Elva Smith Reynolds

Elva Morrow Smith Reynolds, age 91, of Rockingham and St. Joseph of the Pines, left to be with her husband, family, and friends on Monday, January 30, 2012. Elva was born May 6, 1920, in Stanly County, to Robert Hamer and Mary Helen Talbert Smith. As a youth, she moved with her family to Richmond County where she met and married the love of her life, Auman Allen Reynolds. After retiring from the textile industry, Elva became interested in genealogy and soon became known to many out-of-towners as a go-to-person for Richmond County research. Although working for others, she still found time to author BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH and the RIVER HILLS, ELLERBE SPRINGS REMEMBERED, and THE TANGLED WEB—the CORBETT-SMITH HISTORY. She was also a published, amateur poet. Elva enjoyed gardening, shelling, crafting, writing, studying the Bible, and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and friends. She never met a stranger. Those who went before her include her parents, her husband, infant Mary Frances, and siblings Addie (Mrs. Marvin) McGill; Irene (Mrs.Luther) Shepherd; Grace (Mrs. Monroe) Long; Ruby Violet (Mrs. J.H.) Matheson; and Cecil (Lucille) Smith. Those left to cherish her memories include her two daughters Faye Reynolds of Rockingham with whom she made her home for many years and Violet and husband Ray Baker of Ellerbe; grandchildren Belinda Smith and husband Bobby, Steve Bryant and wife Julie C. all of Ellerbe, and Allen Bryant and wife Julie P. of Holden Beach; great grandchildren, Mercedes Bryant of Washington state, Tess Bryant, Damon Bryant, Travis Smith and wife Amanda all of Ellerbe, Sabrina and husband Eddie Shelley of Rockingham, Ellie Puckett, Emily Braddock, and Timothy Braddock of Holden Beach; and great, great grandchildren Isaiah Smith and Samuel Smith of Ellerbe as well as many nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:30 on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at Carter Funeral Home in Rockingham. The Reverend Tim Hawks will hold a celebration of life service for Elva on Wednesday at 2 O’clock at Carter Funeral Home in Rockingham. She will be laid to rest beside her husband in the Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church cemetery on Grassy Island Road, Ellerbe. The family would like to thank all of the many CNA’s, nurses, and doctors who helped “Granny” in her battle against Alzheimers.