dwayne Everett and "L.B.;" three brothers, Willie C. of Delray Beach, Fla., Thomas and wife, Rita, of Philadelphia and John Everett and wife, Edna, of Pittsville; four sisters, Lossie Newsome and Mary Parker of Baltimore, Dora Everett of Wilmington and Gloria Williams of Snow Hill; a devoted friend, Dorothy Lively of Snow Hill; and a host of nieces and nephews.
A godson, Jerry Hudson, preceded him in death.
A funeral service will be held Wednesday at noon at Jolley Memorial Chapel in Salisbury, where friends may call tonight from 7 to 8:30 and again on Wednesday one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Friendship United Methodist Church cemetery in Snow Hill.
Services are entrusted to Jolley Memorial Chapel in Salisbury.
William Green Kerbin Jr.
SNOW HILL -- William Green Kerbin Jr. of Snow Hill passed away Monday, March 7, 2005, at the age of 94.
He was the son of the late William G. Kerbin Sr. and Alice Boehm Kerbin.
Mr. Kerbin Jr. practiced law every day for more than 71 years until a fall six weeks before his death. He was the oldest continuously practicing law practitioner in Maryland, having practiced law in Snow Hill since 1933. He was the head of the Maryland Bar Association's Lower Shore Character Committee for more than 30 years and had been its chairman for more than 20 years. He had been on the board of the University of Baltimore Law School and was the school's Alumni of the Year for the year 2000. He has two grandsons who have graduated from law school, one from the University of Baltimore. He has another grandson who is currently a student at that law school. In recent years, he and his wife informally adopted the Chief Judge of Maryland, the Hon. Robert M. Bell, as an additional grandson.
In 1940 when racial violence was at its height on the Lower Eastern Shore, Mr. Kerbin, as the Worcester County State's Attorney, stopped the last attempted lynching on the Lower Eastern Shore. In the face of a lynching mob coming in the front of the local jail, Mr. Kerbin spirited Mr. Pilchard, an African-American accused of murdering several white Stockton residents, out of the jail through a back door. In an eight-hour car trip up the Eastern Shore and Delaware, having to change direction to avoid mobs gathering at various places, he got him to a place of safety in a Western Shore county jail. Until the trial was over, Mr. Kerbin and his family were placed under 24-hour police guard in their house because of threats made against him for his actions in thwarting the lynching. Mr. Kerbin then achieved a conviction of Mr. Pilchard according to the rule of the law. He became the youngest-elected state's attorney of Worcester County at age 28 and became locally famous as the creator of "Billy Kerbin's Flying Squad, " battling vice in the county. In one six-month period, he and his "flying squad" made 143 arrests -- 54 for bootlegging, 57 for gambling, 28 for operation of slot machines and four persons were arrested for dancing on Sunday.
A few of the various offices he has held are: president of the Paul Jones Foundation, past president of the Worcester County Bar Association, former chief of the Snow Hill Fire Department, a founder and former president of Furnace Town and a past Rotary Club District Governor and only active charter member of the Snow Hill Rotary Club with more than 60 years of perfect attendance. From 1945 to 1972, he not only practiced law but also owned and published the Democratic Messenger newspaper.
He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Margaret Howard Kerbin; his son, William H. Kerbin Sr. and his wife, Diane; and his daughters, Susan K. Delano and her husband, Randy, and Charlotte K. Cathell and her husband, Dale R. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Dr. Laura Kerbin, William H. Kerbin Jr. and his wife, Karen, Dale K. Cathell and his wife, Audra, William H. Cathell and Amy C. Delano; and several nieces.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Charles, and his sister, Sarah Lee.
The funeral service will take place Friday at 11 a.m. at All Hallows Episcopal Church on Market Street in Snow Hill. Interment will be in All Hallows Churchyard.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations be made to Snow Hill High School, William G. and Margaret H. Kerbin Award, c/o SHHS, 305 S. Church St., Snow Hill, Md. 21863. This award is presented annually to two graduating members of the senior class who have demonstrated exceptional community service and leadership traits throughout their high school years.
Arrangements are being handled by Burbage Funeral Home in Snow Hill.
John Thomas Walker
NANTICOKE -- John Thomas Walker, 62, of Nanticoke died Saturday, March 5, 2005, at his home.
Born in Baltimore, he was a son of the late August and Mary Walker. He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia; son, Matthew Thomas; and brother, Charles Edward.
He is survived by a daughter, Shawn of Arlington, Va.; a son and his wife, Brent and Renee, of Germantown, Md.; a sister, Marie Tennis of Port Deposit, Md.; a brother, William Walker of Baltimore; and several nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held Friday at 1 p.m. at Messick Funeral Home, where friends may call one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Turners cemetery in Nanticoke
Arrangements are being handled by Messick Funeral Home on Nanticoke Road in Bivalve.
William J. Langfitt Jr.
CAMBRIDGE -- William J. Langfitt Jr., 89, passed away Sunday, Feb. 6, 2005, at Dorchester General Hospital in Cambridge.
