Helen J. Smith

Helen J. Smith, 96, of Smith Church Rd., Morganton, NC died Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at Grace Hospital. Born August 16, 1914 in Burke County, NC, she was a daughter of the late Lee and Cynthia Glass Greene. Helen was a devoted and holy woman of God, and along with her late husband, Willie Robert Smith, established the Church of God Holiness on Kathy Rd. She resided in her home with her daughter, Linda Smith and was a retired employee of Valdese Manufacturing. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her children, Annie Mae Keil, Patricia Abernathy, Nancy Pearson, Willie Matthew Smith, Dorothy Ritter, Faye Ritter, Raymond Smith, and Hannah Smith; a brother and three sisters. Helen will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.Surviving are her sons, Roy A. Smith and Robert Smith and his wife, Ruth all of Morganton; daughters, Margie Smith of Morganton, Irene Tomlin of Nashville, TN, Linda Smith and Mary Sue Fritts and her husband, Harvey all of Morganton; a large number of grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren; numerous nephews and nieces; and a host of extended family.The funeral will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, February 4, 2011 in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center with Pastors Roy A. Smith and Gary Lavender, II officiating. Burial will follow in Burke Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home for one hour before the funeral.