M. Ray Smith

Marvin Ray Smith, 66, of 229 Gum Pond Road, Edenton, NC, died Thursday, April 3, 2014 in Vidant Medical Center, Greenville. Mr. Smith was born in Chowan County on October 21, 1947 and was the son of the late Marvin Bass and Burnette Lawrence Smith. In earlier years Ray worked in the meat departments of W.E. Smith Store in the Rocky Hock community, and later in the A & P and S & R Supermarkets, both in Edenton. Later he retired from the North Carolina Dept. of Corrections, having worked in both the Creswell and Elizabeth City facilities. A member of Rocky Hock Baptist Church and its Carey Evans Sunday School Class, he had served as a deacon, been a member of its Adult Choir, and had worked as a youth leader. Community involvement included memberships in the Chowan-Edenton Optimist Club, the Rocky Hock Ruritan Club, the Oak Grove and Center Hill Hunting Clubs, serving as a Hunting Safety Instructor with Holmes High School, and charter membership in Unit 3 of the Edenton-Chowan Rescue Squad. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Gary L. Smith. Surviving are his wife of nearly 44 years, Vonnie Alexander Smith; a son, Curt Smith, his wife Jan, and their children, Cam and Emma; two brothers, Bill Smith and wife Janet, Roger Smith and wife Karen; a sister-in-law, Lisa Smith; an uncle, W. Earl Smith; nieces and nephews, Eric and wife Sharon and their children, Aiden and John, Justin and wife Asheton, and Ethan, Cayla, and Logan, all of Edenton. A memorial service will be held Sunday at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Miller Funeral Home & Crematory, 735 Virginia Road, Edenton, by the Rev. Ron Parr. A private inurnment will follow in Ballard's Bridge Baptist Church Cemetery. Friends may join the family Saturday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the funeral home, and other times at Curt and Jan's home, 231 Gum Pond Road. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lawrence Academy, P.O. Box 70, Merry Hill, NC 27957, or to the Center Hill-Cross Roads Fire Dept., P.O. Box 185, Tyner, NC 27980 Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.