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Mary Grace Bell Smith March 29, 1932 - May 29, 2023

Born: Tuesday Mar 29, 1932

Died: Monday May 29, 2023

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Mary Grace Bell Smith, 91, of Eden, our loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, entered her heavenly home on Monday evening, May 29, 2023, surrounded by her beloved family.

A funeral service will be held at 2pm Friday, June 2, 2023, at Fair Funeral Home Chapel in Eden with burial to follow at Overlook Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service, from 1-2pm. For those unable to attend the service, it will be livestreamed on Fair Funeral Home and Cremations Facebook page. The family will receive friends at other times at the home of her daughter Cynthia, 1731 Price Grange Rd, Stoneville, NC 27048.

Mama Smith, as she was affectionately known to so many literally around the world, was born March 29, 1932 in Ridgeway, VA, to the late Joseph Walter Bell and Mamie Belton Bell. She was a devoted member of Ridgeway Church of Christ. Our mother was a dedicated homemaker and a precious mother to twelve children. She loved her bluegrass music and played the guitar by ear. She loved to hear her family sing together a cappella. Mama was so proud of being a 1949 graduate of Ridgeway High School. She was one of the last surviving members of her class.

Left to cherish her memory are her children: Larry Smith of Eden, NC, Cynthia Smith (Tony London) of Stoneville, NC, Shirley Price (Gary) of Stoneville, NC, Janet Nunn (James) of Hanover, PA, Nancy Bartlett (Rex) of Stoneville, NC, Billie Jean Snuggs (Lee) of Albemarle, NC, Mark Smith (Lita) of Madison, AL, Rosemary Sams (Doug) of Suffolk, VA, Wayne Smith of Washington, D.C.; (grand)daughter, Angela Smith of Eden, NC; son-in-law, David Portner of Midlothian, VA; fifteen grandchildren: Jessie Smith, Jamie Smith, Lauran Combs McClure (Barry), Carter Combs (Renee), Meredith Combs Williams (Bubba), Amanda Price Ormsby (Robbie), Kari Price White (Joey), Ashley Portner Holzer (Nathaniel), Rebecca Portner, Jack Nunn (Julia), David Bartlett, Witt Snuggs, Andrew Watson (Rebecca), Mary Sams Catlin (Evan), Ryan Sams; fourteen great-grandchildren: Savannah Kallam, Stella, Kate, and Miles McClure, Bear and Campbell Williams, Elin and Vera Ormsby, Ragan and Joseph “Tripp” White, Whitley and John Luke Watson, Adam and Elizabeth Catlin; special daughter: Julie Priddy of Eden, NC; numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Mama is preceded in death by her husband, William Elbert Smith; beloved children: Scott Smith and Judy Portner; three precious grandsons: Marvin “Trey” Sams, Smith William Snuggs, and James Nunn; six brothers: Ed, John, Walter, Ben, Dan and David Bell.

Flowers are welcome but donations may be made to The American Cancer Society, PO Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741 or the Children’s Tumor Foundation, PO Box 7247, Philadelphia, PA 19170-0001.

Special thanks to the loving and devoted care given our mother at UNC-Rockingham ICU. Thank you for loving Mama.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.fairfuneralhome.com

So sorry for your loss.


Tammie Marlow

So sorry for your loss. Your Mother was such a lovely lady inside and out. Debra Yurich Gibson

 


Debra Gibson

sorry for your loss prayers for the famiy i used to play at with you all when you lived  beside the prices  they lived on the corner of willow st in eden

 


edgar ellis bartlett92

What a blessing she was to everyone she met. My heart breaks for the family. But it also rejoices for her. She is walking the streets of gold. She will be missed. 
Sherry Hall. 


Sherry Hall

Dear Cynthia, Shirley and family.....I am so very sorry for your loss!!! Mama Smith was such a beautiful and precious soul!!! I enjoyed getting to be with her and her loving family on different occasions. You all are in my thoughts and prayers at this sad time. May God bring y'all comfort and peace today and in the days ahead!! 🙏❤️


Micki Neal

So sorry for your loss.. prayers for you all


Melanie bowes

Mary Smith was a very sweet Lady and  her family has always been my family.  So glad that I met them all.  

So sorry for the Family's lost but know it's comforting 

that she is in the LORDS care.

 


Frank Odell

There are a few people in life that leave an everlasting impression and Mary is one of them. What a wonderful woman!!! I remember her from when I was very little. Never once did I ever here her complain. She always had a smile. She always spoke and was kind!!! She raised a wonderful family!!! I will never forget her!! Thanks, Mary! You are in God's hands now, and I look forward to seeing you again!!


Duane Burgess
To all the family, we are so very sorry for the loss of your dear, sweet Mama.  She always had the sweetest smile and oh how she loved all of you, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Please accept our deepest condolences and sympathy at this difficult time.  
Susan & Louis Childrey

Sorry for your loss.  Will be praying for your family.  I didn't know her but I'm sure she was a wonderful mother and grandmother and great grandmother .


Ruth Ward Close

Mama Smith was a dear and sweet mother-in-law and I will miss her.  Her legacy includes the many years of sacrificial love for her children.  Life was difficult but she was always there.  She gave me my beautiful and loving wife Janet and for that I will always be grateful.  


Jim Nunn

Dear smith family, 

I am so sad to hear of the passing of cousin Mary. I have many memories of her and Bill. Our family loves you all dearly and will have you in prayer in the time to come❤️

Romans 8:18


Amber Light Martin

Our deepest sympathy and love to your family.  Mama Smith was a treasure and blessing to all who knew and loved her.  She was so beautiful and had the sweetest smile.  She will be terribly missed, but never forgotten.  We will be keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers.

Love in Christ,

Roger and Debbie McClure


Debbie McClure

Praying for the Smith family 


Phyllis Hall

Nancy, we are praying for you and your family during this time. What a comfort to know your mom is walking the streets of gold and sitting at the feet of our beloved Savior, Jesus right now. Wow! We love you and are keeping you close in our hearts.

💓Tony and Michelle


Michelle Petty

My deepest sympathies to the Smith Family.  Mama Smith was such a treaure!  She was so vibrant and had such a positive effect on everyone who knew her no matter what age.  People listened and wanted to be near her.  An irreplaceable loss for us, but a tremendous gain for her Heavenly family.  My memories of her will be forever held in my heart.  


Stephanie Crowder

We have lost an iconic, strong willed and deeply compassionate mother, mother in law, grandmother and great grandmother. I've never known anyone with as much love and I mean unconditional love for so many and an unselfish desire to provide just a little happiness to each of her kids and loved ones each day. She gave her heart to us everyday and I only hope that she knew how much that meant to each of us. She now watches over us from heaven. I personally am blessed to have known, learned from and be loved by Mama Smith. This forum is too small to express all of the joy she has brought to my life. My deepest condolences to the entire family and friends of Mama Smith. She will be greatly missed. 


Doug Sams (Junior)

Sending prayers and thoughts to the family during this most difficult times in your lives.  Nita Shaffer, Social Security Administration/Office of Quality Review, friend of James Nunn


Nita Shaffer

To all of Mary Smith's Family,

Our deepest condolences to all of the family!

I remember meeting her a few times, she was always so kind and loving. She will be greatly missed!


Sipling Family

Please know that I will be keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers! Dale Smith


Dale Smith

Lynwood and I are so sorry for your loss. I wish I could have met this amazing lady, but I feel sure we will meet in Heaven! God bless your family with His grace during the coming days.

 


Shelly Lunsford

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