Dorothy Lane Smith

Dorothy Lane Smith, 81, died Thursday, April 5, 2007, following a prolonged illness with Parkinson’s. She was born on March 18, 1926 in Burke County and was a daughter of the late Holden and Nanny Smith Lane. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by brothers, Wesley, Louis, and Robert Lane. Mrs. Smith retired from Premier Hosiery Mill where she had worked for 41 years. She loved caring for her family and took great pleasure in their visits. Traveling with family and friends brought her much joy especially the bus trips with the groups from Missionary Ridge Baptist Church where she was a member. She enjoyed flowers and seeing the beauty in them.

Surviving are her husband of 62 years, Ray T. Smith of the home; their children, Michael R. Smith and his wife, Sandra, of Hickory, Helen White and her husband, Willard, of Morganton, and Rebekah "Becky" Smith of the home; granddaughters, Brenda Johnson and Bella Jenkins; great-granddaughter, Keri Johnson; and brothers, Holden Lane, Jr. of Drexel, Elbert "Ebey" lane of Morganton, and Charles Lane of Valdese.

The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 7, 2007, at Missionary Ridge Baptist Church with Rev. Donald Lovelace officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 7:30 p.m. Friday at Sossoman Funeral Home where the body will remain until placed in the church 30 minutes before the funeral. Memorial contributions may be made to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, 1721 Enon Rd., Valdese, NC 28690 or to Missionary Ridge Baptist Church, 5612 John Watts Rd., Morganton, NC 28655.