Smith, Frances

Frances Baker Smith, 86, of Lakeland Drive, died Monday, May 2, 2011 at the Powell Hospice Center in Lillington, NC. Mrs. Smith was born December 29, 1924 in Mecklenburg County, NC to the late Mary Fuquay Baker and William Everette Baker. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her brothers, Wallace and W.E. Baker; and sisters, Juanita Baker Pattishall and Betty Baker Burns. Mrs. Smith was retired from Bankingport Insurance and the Lee County Schools, where she was a teacher‘s assistant. Mrs. Smith was a member of the Sanford Women‘s Club, the Sanford Literary Club and the Sanford Music Club. She was an active member of First Presbyterian Church for the majority of her life and was a beautiful alto voice in the church choir for 65 years, for which she was honored. She was past Moderator of the Women of the Church and in 1987 was awarded The Presbyterian Women‘s Life Membership Award. She was a founding member of the Dietrick Sunday School Class. In fact ,she penned the lyrics to a song commemorating the class anniversary. She enjoyed her membership in many card clubs in Sanford throughout her life, as well as volunteering in many different organizations in the Sanford community. However, she will be most remembered for her personal ministry of visition and encouragement to the sick and homebound. Surviving relatives are her husband of 57 years, Osborne Dowe Smith; one son, Tim Smith and his wife, Donna of Sanford; a daughter, Susan Palmer and her husband, J.L. Palmer, of Vero Beach, Florida; three grandchildren, Ashley Smith Wallace, and her husband James of Sanford, Devon Smith of Sanford, and Corbin Palmer of Vero Beach, and her brother, Robert Baker and his wife Janine of Southern Pines , sister in law Maydell Baker of Sanford, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. The memorial service will be conducted this Saturday, May 7th , at 10 am at the First Presbyterian Church of Sanford., with the Dr. Stuart T. Wilson and the Rev. Betty Sherrod officiating. Family will receive friends immediately after the service. Mrs. Smith will be interred at the columbarium at the First Presbyterian Church of Sanford.