On April 24, 2024, just after11 a.m., Graham Allen Smith finally saw his Heavenly Home. He was 81 and had been in Caromont Regional Medical Center - Gaston Memorial Hospital - since March 16, 2024, when he had been admitted for emergency surgery due to a burst gall bladder. He was strong-willed and fought through other ensuing complications with great determination and faith.
Graham was born in Gaston County, North Carolina on June 7, 1942, and was the youngest son to the late Mr.John B. Smith, Sr. and Mrs. Bertha Pruitt Smith,. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his beloved wife, Shirley B. Smith; his brother, John "Buddy" Smith, Jr.; sisters, Shirley Rathers and Margaret Mauney; and his beloved son-in-law, Mark E. Haynes.
He served in the Navy from October of 1960 to October of 1964 at which time he was honorably discharged as a Yeoman 2nd Class. Among other occupations, Graham drove a coal truck when living in Eastern Kentucky and when he moved back to North Carolina, he worked as a commercial artist designing signs and various other similar things. He served as a deacon for a time at First Presbyterian Church in Stanley and loved to sing in the choir.
A visitation for Graham will be held Sunday, May 5, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 2:45 PM at Carothers Funeral Home, 412 South Main Street, Stanley, NC 28164. A funeral service will follow at 3:00 PM. The committal service will then take place after the service at Hillcrest Gardens Cemetery, 1508 Charles Raper Jonas Hwy, Mount Holly, NC 28120.
Survivors include his children, Joseph Eric Smith of Stanley and Charlotte S.H. Riopel (Walt) of Stanley; granddaughters, Claudia A. Lay (Andrew) of Stanley and Sylvia S. Forbes-Robinson of Stanley; two step granddaughters, Kimberly H. Prosise (William) and Laura Haynes of Gastonia; one great-granddaughter, Gale Celestine; two great-grandsons from his step granddaughters, Kale Logan of Charlotte and Joshua Dodson.
The family would also like to include thank you's to the staff on the 5100 block and 5200 block of CaroMont Regional Medical Center – Gaston Memorial Hospital – for their excellent care of Graham. Although there only a couple of days, the staff at Stanley Total Living Center were amazing. The family wants to especially thank two nurses, Anne Kubuanu and Francine Attey and two techs Quanita "Nita" Thompson & Donna Boyce for their care of Graham that went above and beyond excellence.
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