Martha Ann Ford Smith

Martha Ann Ford Smith passed away on May 8, 2024 at the Lower Cape Fear Life Care Center’s Dr. Robert M. Fales Hospice Pavilion following several months of hospitalization that resulted from complications from an emergency surgery.

Martha was born in Dillon, SC on October 5, 1949 to Paul and Lester Ford and was the youngest of their four children.  After graduating Valedictorian of Lake View High School in 1967, she spent most of her adult life in Lumberton, NC.  She held several jobs including one with the Lumberton Housing Authority and as a teller at United Carolina Bank before starting Bail Bond Services with her husband, Boyce Brooks Smith, in the 1980s.  She served as the office administrator for their business until Boyce’s death in 2003, at which time she also took on his role in the business as a bail agent.  She continued operating the business for 10 more years until her retirement in 2013.  After retiring, she moved to Wilmington, NC in 2014.

Martha was an incredibly smart and kind woman.  The most common adjective used to describe her was sweet.  Her kindness and softness were in contrast in her indomitable strength and determination.  Once she set her mind to something, she was dogged.  She was someone to have on your side if you needed to fight an injustice or navigate a complex matter.  As a mother, she was exceptional; always supportive and caring, she poured love into her daughter, Michelle.  She was a very hands-on parent, volunteering with the PTA at school events, the children’s choir at First Baptist Church in Lumberton, and the Girl Scouts.  She relished driving van loads of kids to sporting events, field trips, beach trips, and school dances.  All the kids she encountered in her volunteer capacity were given the same loving kindness that she showed her own daughter.  In her retirement years in Wilmington, she loved to watch her grandkids at their weekly gymnastics practice, followed by a family dinner.  When her youngest grandson Cameron was born, she would visit him every weekend, soaking up all the precious moments with him that she could capture. Her favorite way to relax was with a cup of coffee and a chat with a friend, a good meal with her family, or a warm sunny day at the beach.

Martha is survived by her devoted daughter, Michelle Price, beloved son-in-law Geoffrey Price, and step-daughter Sheri Jolly, all of Wilmington;  cherished grandsons Aaron Jolly (Sara) of Burgaw, NC and Cameron Price; great-grandchildren Emme Jolly and Evan Jolly; oldest brother Tracy Ford (Susie) of Lake View, SC; special niece Sherry Cook Floyd (Jeffery) of Fairmont, NC; special great nieces and nephews Tyler Floyd (Caitlin) of Lumberton, NC, Kaitlan Berdeau (Ian) of Wake Forest, NC, and Dylan Floyd (Colleen) of St. Marys, GA; special great-great nieces and nephews Charlee and Harper Floyd, Grace Berdeau, and Anna and Noah Floyd, as well as a host of other nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Boyce Smith, and parents, Paul and Lester Ford; brother Jack Ford of Nichols, SC, and her sister and best friend Vivian Atkinson of Fairmont, NC.  Martha and Vivian’s bond was incredibly close, and after Vivian’s passing, her absence in Martha’s life was profound.

From childhood, Martha was a woman of strong Christian faith,  spending much of her free time as a teenager at church either volunteering or worshiping.  In her final days, she was joyful in knowing she would soon be reunited with the loved ones that she had missed for so long.

A celebration of life will be held 2:00pm Saturday, May 18, 2024 at First Baptist Church Lumberton with a graveside service following at Gardens of Faith Cemetery.  A visitation will take place immediately prior to the service at 1:00pm in the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.  The family will also receive friends at the home of Jeff and Sherry Floyd on Friday, May 17th at 5424 Stone Rd, Fairmont, NC.  

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, Southeastern Family Violence Center, or Lower Cape Fear Life Care, or another charity of your choice.