Virginia Mae Smith

Virginia Mae Boyd Smith was born in Newport News, Virginia, June 6, 1931 to Effie May Lenz Boyd and Harry Ambrose Boyd. She was little sister to Harry and best friend since the age of 5 to Ruth Reeves Dow. Growing up she enjoyed all things outside.

In 1951, she married Conley Lee Smith, and together they had children David, Nancy, and Larry. They moved to Richmond in 1962 where she worked as a secretary for FHA. In 1968, they moved to Winston-Salem where she worked for the American Cancer Society, Lambe Young Real Estate, and Tanglewood Park office. She started losing her vision to Macular Degeneration at age 41. She sought resources from the NC Division of Services for the Blind to help her with her “reading.” She readily shared her knowledge of magnification tools with others and would order books on tape from the NC Library in Raleigh. In 1987, she was blessed with her grandson Ross and, according to her, taught him all the fun things like Blackjack and the art of throwing water balloons. In 1997, Heather Hoover (Kiger) became her step-granddaughter. It was always joyful when the Kiger children would come and visit.

Virginia was an avid golfer, tennis player, and swimmer. She loved genealogy and Virginia state history. Virginia and Conley loved to travel. In 1989, they were in Italy when a stranger gave them tickets to have an audience with Pope John Paul II. Her church and Christian faith were very important to her. Her favorite Bible verses were found in Psalm 139. When attending church in person became too difficult, she and Nancy would “attend” church via Livestream services on the computer. 

Virginia is survived by David Smith (Becky Dorain), Nancy Hoover (Chuck Hoover), Larry Smith (Buster Bowles), grandson Ross McNeil (Emily Johnson McNeil), and step-granddaughter Heather Hoover Kiger (John Kiger and children).

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the NC Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, 1841 Capital Blvd, Raleigh, NC, 27604.

Or… buy a good bottle of wine and raise a glass to this true Southern lady. Or… purchase a hamburger Happy Meal from McDonalds or have a chocolate milkshake from your favorite drive-through restaurant. She loved looking at the clouds; take a minute while looking up and thank God for our lady.

A service of remembrance will be held in the Chapel at Centenary United Methodist Church December 16th at 1:00. Please enter at the 4 ½ Street entrance to the church. Rev. Oliver Helsabeck will be officiating. A private Interment will be held in the Columbarium where she will join Conley in the niche.

The family would like to thank the staff at Harmony at Brookberry Farm Assisted Living for their dedication, care, and love for “Miss Virginia.” Trellis Palliative Care took Virginia under their wings and provided a Social Worker, Nurse, Aides, and Chaplain. Many thanks also for the Centenary Methodist Altar Floral volunteers who delivered flowers several times to her. Truly she was covered by His Angels’ wings (Psalm 91:11), and we thank God for the many blessings brought to her.