He was born July 11, 1915, in the Salem-Drawbridge area to the late William J. and Estella Hurley Langfitt.
Billy was proud to be a U.S. Army veteran, having served in the 300th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Search Light Battalion from 1941 until honorable discharge in 1945. He saw duty in France, the Aleutian Islands, Seattle, Wash., and Alaska.
He earned the American Theater Service Ribbon, European African Middle Eastern Service Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Theater Service Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal with Clasp and World War II Victory Ribbon. He was the oldest veteran in the town of Vienna.
For many years, Billy was part of Phillips Farms operations in Vienna. He lived in the household of Guy R. Phillips for many years and was considered an extension of the family. For the past six weeks, he lived with Wayne and Barbara Phillips in Salisbury. His memberships included VFW Post No. 7460 in Cambridge and Vienna United Methodist Church. He was a former member of Chicone Ruritans in Vienna. He enjoyed watching baseball and the History Channel.
He is survived by one niece, Laura L. Peed of Salisbury. An infant sister and a brother, George Langfitt, predeceased him.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Zeller Funeral Home in East New Market, with the Rev. Mary Ann Farnell officiating. A viewing will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in St. Paul's cemetery in Vienna.
Pallbearers will be Charles Bell, Art Wilkerson, G. Steele Phillips, Jeffrey Phillips, W. Kent Phillips and E. Kirk Phillips. Honorary pallbearers include Dennis Reid, Steve Hurst, Moody Gray and Wayne S. Phillips.
Donations may be made to Vienna United Methodist Church, PO Box 278, Vienna, Md. 21869.
James Meade Simmons
CAMBRIDGE -- James Meade Simmons, 91, died Thursday, Feb. 17, 2005, surrounded by his family at his home in Cambridge.
Born on May 10, 1913, at Hoopers Island, he was the son of the late William and Tillie Simmons. He spent his life enjoying Dorchester County and all its grand inhabitants, from the ducks and geese at Blackwater Refuge to each customer who entered the doors of his Cambridge business on Race Street, Center Market.
His interest in business began in the early 20s when, as a boy of 10, he delivered the "Grit Newspaper" to many Hoopers Island residents. He also worked in his father's general store.
He graduated from Hoopers Island High School in 1930 then moved to Cambridge to work in the grocery business for Frank Jones.
In 1933, he married
a fellow Hoopers Islander, Laura Elizabeth Tolley. He and Miss Libby opened their own business in 1937 and called it Center Market. For 50 years they devoted their energies to that business while developing it into a family organization. Mr. Simmons was active in the Grocer's Association both local and statewide. He was nationally recognized for his innovative business practices such as unique sales events. Aunt Jemima visited Center Market numerous times to serve pancakes.
Mr. Simmons was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, where he taught the Dr. Hines Bible Class for many years. He was also active in the Baraca Class. Also a member of Hosier Memorial United Methodist Church on Hoopers Island, he was proud that his father had helped build the church.
In addition to his church activities, he also was a member and past president of the Cambridge Coin Club. He, for many years, participated in the annual Holly Run to Tangier Island, donning a red suit and carrying pockets full of Christmas candy. He was a painter, an amateur magician and checker player.
Mr. Simmons is survived by four children, Joane Travers and her husband Calvin, of Hoopers Island, James Simmons Jr. and his wife, Brenda, of Cambridge, Sandra Biskach of Hurlock and Deborah Jones and her husband, Robert, of Chesapeake City, Md.; nine grandchildren, Ricky Travers, Lollie Walters, Mark Simmons, Pam Haller, Judi Ann Hallett, Charles Bisckach, Daniel Bisckach, Ty Jones and Robyn Jones; and 16 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his dedicated caregivers, Shirley Simmons, Laura Johnson, Charlotte Cox, Lisa Blann and Stacey Todd; and his devoted cat, Tiger.
Preceding him in death was his loving wife of 66 years, Miss Libby, and his brother, Raymond H. Simmons Sr.
The family will receive friends tonight from 6 to 9 at Curran-Bromwell Funeral Home, P.A. Funeral services will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at Hosier Memorial United Methodist Church on Hoopers Island. The Rev. Doug Ridley, Pastor Joseph Kelly and David Tolley will officiate. Burial will follow in the adjoining cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Ricky Travers, Mark Simmons, Charles Biskach, Daniel Biskach, Ty Jones, Bill Hallett, Joseph Gonzales and Raymond Gonzales.
Honorary pallbearers will be Doug Walters, Robert Jones, Raymond Simmons, Allen Tolley, Lyle Cameron, Thomas Flowers, David Thomas and William Donald Schaefer, comptroller of Maryland.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to Hosier Memorial United Methodist Church, PO Box 10, Fishing Creek, Md. 21634; Grace United Methodist Church, 501 Race St., Cambridge, Md. 21613; or Coastal Hospice, PO Box 1733, Salisbury, Md. 21802-1733.
