Marian Payton Smith

Mrs. Marian Payton Smith, 87 of 9120 Willow Ridge Rd., died peacefully on Monday, February 2, 2015, at Regency Retirement Village in Charlotte, NC. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 1:00 pm Saturday, February 7, 2015 at St Pauls Episcopal Church, 401 East Fourth Street, Greenville, NC, with the Rev. Dr. Dewey W. Smith officiating and the Burial will follow in the Brown Hill Cemetery. Marian Burleigh Payton, a longtime resident of Greenville, NC, was born on September 15, 1927 in Pitt County, North Carolina in the Bell Arthur Community. She was the youngest of twelve children born to the late Fannie Edmundson Payton and Wiley Norcott Payton. Mae, as she was called by family and friends, graduated in 1944 from Pitt County Training School in Grimesland, NC. She later graduated from Elizabeth City Teachers College in Elizabeth City, NC in 1948. After graduation, she met and later married the late Raymond Pernell Smith, Sr. of Winterville, NC on April 13, 1952. She was a past member of St. Stephens Episcopal Church at Haddocks Crossroads in Winterville, NC, St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Greenville, NC and St. Pauls Episcopal Church in Greenville, NC. She was employed as an Elementary School Teacher with the Pitt County School System/ Greenville City School System for 36 years and served as a Summer Recreation Counselor for the City of Greenvilles Recreation and Parks Department for several years. She was an active member of the North Carolina Retired School Personel and the Eva J. Lewis Alumni Chapter of Elizabeth City State University. During her years of teaching in Pitt County, she taught at Sallie Branch Primary School, W. H. Robinson Union School, Fleming Street School, Sadie Saulter Elementary School and Third Street Elementary School, before retiring in June 1985. Marian is survived by her two sons, Raymond P. Smith, Jr. of Greenville, NC and Dr. Wayne P. Smith of Charlotte, NC, one daughter, Veda S. Miles of Plano, TX, one daughter-in-law, Jeanette B. Smith of Greenville, NC, and one son-in-law, Dr. Donald S. Miles of Plano, TX. She is also survived by her grandson, Payton Pernell Miles of Plano, TX. Other surviving family includes her sister, Carrie Belle Nino of Jamaica, NY, two brothers-in-laws, Daniel Nino of Jamaica, NY and Prince E. Smith of Sedalia, NC and, one sister-in-law, Ruth E. Smith of Sedalia, N.C. and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. A visitation will be on Saturday 11:00 AM 1:00 PM prior to the celebration of life service at the church. Professional and Excellent Services Entrusted To Blake Phillips Funeral Services.