Virginia Teske Smith

Virginia Teske Smith, 105, of Raleigh, NC, passed away on February 9, 2025. Born April 8, 1919, to August Henry and Linn Bernice Teske in East Lansing, Michigan, she was raised on college campuses where her father taught horticulture. Virginia graduated Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Virginia, with a degree in microbiology in 1939. She married Dr. Henry B. Smith, Jr. of New Bern, NC, in 1940, and together they raised five children.

After living in six different states, they relocated to Raleigh, NC, in 1965 where Henry joined the faculty and administration of NC State University. Virginia managed a large family, was dedicated to White Memorial Presbyterian Church, participated in university and community activities, loved gardening, tried her hand at real estate and furniture refinishing, and happily traveled the world with Henry. As her family grew and dispersed around the country and globally, one of her greatest pleasures was an annual family reunion at the beach in Nags Head which she arranged over 45 consecutive years.

After Henry’s death in 1992, Virginia engaged her ‘helping spirit’ by working with friends at the NC State Women’s Club and NC Museum of Art, and with her church in Sunday School, Retreats, Circle meetings, and prison ministries. One of her greatest fulfilments was becoming a Stephen Minister within her church, bringing hope and joy to others. She received the Presbyterian Women’s Honorary Life Award in 2008, celebrated her 100th birthday in 2019 and was honored by the Virginia Tech’s Old Guard Society as the oldest living graduate of Virginia Tech.

Virginia was preceded in death by her mother, father, siblings and her beloved Henry.

She is survived by her children: Betty Linn (Richard, deceased), Henry (Sally, deceased), Alexandra (Eric), Virginia Susan, Frederick (Demetria) as well as 8 grandchildren: Benjamin (Renée); Erica (Edward); Tucker (Patrice); Roderick (Rachel), David (Shannyn); Karen (Reid); Richard; Austin; and 13 great-grandchildren Thank you for the love, memories, and encouragement you gave us all.

Visitation will be Wednesday, February 26, 6-8 pm, at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary’s St., Raleigh, NC.

A celebration of Virginia’s life will be held on February 27, 2025, at 2 pm at White Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1704 Oberlin Rd., Raleigh, NC. Visit White Memorial Presbyterian Church to livestream.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Stephen Ministries at https://www.stephenministries.org/donate.