Obituaries

Zona G. Burlew

Ms. Burlew, 68, of East Haven, Conn., died June 2 at home. She was born in Neptune and had lived in Freehold before moving to Connecticut. Ms. Burlew was a pediatric nurse practitioner at Connecticut Health Care Physicians, New Haven, for many years. She was a graduate of Freehold High School, Freehold Borough, and earned her nursing degree from the Ann May School of Nursing at Fitkin Hospital (now Jersey Shore University Medical Center), Neptune. She was a member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. Ms. Burlew is survived by her mother, Winifred Kendall Burlew; a brother and sister-in-law, Lloyd and Barbara Burlew of Ocean Township; a sister, Susan Hahn of Florida; and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. A funeral service was held at Old Stone Church, East Haven. Interment and a graveside service will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Old Tennent Cemetery, Tennent Road, Tennent section of Manalapan. Memorial donations may be made to Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Road, Branford, CT 06405; or to the March of Dimes, 255 Pitkin St., East Hartford, CT 06108.

Alex “Sonny” Williams

Mr. Williams, 63, of Howell, died May 26 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. Born in Pahokee, Fla., he had lived in Freehold before moving to Howell 24 years ago. Mr. Williams was a supervisor for Kaiser Aluminum, Edison, and was later employed by C&L Sweepers, Jackson. He was a member of the Mason Lodge of Lakewood. Surviving are his wife, Claudette Williams; a son, Fred White of Freehold; three daughters, Benita Watson of Lakewood, Jacquelyn Darby of Union and Michelle Watson of Howell; his mother, Ethel Lou Williams of Indiantown, Fla.; six brothers, Frank Williams of Jacksonville, Fla., Wilburn Williams of Daytona, Fla., and Donald, Milton Cedric and Marvin Williams, all of Indiantown; three sisters, Jeanette Hemphill and Gwen Williams, both of Indiantown, and Jessie Smith of Palm Beach, Fla.; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandson. Funeral services were held at Bethel A.M.E. Church, followed by interment at Maplewood Cemetery, both Freehold Township. The Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements.

Margaret Crimi

Mrs. Crimi, 91, of Freehold Township, died May 27 at The Manor, Freehold Township. Born in West New York, she had been a resident of West Freehold for most of her life. Mrs. Crimi was a packer for Brockway Glass Co., Freehold Township, for more than 20 years. She was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold. Mrs. Crimi was predeceased by her husband, Charles, in 1992; four brothers, Alfred, Arthur, Louis and Albert DeLucia; and two sisters, Diamond Pettincki and Katherine Castronova. She is survived by a son, Salvatore Crimi of Toms River; two brothers, Dominic DeLucia of Freehold Township and Carmen DeLucia of Jamesburg; two sisters, Nancy Fisler and Genevieve Decher, both of Freehold Township; and several nieces and nephews. A funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Church, followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold Township. The Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements.

Gloria Jean Robinson Peace

Mrs. Peace, 56, of Freehold Township, died May 27 at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune. Born at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, she was the seventh of Portia and Tom Ivery’s 12 children. Surviving are her husband, Harold Peace; a son and daughter-in-law, Darnell Keith and Debra Ivery of Freehold; six sisters, Naomi Webb, Ruth Walker, Gladys Ivery, August Sykes McNeil, Brenda Burton and Carol Hodge; three brothers, Bobby, Thomas and Bonnie Ivery; and many friends and other relatives. A funeral service was held at Old Ship of Zion Church, Manalapan, followed by interment at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold Township. Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements.

Joseph Corral

Mr. Corral, 69, of Hazlet, died May 28 at home. Born in New York City, he resided in Holmdel for several years before moving to Hazlet. Mr. Corral was a hardware support manager at The Associated Press Communications Division, Cranbury, retiring in 2002. Prior to that, he was employed at several local electronic firms. Mr. Corral is survived by his wife of 23 years, Carole Meistrich Corral; five sons and three daughters-in-law, Joseph and Bobbi Corral III of Morganville, Mark Corral of Holmdel, Steven Jacobson of Clayton, Calif., Marc Jacobson and Donna Wrenn Jacobson of Shrewsbury, and Daniel and Dawn Jacobson of Freehold; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Linda and Michael Morrison of Hazlet, Janet Corral of Las Vegas, and Karin and Anthony Cappiello of Wall; and 14 grandchildren. Arrangements were by Bedle Funeral Home, Keyport. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 801 Broad St., Shrewsbury 07702; or St. Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church, 10 E. Front St., Keyport 07735.

Sophie Gursky

Mrs. Gursky, 82, of Freehold, died May 31 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., she had resided in Bayonne before moving to Freehold 19 years ago. She was predeceased by a daughter, Elaine, in 1997, and a brother, Richard. Surviving are her husband, Frank; a son, Walter of Freehold; a daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Fred Rolon of Old Bridge; two sisters, Helen Abbate of Delray Beach, Fla., and Viola Kotarski of Maspeth, N.Y.; and four grandchildren. A funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold, followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold Township. Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 801 Broad St., Shrewsbury 07702.

Edith Mildred Yelton

Mrs. Yelton, 88, of the Lincroft section of Middletown, died May 24 at Care One at Holmdel. Born in Manassas, Va., she resided in San Francisco for several years prior to moving to Lincroft. She was a homemaker. She was predeceased by her husband, Oliver Perry Yelton Sr. in 1996. She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Oliver Perry and Valya Yelton Jr. of Sacramento, Calif.; a daughter and son-in-law, Carol J. and John Plato of Colts Neck; a sister, Ruth Pace of Pennsylvania; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Arrangements were by Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold.

George Watson Jr.

Mr. Watson, 58, of Howell, died May 11 at home. Born in Lakewood, he and his family had lived in Ohio, Colorado, England and Germany before returning to the United States. He was a graduate of Lakewood High School, Thomas Edison College in Trenton and Kean University in Union. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran. An entrepreneur, he was the director/principal of Watson Security Agent Academy and Juanita Day School; the owner of WSAA Limousine Service, Lakewood; a private detective and guardian ad litem in New Hampshire; a bus driver for Greyhound Lines Inc.; and a librarian/media specialist in various school districts, including Newark, Asbury Park and most recently, Lakewood. He also helped to establish and operate the New Jersey Paralegals Association, for which he served as president. In addition, Mr. Watson ran for New Jersey governor as an independent candidate in the November 2001 general election. A fan of oldies music (especially Motown classics), he also enjoyed playing with remote-control airplanes, watching movies and CBS’ “60 Minutes,” and researching the law. Surviving are his wife of 36 years, Cheryl A. (Cochran) Watson; two sons, George Bryce Watson III and Mark B. Watson; his parents, George Watson Sr., an original Tuskegee airman; his mother, Louise J. Watson; and a sister and brother, Tina A. and Maurice. A private memorial gathering was held. Interment was private as well. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, with George Watson Jr. written on the check, c/o Mark B. Watson, P.O. Box 372, Brick 08723.