JEAN SPRUILL SMITH
March 6, 1929-May 24, 2015
Jean Spruill Smith, 86, Fremont, went to meet her Lord and savior Sunday, May 24, 2015.
Jean and her husband, Pete, lived their entire marriage on Pete's family farm near Eureka, and she was a member at Eureka United Methodist Church.
March 6, 1929, Jean was born in Oriental, N.C., to the late Jesse and Berline Spruill.
While in college at East Caroline Teacher's College, Jean roomed with Sedalia S. Green, Pete's sister. Sedalia introduced her brother and Jean. After which, Jean and Pete married, having two children, Brenda S. Baker and Linwood "Buddy" Smith.
Initially Jean stayed at home raising her children and assisting Pete with his farm.
After her children were raised, she began a career with the Wayne County public schools as a teacher's assistant. Jean enjoyed working with the children she met while working for the school system.
After retirement, Jean actively participated in Northern Lights Extension Homemaker's Club.
She helped sick and elderly people in the Eureka community. She delivered "meals on wheels" to many people in Northern Wayne County.
She was always active in her church. She enjoyed receiving the word and fellowship each Sunday. She will be missed at the Tuesday morning prayer group, which she attended regularly.
Jean was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Eli "Pete" Smith Jr.; her brother, Rodman Spruill of Charlotte; her sisters, Lois S. Broughton of Oriental, Louise S. Miller of Bayboro and Elva S. Miller of Oriental; her son-in-law, James "Bud" Baker; and a grandson, Daniel W. Smith.
She will live on in the memory of her surviving family, daughter, Brenda S. Baker of Eureka; son Linwood "Buddy" Smith, his wife, Donna; grandchildren, Amy Gambill, her husband, Phillip, Baylee Smith, Brittany and Brandon Andrews and Brooke and Brad Tinker; and her great-grandson, Seth Gambill.
The family thanks Geral Hamilton, Marjorie Speight, Angela Reid, Jennifer Montague and Tina Day for providing care in her final days.
A service celebrating Jean's life will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 28, at Shackleford Howell Funeral Home in Fremont, with the Rev. Michele Clark and elder John Hess officiating.
Visitation will follow.
Burial will by Friday, May 29, at 11 a.m. at Elmwood cemetery in Fremont.
The family is in the care of the Shackleford-Howell Funeral Home in Fremont, N.C.
Flowers are appreciated, but Jean would have preferred memorial gifts be sent to Eureka United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 3240, Eureka, N.C., 27830.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on May 27, 2015 2:16 PM