Smaro Lee Black Sossoman

Smaro Lee Black Sossoman, 90 of Morganton, NC died Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at Grace Hospital. Born April 17, 1923 in Cabarrus County, NC, she was a daughter of the late Emmett Clinton Black and Permelia Ann "Annie" Pope Black Vanderburg. Smaro grew up on her family farm in Midland, NC, and during her childhood, was a member of Bethel United Methodist Church. She attended Bethel School in Midland and was a graduate of Brevard College, Brevard, NC. In 1946 she married her best friend Sara’s brother, John Calvin "J.C." Sossoman, Jr. In 1949, J.C. and Smaro founded Sossoman Funeral Home in Morganton. She worked tirelessly helping J.C. serve Burke County families in addition to raising her children. Smaro was a member of First United Methodist Church, Morganton. She and Sara, who Sara’s husband, Dick Todderud, called the "Snoop Sisters", continued their friendship for over seventy years until Sara’s untimely death in 1999. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and sister. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of sixty-four years, John Calvin "J.C." Sossoman, Jr.; brothers, Bill, Coy, and Joe Ben Black; and sisters, Avous Liles and Kathleen Flowe Rosser.Surviving to cherish her memory are her children, Charles S. Sossoman, J. Calvin Sossoman both of Morganton, and Madelyn Sossoman Phillips and husband, Fred of Greensboro; her special daughter-in-law, Mary Lou Dougher Sossoman of Morganton; grandchildren, Mark A. Sossoman and wife, Rachel of Morganton, Kathleen Sossoman Link and husband, Ed of Decatur, GA, Caroline Phillips Trotter and husband, Michael of Charlotte, and Eric N. Phillips of Greensboro; great-grandchildren, Brendan A. Sossoman, Skyler Sawyer, Conner C. Sossoman, Ian C. Sossoman, Elise Sawyer, Elizabeth M. Link, and Patrick J. Link; sisters, Joyce Black Tucker and husband, Jerry and Mary Ann B. Black all of Midland, NC; sisters-in-law, Ruth Hammil Black and Eloise Ross Black; and a large number of nephews and nieces. She is also survived by her funeral home family of employees both past and present whom she dearly loved and by her special "Angel" Cleta Phillips and husband, Chuck whose loving and devoted care for the past three and a half years allowed Smaro to live comfortably in her own home. Smaro thought of Cleta, Chuck, and their family as her family too.The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, January 19, 2014 at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. John Fowler, Rev. Laura Elliot, and Dr. Thomas A. Bland, Jr. officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Saturday at Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center. Memorial gifts may be made to First United Methodist Church, 201 N. King St., Morganton, NC 28655.