Doris Herman Smith

ROCKY MOUNT - Ms. Doris Herman Smith, 80, passed away Monday, June 30, 2025 at the Service League of Greenville Hospice House.
Doris's happiest moments were those spent with her children, grandchildren, and the friends she made and kept over the years. Of course, the next best thing for Doris was experiencing the beauty of nature and the world around her, a world to which she greatly contributed through her flowers, landscaping, her work with hundreds of bridal parties, and sharing all this with her friends and family.
Doris lived a life of curiosity and adventure that thrilled - and sometimes alarmed - those around her. If she could dream it, she would try it, even when the outcome was far from certain. Doris built and lived in a cottage at the reservoir her last thirty years, she learned how to boat on the reservoir and the waterways at Kure Beach, she carried on the legacy of "the beach" for her children and grandchildren, she started and ran a successful bridal boutique, held "big-time" fashion shows, and traveled each year to markets in New York and Atlanta. Doris would always give her time and, if needed, sacrifice her comfort, to be with friends and family members, even up to her last day with us.
Doris grew up in Enfield, North Carolina and graduated from Enfield High School in 1962. She attended college at Southern Seminary and graduated from Atlantic Christian College in 1966. Following college, Doris taught early grade school in Rocky Mount. She spent many hours as a volunteer at the Nurses' Garden at Nash General Hospital with Dr. C.T. Smith and Elmo Boswell, one of her gardening mentors who was the impetus to her future in and love for landscaping and flower arranging.
Doris began her own floral business after preparing Sunday morning arrangements at Lakeside Church, which led to flowers for weddings prepared from her home - always with her sister, Emma Ruth Sykes, at her side. Her flower business expanded to Wedding Designs, a beloved bridal shop in downtown Rocky Mount, which she started and ran with the help and support of many dear friends and colleagues.
In addition to dance recitals, horseback riding lessons, band and Color Guard competitions, and soccer games, Doris participated in youth activities at Lakeside, as well as Circle, chaperoning trips Fort Caswell, Meals on Wheels, and the Board of Deacons at the church.
Doris was preceded in death by her father, Dr. Marvin E. Herman, her mother, Huldah B. Herman, and her sister, Emma Ruth Sykes. She is survived by her two children: Paige Ritchie, of Raleigh, N.C., and Tyson Smith and his wife Alicia of Charleston, S.C.; and three grandchildren, Denver Smith, Tucker Ritchie, Kyla Ritchie.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, July 3rd, at Lakeside Church. The family will receive friends immediately after in the Sugg Foyer. A burial with family will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, her family asks that friends and family grow the roses, share the flowers, take risks, belly laugh, enjoy life's beauty, love each other and never be practical.
Memorial donations in memory of Doris H. Smith may be made to The Service League of Greenville Hospice House at PO Box 8489, Greenville, NC 27835, c/o ECU Health Foundation; Phone (252) 847-5626 or online by clicking here. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Doris Herman Smith, please visit our floral store.