Doris Smith

In accordance with the will of our Heavenly Father, Doris Ann Barham Smith, daughter of the late Robert Wesley Barham Sr. and Mae Pearl "Polly" Scales Barham, having made peace with God, entered into eternal rest at the age of 73 on Sunday, March 5, 2017 at her daughter's residence in Monroe, holding the hand of her husband and surrounded by her daughter, grandchildren, loving family and special friends.

Doris was educated in the public schools of Rockingham County. She graduated from Charles R. Drew High School in 1961 where she was a member of the varsity basketball team and class secretary.

Seeking spiritual guidance, she joined the Wentworth Baptist Church at an early age. After graduation, Doris entered the workforce and worked in the Bookkeeping Department of Madison Throwing Company in Madison. It was while working there that she caught the eye of an up-and-coming funeral director, Harold Cornelius Smith, who was training under the auspices of the late Lee S. Perry Sr. of Perry and Spencer Funeral Home. On June 15, 1967, they were united in holy matrimony. Doris joined Harold in Wadesboro as a year prior he had purchased Hailey and Hargett Funeral Home and reopened it as Smith's Funeral Home. Doris obtained her North Carolina funeral director's license and worked diligently beside her husband serving North Carolina/South Carolina and surrounding communities. This year, they would have celebrated 50 years of service to you—our extended family!

She was a devoted member of First Baptist Church where she served as a Deaconess, Sunday School teacher, member of the A.L. Bell Inspirational Chorus, Past President of the Senior Missionary Department, Vacation Bible School teacher, member of the Praise and Worship Team and member of the Pastor's Aide and Hospitality Committees. Doris was also actively involved in civic and community organizations. She served as Worthy Matron of Electa Chapter #525, OES, PHA, District Deputy Grand Matron of the 35th District, OES, PHA, member of Daughters #151, and Elijah Gillie #18, Heroines of Jericho, PHA, member of the Alpha Eta Chapter of Alpha Pi Chi Sorority, Inc., Carousel Princess selection committee, volunteer for Community Action and Department of Social Services, Chair of the Wadesboro Clean City Commission, Voter Registration Volunteer and Life Member of the NAACP.

In addition to her parents, Doris was preceded in death by her oldest brother, James Barham Sr. and her beautiful niece, Robin Y. Hart.

A link in our family chain has been removed, but we are comforted by her memories, sacrifices and desire to go home to meet God. Her inspiration will forever be etched in the minds and hearts of her husband, Harold C Smith; daughter, attorney Evadne K. Smith and son-in-love, Antwon Edwards; the lights of her life, her grandchildren, Asya Monae (her "Poopie") and Timothy Davelle (her "Boobie"); adopted sons, Willie "Boo Boo" Jones and Danny Gore (Cendar); brother, Robert Wesley Barham Jr. (Yomia) and sister, Margaret B. Hart (Minister Harold) all of Stoneville; one aunt, Irene Scales of Reidsville; one brother-in-law, James Smith (Loretta) of Walnut Cove; and four sisters-in-law, Ella Barham of Greensboro, Daisy Hairston (Raymond) of Walnut Cove, Charlotte Turner of Winston-Salem, and Shirley Milliner of Walkertown.

Her loving and supportive staff at Smith's Funeral Home and their families: William Hugh Gaddy, Tommy Little, Easter G. Rhue, Fisher Sturdivant Jr., Malcolm Sturdivant, Roulpherd Goodson, Danny Gore, the Rev. Nelson Barringer, Felicia Gaston, Vince Clark, Tracy Little, David Liles, Nelson Liles. Keith Rosebud, Frank Little, John Peoples, Vance McCoy, Willie Rosebud, Patrick Lewis, R.J. Liles, Melvin Davis, Gary Kendall, Angeline Gainey, Peggy Simon, Christine Hall, Alva Melton, Judy Simon, Garrett Snuggs, Gilbert Hatcher III, James Oliver Huntley and Dr. Rembert Crawford.

Godchildren: Kristen Mims (Robert), Kashonda Cason (Rev. Timothy), Kristy Spruill (Ronald Jr.), Candace Lewis, Cecille Covington (Domonique), Deanna Crowell, Kishia Dunlap, Denisha Green, Vandrea Nivens, Marques Peguese Jr., Chris Harrington (Nancy), Lisa Little (Charlie), Lucretia Tillman, Melanie and Tyler Bennett, Tony Bennett, Jennifer and Ryan Love and their children, LeKayla, Aidon and LaNiyah.

Her very special spiritual nieces and nephews who meant so much to her: Dr. Florita Bell Griffin (Dr. Richard Griffin), Rev. Asa L. Bell Jr. (Angela), Minister Norvita D. Bell, Asa Bell III and Allison Bell.

Her spiritual parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Lester Harris and Mrs. Jewel Butler; spiritual sisters, Winnie Margaret Brown, the Rev. Chris Whitley (Rev. Dr. Larry), Shirley Ann Crowell, Cordelia Clark (Jay), Ernestine Richardson (James), Queenie Lee (Keith), Minister Bonnie K. Marsh (Sinic), Marlene Richardson (Frank), Commissioner Vancine Sturdivant, Mary L. Neal, Mary C. Ford, Margaret Ridenhour, Linda C. Grier, Lucille Little (Lee), Irene Avery, Aurelia Robinson, Mattie Crowder (Henry), Minnie McRae, Sarah McRae, Edna Lewis, Audrey Jones, Clara Ruth Liles, Dr. Joslyn Allen, Carolyn Hilliard (Robert), Sallie Holmes-Gray (Theo), Jennie Arrington, Lillie Sturdivant, Lib Williams, Lillie Sowell and Sandra Smith Horne.

Her loving nieces and nephews; those she fondly called her own, Dr. Fidelis Edosomwan (Margaret), Michael Tillman (Stephanie), Dr. Tangula Diggs, Demetress Lindsey (Cedric), Kiara Cox, Dr. DeLisa Crosby (Ron), Latonia Wright, Mitchell Smith (Adrian), Melanie and Tyler Bennett, attorney Sophia Gatewood Crawford, Terri Ann Diggs (Mark), Sabronia Dows (Richard), Charlene Pritchett Stevenson, Derek and Karlise Crawford, Will Cedric Carr III, Angela Rorie (Curtis), Connie Clark (Prentice), Erika Logan and numerous loving cousins who were reared as her brothers and sisters; her First Baptist and Mount Moriah Church families, Alpha Eta family, her Eastern Star and Masonic family, Electa Chapter #525, OES, PHA family, and you, her many friends.

Paid obituary