CYNTHIA H. SMITH
July 23, 1974-March 6, 2014
Cynthia Herndon Smith, loving mother, wife, daughter and teacher, passed away Thursday evening at the University of North Carolina Memorial Hospital surrounded by family and friends. Cynthia had fought a year-long battle with leukemia, losing her fight to a related liver disease.
Born in Cumberland County, she graduated from Cape Fear High School in Vander, N.C., and received her undergraduate degree from North Carolina State University and her master's degree in school administration from Garner Webb University.
Mrs. Smith taught school at Mount Olive Middle School in Mount Olive, during which time she was recognized as the Wayne County Public Schools Career and Technical Education Teacher of the Year in 2011. In 2012, she was named the Wayne County Public Schools Model Educator.
She was a mentor to many of the students at Mount Olive Middle School.
She was a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and First Baptist Church of Mount Olive.
A service to celebrate Cynthia's life will be held Sunday at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Mount Olive, with Dr. Dennis Atwood and the Rev. Felicia Fox officiating. Burial will follow in Wayne Memorial Park.
Family members greeted friends Saturday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home.
Mrs. Smith is survived by her husband, Joe Thomas Smith Jr.; sons, Ryan Andrew Smith and Bryce Alexander Smith, both of the home; her parents, Charles and Annette Herndon of Apex; brother, Brian Herndon and wife, Andolyn; along with nieces, Sarahna and Haizley Herndon all of Myrtle Beach, S.C.
She is also survived by her grandmothers, Lou Herndon of Apex and Gracie Cavenaugh of Magnolia, and her father-in-law, Thomas Smith of Dudley.
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Jesse Dallas Herndon; maternal grandfather, J.R. Cavenaugh; and mother-in-law, Ann Smith.
Cynthia loved and was loved by many aunts, uncles and cousins.
The family would like to thank the University of North Carolina Cancer Hospital for its undivided love and care.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Outlaw Foundation, P.O. Box 592, Faison, N.C., 28341, or the Youth Program at First Baptist Church of Mount Olive, P.O. Box 239, Mount Olive, N.C., 28365.
Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home is serving the Smith family, and online condolences may be directed to www.shumate-faulk.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on March 9, 2014 9:03 AM