Martha Ann Ford Smith

Martha Ann Ford Smith

Martha Ann Ford Smith passed away on May 8, 2024 at the Lower Cape Fear Life Care Center's Dr. Robert M. Fales Hospice Pavilion following several months of hospitalization that resulted from complications from an emergency surgery.

Martha was born in Dillon, South Carolina, on Oct. 5, 1949 to Paul and Lester Ford and was the youngest of their four children.

Martha is survived by her devoted daughter and beloved son-in-law, Michelle and Geoffrey Price, and her step-daughter, Sheri Jolly, all of Wilmington; her cherished grandsons, Aaron Jolly (Sara) of Burgaw, NC and Cameron Price; great-grandchildren, Emme and Evan Jolly; oldest brother Tracy Ford (Susie) of Lake View, SC; special niece, Sherry Cook Floyd (Jeffery) of Fairmont, NC; special great-nieces and -nephews, Tyler Floyd (Caitlin) of Lumberton, NC, Kaitlan Berdeau (Ian) of Wake Forest, NC, and Dylan Floyd (Colleen) of St. Marys, GA; and special great-great-nieces and -nephews: Charlee and Harper Floyd, Grace Berdeau, and Anna and Noah Floyd, as well as a host of other nieces, nephews, great-nieces and -nephews, and great-great-nieces and -nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Boyce Brooks Smith, and her parents, Paul and Lester Ford; brother Jack Ford of Nichols, SC, and sister and best friend Vivian Atkinson of Fairmont, NC.

Martha and Vivian's bond was incredibly close, and after Vivian's passing, her absence in Martha's life was profound. From childhood, Martha was a woman of strong, Christian faith, spending much of her free time as a teenager at church either volunteering or worshiping.

In her final days, she was joyful in knowing she would soon be reunited with the loved ones that she had missed for so long.

A celebration of life will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, May 18, 2024 at First Baptist Church, 606 N. Walnut St. in Lumberton, NC with a graveside service following at Gardens of Faith Cemetery.

A visitation will take place immediately prior to the service at 1 p.m. in the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.

The family will also receive friends at the home of Jeff and Sherry Floyd on May 17 at 5424 Stone Road in Fairmont, NC.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, Southeastern Family Violence Center, or Lower Cape Fear Life Care, or another charity of your choice.