Martha Ruth Mann Smith

Martha was born on November 17, 1928, in Alamance County to the late Albert Harvey and Ruth Fenton Mann. She loved her family and friends deeply and talked about her two grandsons with great affection. Her precious dog, Muffin, was constantly at her side and filled her days with love, comfort, and joy.

Martha attended Flora MacDonald College in Red Spring for 2 years. She was always a caregiver at heart, whether mothering her younger siblings or playing nurse to all her baby dolls. It was a natural progression for her to choose nursing as a profession. She attended Rex Nursing School, graduating in 1950. While still in training at Rex Hospital, it was there that she met the love of her life, Louis Smith, who was a patient at the time. That meeting would become known as the “Ajax story”. After graduation, Martha became head Pediatric Nurse at Rex Hospital. She and Louis married December 16, 1950. In 1953 they began an adventure in Central America, living in Honduras from 1953-1956 and Guatemala from 1956-1957. It was during their time there that they made many lifelong friends and relationships that have lasted until this day. In 1957 they traveled to Costa Rica and adopted their baby daughter Marlou. They returned to Wake County in December 1957. Martha’s life was filled with making a home for her family and volunteering in many areas in the Community. Martha was an active member of Apex Baptist Church, where she loved playing piano for the youth. As a child, she learned to play piano by ear and her playing was a joy for all who listened. She enjoyed being a Class Grade Mother at school. With a friend, Martha later opened the Dome Outlet, a ladies clothing store in Apex. She and Louis enjoyed traveling the world together, making lasting memories with friends and family. She cherished the many group vacations with her Rex Nursing classmates and their husbands. Martha and Louis took flying lessons together and she loved co-piloting with Louis in his Cessna. Another great love for Martha and Louis was spending time at their mountain house in Alleghany County. They enjoyed hosting friends and family over the years. So many Labor Day weekend and New Year’s Eve gatherings to remember. Martha and Louis each had a great love of helping people. In their Apex home, they hosted children of their Honduran friends. The children lived with them and attended local schools. Martha’s love for children led them to help with the building of the Louis and Martha Ruth Smith Family Aquatics Center and Martha’s Den at the Kraft Family YMCA. In 2018, Martha endowed the Martha Mann Smith School of Nursing at Wake Tech Community College to support her passion for Nursing. She had such a big heart and supported so many missions and charities. In her later years, Martha fought a courageous battle with breast cancer while maintaining a positive attitude. The family wishes to thank all the caregivers who made it possible for Martha to remain in the comfort of her home. Martha Ruth will be remembered for her awesome hugs, contagious laugh, bright smile, kindness, compassion, and being a bit of a prankster. She could converse with anyone, and never met a stranger. Let us not forget she was affectionately known as “Queen Bee”. Her words to live by: Always be honest and kind. Keep a smile for all. Love never fails.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Louis C. Smith, brothers Kent and John Harvey Mann, sister Dorothy Wagoner, and triplet grandchildren Austen, Brandon and Cameron Bacon.

She is survived by her daughter, Marlou Smith Bacon and husband, Edward of Apex; sisters Jean Watkins of Durham, Sara Mann of Peekskill, NY; sisters in law Barbara Mann and Margie Mann; grandchildren Kyle Bacon and Alexander Bacon; she is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Family will receive friends and guests on Saturday, October 15, 2022, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Apex Baptist Church, with a funeral service to follow at 11:00 AM. Burial will take place after the service at Apex Cemetery, Apex, NC.

Memorial contributions may be made to YMCA of the Triangle, 801 Corporate Center Dr, Suite 200, Raleigh NC 27607 www.ymcatriangle.org/give or Wake Tech Foundation, 9101 Fayetteville Rd, Montague Hall Suite 320, Raleigh NC 27603 www.waketech.edu/wake-tech-foundation

Arrangements are entrusted to Apex Funeral Home, 550 W. Williams St, Apex NC 27502. Fond memories and expressions of condolences can be shared online at apexfuneral.net for the Smith family.