Tessie Mae York Smith

Tessie Mae York Smith, 92, of Morganton, NC died Friday, November 12, 2010 after a period of declining health. Born in Burke County, NC on May 16, 1918, she was the daughter of the late Bryson York and Fannie Mae Towery York. Tessie was a member of Solid Rock Baptist Church. She was a former employee of Highlander, Ltd. and a retired employee of Drexel Heritage Furnishings. She worked for 20 years at Western Carolina Center as a foster grandparent until she retired at the age of 85.Tessie is survived by her son, Paul W. Smith of Morganton; daughters, Mary S. Plymale and Nancy S. DeLoach and husband, Justice, both of Morganton; grandchildren, Diane McElrath, Susan McGee, Deborah Smith, Tonya Hensley, and Angela Clark; great-grandchildren, Casey Ellis, Carl McGee, Abby Clark, Richard, Sierra, and Gary Hensley, and Tara Jackson; great-great-grandchildren, Elijah Ellis and Jade Beam.In addition to her parents, Tessie was preceded in death by her husband, Elijah Smith; a son, Howard Z. Smith; grandsons, Jimmy and Bobby Green; brothers, Wilson and Joe York; and sisters, Hester Chapman and Pearl Smith.The memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 16, 2010 in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home with Rev. Doug Goforth officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Road, Valdese, NC 28690.