Norah Rayne Smitherman

Smitherman, Norah Rayne

East Bend - Norah Rayne Smitherman, 17, a loving daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece and friend to so many, entered into her eternal reward on Thursday, November 4, 2021. She was born May 19, 2004 in Forsyth County to her loving parents, Rodney and Jennifer Ziglar Smitherman. Norah was a Senior at Forbush High School, where she was an exceptional student that would be graduating Summa Cum Laude and was a candidate for the Belk Scholarship to Davidson College and the Levine Scholarship to U.N.C. at Charlotte. She was active at Forbush, playing Volleyball and Softball, was a member of the National Honor Society, HOSA, Fellowship of Christian Students, and just enjoyed helping anyone that she could. Norah helped others either individually or with various activities such as IMPACT Yadkin, Mission Trips, or Collide Church, where she assisted with the Collide Kids, in Guest Services and served as a role model for the middle and high school youth. She enjoyed helping with childcare for both private individuals and various community groups. She willingly lived a life of service to others and not service to self.

Norah was preceded in death by her great-grandparents, John Talmadge "Tal" Ziglar, Mr. Leonard Nathan Atwood, Sr., Mrs. Martha Louise Ledbetter Atwood, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Ebert Smitherman, Mr. and Mrs. A. Clifton Starling; great-uncle, Leonard and wife, Pam Atwood, Jr., and great-aunt, Amelia Louise Atwood.

Surviving are her beloved parents, Rodney and Jennifer Ziglar Smitherman, of the home; her sister, Miah Rose Smitherman; twin sister, Annah Reese Smitherman; maternal grandparents, Dr. Jerry T. and Vickie Ziglar; paternal grandparents, the late Rickie V. Smitherman, Barbara Smitherman Wyatt and step grandfather, Paul Wyatt, all of Yadkinville; her aunts, Candy (Kent) Shumate of East Bend; Nissa (Chris) Talley; Dr. Stephanie Z. Furey of Jacksonville, Fla.; cousins, Jackson and Spencer Talley of Mooresville; maternal great-grandmother, Lillie Mae Cobb Ziglar of Madison; great-aunts, the late Evelyn Z. Blake, and her husband, Russell, Ruby Kay Ziglar, Mitzi (Mike) Moore, Wanda Kay (Tim) Burgess, Darlene Cox; great-uncles, Mr. Bobby Ziglar, Ricky (Shannon) Atwood, the late Danny Ross Smitherman and wife, Fran, the late Alvin Lee Starling and wife, Barbara; the late Donald G. Starling; her beloved puppy, Leo; and a broad community of close friends and extended family, whose lives she impacted, reaching all different ages and geographic areas. To God be the Glory, Great Things She has Done.

There will be no formal visitation with the family, but Norah will be available for friends to pay their respects from 4:00-8:00 PM on Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at Gentry Family Funeral Service in Yadkinville. A Service of Celebration for her life will be 11:00 AM Thursday, November 11, 2021 at Union Grove Baptist Church, 2401 Nebo Road, Yadkinville, NC 27055 by Rev. Jamie Reavis, Rev. Nick Poindexter, and Rev. Brent Winslow. A graveside service will be 4:00 PM Thursday at Friedland Moravian Church, 2750 Friedland Church Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27107 by The Rev. John G. Rights, The Rt. Rev. Carol Foltz, The Rev. Steve Craver, and The Rev. Wally Yarbrough. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials may be made to Collide Church, Norah Smitherman Missions Fund, PO Box 151, Yadkinville, NC 27055. Gentry Family Funeral Service of Yadkinville is serving the Smitherman family. Online condolences may be made to www.gentryfuneralservice.com.