Christine Gray Smith

WINTER PARK, Fla. - Christine Gray Smith entered into the presence of the Lord Octo-ber 4, 2008, while residing at the Winter Park, Florida home of her daughter, Joan. Born March 24, 1927, in the Wheat Swamp community of Lenoir County, Christine was the daugh-ter of the late Floyd Gray, Sr. and Ruby Sutton Gray. After graduating from Wheat Swamp high School and attending Peace College in Raleigh, she graduated from East Carolina Uni-versity with a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry and Biology. While at ECU Christine was actively involved as Vice President of the Junior class, President of the Y.W.C.A. and a dele-gate to the Southern Conference of the Y.W. and Y.M.C.A., treasurer of the Emerson Society, and very active in both the Science Club and Women's Athletic Association. As a very com-mitted member of the Women's Varsity Basketball team, softball and gymnastics teams she lettered while at ECU in both basketball and gymnastics. Christine began her teaching ca-reer in Lenoir County, and continued in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania after her marriage to Dr. Grover W. Smith. The prestigious, private Lankenau School for Girls provided the challeng-ing opportunity to teach both chemistry and biology, as well as coach girl's basketball and field hockey. In 1953, she and her husband returned to Kinston to reside and begin his dental practice with Christine becoming his first office manager. Christine was a charter member of Northwest Christian Church. She served over 35 years in many positions but it was her love for the youth that brought her the greatest joy. Hundreds of children were blessed under the guidance of the youth group that she and her husband dedicated their lives to. One of her greatest joys was knowing that she helped guide so many young people who are now bringing up their own children and grandchildren in Christian homes because of those seeds planted in their youth in the church. She chaperoned too many youth trips to count, hosted numerous fund raisers, barbeques and cook outs, sold thousands of Christmas trees, lead Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and even drove the church bus! She taught the youth group some of their first lessons in giving to those less fortunate. Through her money making skills, many thousands of dollars were given to mission projects that are still making a dif-ference in lives all over the world today. To raise those monies, she taught that hard work never hurt anyone. Her youth groups were no strangers to cucumber fields and picking corn to sell or hosting steak dinners or selling BBQ plates. After their obligations to the missions were met the balances were used to travel to different parts of the U.S. and the Caribbean cruises. The log cabin at 3108 Rouse Road was built solely for the C.Y.F. to have a prayer and fellowship retreat to enjoy wholesome fun. On those grounds were held the favorite Easter egg hunts entertaining the children of Caswell Center and the beautiful sunrise Easter services. Christine was happiest when she was doing for others. She used her many diverse talents to be a servant for others and the Lord. Whether it was cooking pies and delivering to the elderly or camping out in her back pasture with the girl scouts, she was at her best when giving of herself. She was the ultimate hostess and thought nothing of enter-taining for a hundred as easily as a dozen. Directing weddings of the young people of Kin-ston and their receptions as well as arranging their flowers brought her great fulfillment. She loved her garden, especially the azalea and camellia bushes which bloomed so abun-dantly every spring. She won numerous awards as a member of the Seedling Garden Club for artistic flower arrangements, including several Tricolor Awards. In addition to raising her four children, she was active in her husband's dental practice, and was a member of the Lenoir County Dental Auxiliary, served as president of the Fifth District Dental Auxiliary, and was at one time both the Secretary and President of the North Carolina Dental Auxil-iary. Often she said that of the many awards she received in her life, the greatest was the blessing of being a Mom. Christine is preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Dr. Grover Wilton Smith; her only son, Dr. Michael Gray Smith; her parents, Floyd and Ruby Gray; her brothers, Clifton Gray and Floyd Gray, Jr. and his wife, Pete. She is survived by her three daughters and son in laws, Joan McNamara and Dr. Charles R. McNamara, Sr. of Winter Park, Florida, Susan Zieverink and Mr. Kenneth Zieverink of Benson, North Caro-lina, Judy Couri and Mr. George Couri of Tenafly, New Jersey. She leaves her seven grand-children, Anna Christine Faircloth of Florida, Georgia Louise, Michael George, and Christo-pher George Couri, of New Jersey, Charlie, Muriel and Rory McNamara of Florida. She is also survived by her daughter in law, Molly B. Smith and husband Chris Canuette; brother in law, Billy Ray Smith and his wife Zelia, of La Grange, sister in laws, Mrs. Faye Gray and Mrs. Jean Suber; nieces Deborah Gray of Dallas Texas, "Jo" Pierce of LaGrange and neph-ews Steve Gray, Mark Gray, Chris Harrison, and Ted Harrison of Kinston; and also her "foreign exchange son" from Spain, Miguel Salvador Landmann. In addition the family wishes to gratefully acknowledge the compassionate labors and love of caregivers Gama Philippe and Ruthie Buffaloe, Ruth Deabreu, Brenda Gibson, and Evangeline Norris. "Me-mama" or "Mama Teen," as she was known by many, leaves behind countless "adopted" children and friends who were blessed, guided, and always encouraged by her tireless ef-forts, unconditional love and continued prayers. A reception will be held on Saturday Octo-ber 11, from 4-8 p.m. at the family home located at 3110 Rouse Road, Kinston. A celebration service will be conducted at Northwest Christian Church on Sunday, October 12, at 2 p.m. Interment will follow at Pinelawn Cemetery. Officiating will be the Rev. John Daigle, the Rev. Ken Rouse, and the Rev. John Zabawski. Edwards Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Sign the guest book at www.kinston.com.

Regretfully omitted from the Christine Gray Smith obituary. Surviving family: Mrs. Robert "Polly" Rouse, only living aunt; pall bearers, Leo Hart, Bernie Arnold, Bill Meredith, Steve Gray, Frank Parrott, Bob Strother, Mark Gray, Reed Hopkins, Tommy Hawkins, Terry Koonce, Mike Creech, John Pullen and Chuck Sutton. (Paid notice)