Margaret Turner Smith

A woman with a passion for singing slipped joyfully into the soprano section of the heavenly choir on Thursday, December 10, 2015. This was a musical accomplishment she had prepared for her entire life. After becoming a member of the First Baptist Church of Rockingham in 1972, Margaret T. Smith sang in the Chancel Choir for thirty years, traveling and performing worldwide. Her joy was never greater than when she sang and performed in the sacred musical productions directed by the late Minister of Music, Don Bearfield. Margaret performed in the Rockingham Community Chorus and was a member of the Community Concert Association. Music was her joy in good times and the wind beneath her wings in difficult times. Margaret Louise Turner Smith was born to the late John Wesley and late Leola Adams Turner on March 4, 1928, in Anson County, NC. After her father died when she was a young child, Margaret’s family relocated to Rockingham. Leola married Guerney Hinson, who brought light and joy to their family. Guerney raised Margaret as he would his own child, forging a bond of love and respect that lasted a lifetime. Margaret was an avid proponent of education. She graduated from Rockingham High School with the Class of 1946 and a lifelong dream was realized when she completed her degree at Richmond Community College (RCC). While attending RCC, Margaret became a charter member of the honor society, Gamma Beta Phi. While being an excellent student, Margaret found time to teach and volunteer in the community. She conducted Sunday school classes for female inmates at Cameron Morrison Youth Center and was an active member of the Cameron Morrison Advisory Council, to which then governor, Jim Hunt, appointed her. Margaret was a natural businesswoman. She and W. D. Smith formed W. D. Smith Enterprises, which included W. D. Smith Transfer Incorporated, Lucky Dollar Store, and Smith Furniture Company. In later years, she independently became a representative for Mary Carter Paint. The business for which she was most proud was the Margaret T. Smith Dress Shop. Margaret received the Richmond County Outstanding Small Business Award for a family-owned business. She was a member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club where she held a number of offices and was also a member of the Better Business Bureau. Margaret greatly enjoyed her social time with the Chamber of Commerce After Hours Meetings. Margaret was a unique, hard-working, formidable woman. She was fearless when it came to setting goals and accomplishing them. Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, John, Leola, and Guerney; a beloved daughter, Lou Ann Smith Singleton; and a favorite brother-in-law, John Neil Gibson. She is survived by a daughter, Brenda Smith (Smitty) Marlowe, and husband, Douglas, of Lake Tillery, Mount Gilead, and a granddaughter, Elizabeth Paige Marlowe, of Richmond, VA; a son, William Durand (Randy) Smith, and wife, Hattie, a granddaughter, Ashley Smith Garrison, and husband, Robert, a great-granddaughter, Sadie Jane Garrison, and a granddaughter, Erin Taylor Smith, all of Raleigh; a grandson, Jason Adams Singleton, and wife, Tanya, and two great-grandsons, Bryce and Bradlee Singleton, all of Rockingham; a granddaughter, Ricki Singleton Steen, and a great-granddaughter, Stevie Steen, both of Rockingham; two beloved sisters, Peggy Turner Gibson, of Hartsville, SC , and Jennipher Hinson Love, of Surf City; a niece, Barbie Hawkins, and husband, Roger, and a great-nephew, Chance Hawkins, all of Surf City; a host of loving cousins; and a treasured lifelong friend, Doris Warner Criscoe. Services will be Monday, December 14, 2015, at First Baptist Church of Rockingham. Visitation will be from 12:45pm to 1:45pm, with the funeral service following at 2:00pm. There will be a private family burial following the funeral service. Special thanks to Margie Hudson, Chena Jackson, Pete and Alice Smith, and lead caregiver, CeeCee Zeigler, for extraordinary care. Your love and dedication will always be remembered. In lieu of flowers, please give to Hospice of Richmond County, a constant source of excellent care and personalized support, or the First Baptist Church Ministry of Music. Or simply sing. Sing as if no one is listening, in memory of Margaret.