FRANCES B. SMITH
Aug. 6, 1928-July 19, 2008
ASHVILLE -- Frances Best Smith died peacefully Saturday, July 19 at Mission Hospitals, St. Joseph Campus following an extended illness. She was surrounded by her beloved family.
A celebration of her life was held on Tuesday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue in Asheville with the Rev. David L. Warren officiating. Interment followed at Green Hills Cemetery.
Frances was a native of Goldsboro. Born Aug. 6, 1928, she was the daughter of the late Cuyler Deems and Frances Herring Best. She graduated from Pikeville High School and Crumpler's Secretarial College. She and her family moved to Asheville in 1972.
Frances retired in 1999 from years of community service work, including her last 12 professional years with the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. In Goldsboro, she worked with Wayne Memorial Hospital directing their candy striper program. Other jobs included working in the business office at Weil's Department Store in Goldsboro and serving as a clerk for the late Judge Charles Gaylor of Wayne County. She worked for many years as office manager for the Odd Fellow's Children's Home, Goldsboro and with the Frank Clark Architectural Firm.
She was an accomplished seamstress, knitter and homemaker. Frances was a former officer in the Buncombe County Democratic Women's Club and worked several years as an election precinct worker.
Frances is survived by her two devoted daughters, Debby Burchfield and her husband, John, of Asheville, and Tracey Benton and her husband, Dale, of Goldsboro; her two wonderful grandchildren, Johnathon Benton and Amanda Benton of Goldsboro; one sister, Elizabeth Biggerstaff of Youngsville; and her very special friends, Sam Colyer, Roger Radcliff and Phyllis Henderson, all of Asheville.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Karl Best, of Goldsboro and Cuyler Best Jr. of Wilson.
The memorial register is available online by going to Obituaries at www.grocefuneralhome.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on July 27, 2008 11:09 AM