Mary "Geneva" Smith Mathis

Mary "Geneva" Smith Mathis, 87, passed away on Thursday, February 6, 2025, at Clemmons Village I.

Neva was the foundation and glue of her family; she played an important and large role in our community. She and Ray built the family business, Ray’s Body Shop and Wrecker Service, ran a small diner, a car lot, and she worked many years for Forsyth County School System in the cafeterias. She touched so many lives that came in contact with her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray Mathis; parents, Harden Smith and Lillian Smith; brothers, Eddie, Billy, Jimmy (Sue), and Floyd (Mary); her grandson, Robert “Evan” Miller; and her son-in-law, Brent Legg. 

Neva is survived by her children, Jerry Mathis (Myra), Gina Miller (Mike), Dale Mathis (Wanda), Lisa Legg and Julie Heitman (John); her grandchildren, David Baxley, Erica McKnight (Mitch), Megan Shultz (Justin), Taylor Ann Mathis, Peyton Thompson (Sarah), Pressley Martin and Afton Legg; her great-grandchildren, Miller McKnight, Kingstin McKnight, Elena Martin, Ryder Shultz and London Shultz; other special family members, Dickie Mathis (Barbara), Sylvia Mathis, Walter Mathis, Judy Smith; and many special nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 4:00 pm on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel with Rev. Bob McCaskill officiating. The family will greet friends following the service at the funeral home. A graveside service will be held on Sunday, February 9, 2025, at 2:00 PM, at The Smith Family Cemetery.

The family would like to say Thank You to the staff at Clemmons Village I for the love, kindness and respect that was shown to her till the very end, and Trellis Hospice for their outstanding support and care during this time.

We will miss her deeply and are forever grateful for the love, wisdom, and faith she shared with us all.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Pinedale Christian Church, 3395 Peter’s Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem, NC 27127.

Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com

Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel is assisting the Mathis family.