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Esther Smith Obituary
She was born Dec. 6, 1908, to the late Eli and Cora Forney in Norlina, N.C.
She was predeceased by her first husband, Ben Patterson, Sr.; her second husband, John Smith; her oldest daughter, Lelia Mae Patterson; her youngest son, Earl Patterson; three sisters, one brother and four grandsons.
She is survived by her children, Doris Spencer, Barbara Holloman, Benjamin Patterson, Jr., Helen Bryant, Jane Atkins and Ernestine Slade; four generations of grandchildren; one sister; and a host of other relatives and friends.
A funeral will be held noon Saturday, Queen Street Baptist Church, 413 E. Brambleton Ave. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery, Norfolk. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday at Metropolitan Funeral Service, Granby St. Chapel. Condolences may be offered at www.metropolitanfuneralservice.com View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Esther Smith
3 Entries
Maxine Rice
February 20, 2009
One hundred years of life is oh so precious to celebrate. To borrow lyrics from a song by Mercy Me, we 'can only imagine' what she's doing in God's presence now! Selah!
Sarah Omeoga
February 20, 2009
To Joyce Linyear and Mrs Doris and Ms Holloman my prayers are with you and your family as the Lord takes you through this time in rejoicing in a well lived life of your Grandmother and Mother Ms Esther. Continue the legacy that she has given you all. I admire how you all pulled together in giving your Grandma and Mom great care and I know she enjoyed every moment of it. She was a joy. You are loved.
Wanda Brown-Balthrop
February 20, 2009
Dear Family,
Great Grandma will be greatly missed. She was truly the matriarch of our family...the Queen. She leaves us with many wonderful and humerous memories. She loved us all. I am so proud to be one of her great grandchildren. She was the one who kept us all together. She would want us to continue to fellowship with one another and always love one another. Her goal was to reach 100 years and she did it. Let us celebrate her life of 100 years. May God bless us all during this difficult time. Love you all, Wanda
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