Barbara Smith

Barbara Ann Smith NORFOLK - On Dec. 25, 2010, Barbara Ann Smith was picked as a flower in the Master's bouquet. Barbara was born Nov. 29, 1926, in Northampton County on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. In 1945, she began her career as a legal secretary with the law firm of Breeden & Hoffman, retiring from Breeden, MacMillan & Green in 1990 after 45 years of loyal service. Barbara was the calm port in every storm, the one constant in an ever-changing world. She accepted life's adversities without complaint. Even after being knocked to the ground by a passing bus on the way to work one morning, Barbara managed to report on time, albeit a little the worse for wear. Although faced with various medical issues in her later years, she met them head-on, with grace and dignity. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Annie Nottingham Smith and John Watson Smith. Left behind to mourn her passing and celebrate her entry into life everlasting are her beloved cousins, Irma Dix of Exmore and Annette Widgeon of Painter, who looked forward to her visits to catch up on family news and reminisce about their happy times growing up together on the Eastern Shore; her cousins, Sherry Latimer of Norfolk and Billie Bumgarner of Virginia Beach; her very dear friends, Phil and Cathy Merritt and their children, Paige and Hunter of Norfolk, who included Barbara as a family member in their holiday celebrations and many other occasions; Dolores Dunning of Chesapeake, who was like a treasured daughter to Barbara; Bernice Keat of Portsmouth, one of her most beloved friends; Jo Ann Stone of Virginia Beach, close friend and occasional "taxi driver" on her trips to the Eastern Shore; close friend, Bob Dunning of Chesapeake, and a host of other longtime friends from the Breeden law firm and elsewhere who will carry her in their hearts forever. A graveside memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Capeville Masonic Cemetery in Capeville, Va., with the Rev. Elizabeth A. Lutz, officiating. Memorial donations may be made to the Capeville United Methodist Church, c/o H.H. Scott, 4301 Townsend Drive, Cape Charles, VA 23310 or to the Lower Northampton Baptist Church, c/o Anne Gray, P.O. Box 907, Eastville, VA 23347. Metropolitan Funeral Service, Norfolk, is handling arrangements. Condolences may be offered at www.metropolitanfuneralservice.com.