Mary was born at Lenore, Mingo County, WV on October 12, 1915, to the late William and Elizabeth Dempsy Smith. She was the granddaughter of paternal grandparents, Elias Andrew and Sarah Blair Vinson and maternal grandparents, Alexander and Nancy McCoy Dempsey. She was a 1933 Graduate of Lenore High School and attended Marshall University, Huntington, San Jose Teachers College, San Jose, California and the Charleston School of Commerce. She was a retired Medical Secretary with the former Staats Hospital, Charleston, a secretary at Charleston General Hospital and a stenographer at Kanawha Valley Hospital. She was a member of the Bethany Baptist Church, Charleston, and had a great love for all animals.
Along with her parents, she was preceded in death in 1966 by her husband, Robert J. Smith and she was the last surviving sibling of sixteen, plus one adopted nephew.
Mary is survived by her daughter, Stephanie (Donald) Matheny of Elkview; son, Robert Charles “Chipper” (Rebecca) Smith of Charleston; two granddaughters, Karen Becket and Summer Stevens; five great- grandchildren, Meredith, Marsha and Brandon Meadows, Violet and Carter Stevens; seven great- great- grandchildren; special friend, Karen Messenger; and numerous nieces and nephews who loved her dearly.
The funeral service will be held 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 6, 2019, at Stevens & Grass Funeral Home, Malden, with Pastor Rodney Smith officiating. The burial will follow the service at Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston.
A visitation with family and friends will be held one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the funeral home.
The family is appreciative to the staff of Meadowbrook Acres for the opportunities and care provided their Mother/Aunt over the past few years.
