Mary Sexton Smith

Mary Sexton Smith, 62, of 408 Greenhall Road, Edenton, NC, died Thursday, June 27, 2013 in Vidant Roanoke-Chowan Hospital. Mrs. Smith was born in Chowan County, and was the daughter of the late William A. and Maybelle Parks Sexton. A graduate of John A. Holmes High School, she later earned a BA in Performing Arts, and a BS in Music Education from Elon University. The choral director, first at Lawrence Academy, and later at Chowan Middle School, combined for over 20 years, she was also the organist and associated music director at Edenton Baptist Church for 30 years. In addition to Edenton Baptist, she was also a member of the Chowan Arts Council, the NC Symphony-Chowan Chapter, the American Guild of Organists, accompanied the Edenton Choral Society, had served as the assistant co-director of May Play Day in the Rocky Hock community, and had proudly performed at Carnegie Hall under the direction of Conductor John Rutter. Surviving are her husband of nearly 39 years, J. Larry Smith; three sons and their wives, Tim and Brooks Smith, Michael and Holly Smith, and Daniel and Rhonda Smith, all of Edenton; sisters, Anita Riddick of Edenton and Dianthia Morrow of Burlington; brothers, Douglas Sexton of Ohio and Frederick Sexton of Raleigh; and seven grandchildren, Alex, Grayson, twins Mary Ann and Hannah, twins Lily and Emily, and Katherine. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11:00 a.m. in Edenton Baptist Church by the Rev. David Brooks. Burial will follow in Beaver Hill Cemetery. Friends may join the family Friday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in Miller Funeral Home & Crematory, 735 Virginia Road, Edenton, and other times at the residence. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.