WILLIAM "BILL" WHITFIELD SMITH
Oct. 11, 1928-Jan. 17, 2011
William Whitfield "Bill" Smith died Jan. 17, 2011, at Kitty Askins Hospice Center.
He was born in Raleigh, N.C., Oct. 11, 1928, and was the son of the late Alice McGee Smith and Roger Alexander Smith Jr.
He spent his childhood in Smithfield and Raleigh.
Mr. Smith earned a Bachelor of Art degree in English from Davidson College in 1950, and graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1953.
He served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955.
Mr. Smith joined Dees Law Firm in Goldsboro, N.C., in 1955, and practiced law with the firm for 36 years.
He was dedicated to his family and his profession, and was active in community and church work.
He enjoyed being involved in the lives of his children and, more recently, his grandchildren, with whom he shared his many interests, including a love of sailing.
He favored projects and organizations that emphasize law and order and education, and was a member and served on the board of many organizations, including Goldsboro Rotary Club, Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp., Wayne County Library, Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, Wayne Community Concerts, Wayne Country Day School, United Way of Wayne County, WAGES, Wayne Community College, Wayne Memorial Hospital, State Library of North Carolina, Salvation Army and the Peace College Foundation.
Mr. Smith was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Goldsboro, and served the church as a deacon and a member of various committees.
Mr. Smith is survived by his wife of 53 years, Jane Parker Smith; his children, William Whitfield "Whit" Smith Jr. and wife, Alison, of Atlanta, Alexander Parker "Sandy" Smith and wife, Alicia, of Raleigh and Mariah Smith Malik of Raleigh; grandchildren, Jordan Smith Malik, Alexander Parker "Alex" Smith Jr., Aurora Jane "Rory" Smith and Elspeth Fiona Smith; and devoted family friend, Carrie Mae Faison.
He was preceded in death by his sons, Fort Talbot Smith and Thomas McAdams "Tom" Smith.
He loved his family, his friends and the community he served.
A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Goldsboro at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011.
The family will receive friends in the church's McChesney Hall following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Salvation Army in Goldsboro, 610 N. William St., Goldsboro, N.C., 27530.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on January 18, 2011 1:48 PM