Dr. R. Markham "Mark" Smith

Dr. Ray Markham Smith

July 25, 1941 – October 26, 2025

HIGH POINT - Dr. Ray Markham Smith, known to all as Mark, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 26, 2025, in High Point, North Carolina. He leaves behind a legacy of dedication to family, faith, and education. Born July 25, 1941, in Kinston, North Carolina, Mark was the beloved son of D. Ray Smith and Romalda Markham Smith. Mark was a loving husband to Carolyn Holoman Smith for over 62 years. He was a proud father to Stuart Smith (Teresa), Adrienne Young (Sam), and Laura Williams (Tommy), and grandfather to Austin Young, Parker Young and J.D. Williams.

Mark grew up in Kinston, North Carolina, where he learned the values of integrity, commitment to lifelong learning, and service that would define his life. He earned his undergraduate degree from Wake Forest College, where he was a proud member of the Sigma Chi and Alpha Phi Omega fraternities and met his college sweetheart and wife, Carolyn.

After starting his family and a career in the financial services industry in Greensboro and Charlotte, North Carolina, Mark moved his family to Concord, North Carolina. He joined Concord National Bank where he built and led the trust department, before serving as an executive at two additional banks in Charlotte. Additionally, Mark was a certified financial planner, and he opened his own consulting firm, MCSALSH Associates. Mark was an active member of First Baptist Church where he served faithfully as a deacon, volunteered many years with the Sounds of Seraphim youth choir, and led the building committee for a new education facility. During this time, Mark continued his academic studies, garnering his MBA from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He was also active in many civic organizations.

In the early 1990s, Mark and Carolyn relocated to Sumter, South Carolina, where they spent the next thirty years. While in Sumter, Mark and Carolyn were active members of Alice Drive Baptist Church. In addition, Mark continued to serve in a variety of community service roles, including as a leader with the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief of South Carolina and as a deputy coroner of Sumter County, South Carolina. He also attended and graduated from the FBI Citizens Academy. Professionally, Mark led the Trust Department at the National Bank of South Carolina, from which he eventually retired from his financial services career. Mark embraced his second career in academia, first sharing his knowledge and expertise at the University of South Carolina in Sumter. In parallel, he continued to demonstrate his love of learning, acquiring his Ph.D. from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, during this time. Now known as Dr. R. Mark Smith, he continued his career as a professor at Campbell University, Methodist University and Columbia International University. His passion for teaching and mentoring others left a lasting impact on countless lives.

In 2021, Mark and Carolyn moved to High Point, North Carolina, to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Mark became very involved here as well, serving on multiple committees in the Pennybyrn community where he lived.

In all that he did, Mark was a friend to everyone he met.

A memorial service will be held to honor Mark's life on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at 11:00 am in the Chapel of Cumby Family Funeral Service (1015 Eastchester Drive, High Point, NC). Following the service, there will be time for visitation with the family.

Condolences may be sent to the family online on Mark's tribute page at www.cumbyfuneral.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to either the Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road SW, Lilburn, GA 30047 (lbda.org); or to the Employee Appreciation Fund at Pennybyrn, 109 Penny Road, High Point, NC 27260 (pennybyrnliving.org).

Cumby Family Funeral Service in High Point is serving the Smith family.