Mildred Secrest Smith

Mildred Secrest Smith, 85, of Grace Heights, Morganton, NC, formerly of Whitley Road, died Sunday, April 15, 2007. Born in Burke County, NC on September 5, 1921, she was the daughter of the late Jacob Secrest and Sarah Wilson Secrest. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Leroy Smith; brothers, Albert, Arles, Robert, and Lee Secrest; and sisters, Mamie Whisenant and Christin Harvey. Mrs. Smith was one of the original twelve charter members of Asheville Street Baptist Church to which she was very devoted. She was employed at the N.C. School for the Deaf and retired from Western Carolina Center.

She is survived by her children, Adam Leroy Smith, Jr. and wife, Janet, of Asheville, NC, Robert Nelson Smith and wife, Patricia, of Marion, NC, Donald R. Smith and wife, Ruhama, and Linda Moore, and husband, Walter, all of Morganton; sisters, Louise McFalls and Beulah Phillips, both of Morganton; grandsons, Adam, Stephen, and Robert Smith; seven step-grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, nineteen step-great-grandchildren, and a special step-great-grandson, Charles Lanning.

The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 17, 2007 at Asheville Street Baptist Church with Rev. Douglas Goforth and Bishop Cade Burns officiating. Burial will follow in Burke Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to Asheville Street Baptist Church Building Fund, 107 Colony Drive, Morganton, NC 28655. Sossoman Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.