Inez Etta Falls Smith

Inez Etta Falls Smith, 90 years young, passed away at Robin Johnson Hospice House in Dallas, NC, on Monday, October 18, 2010. Inez was born March 12, 1920, in York County, SC, the daughter of Benjamin Byers Falls and Docia Belle McCarter Falls. She was raised in Cramerton and was a long time resident on Lowell-Bethesda Road in Gastonia. She was a beloved wife, mother, and grandmommy. She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Curtis W. Smith; three children: Kay Nichols and husband, Larry, Richard C. Smith and wife, Linda, Ronald L. Smith and wife, Sharon; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren; and many loving friends. Inez was preceded in death by her parents and siblings: William Oliver Lonnie Falls, Lloyd Benjamin Falls, Leo Arthur Falls, Zelma Falls Skey, and three who died in infancy.

Inez was a member of the National Extension Homemaker Council and the NC Extension Homemakers’ Assoc. She served as Creative Club Leader, County Family Issues Coordinator, and Vice-Coordinator for Family Issues for Gaston County. She was active in the causes for battered women, abused children, and the Crisis Pregnancy Center.

Inez received awards for PATS (Parents Against Teen Suicide – Teen Suicide Hot Line. She was active in getting the Teen Suicide Prevention Program, Out of the Jungle, by Fred Davis, into all of Gaston County’s twenty Jr. and Sr. High Schools. She received several awards: for her involvement with MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers); Dedicated Service for Residents of Nursing Homes, Volunteer Service for the Literacy Program in Gaston County Elementary Schools. She was also actively involved in elderly visitation at area rest homes and hospices.

Inez was a devoutly Christian woman who loved Jesus, her family, her friends and faithfully served the Lord at West Cramerton Baptist Church.

Family visitation will be held at 1:00PM Thursday followed by the funeral service at 2:00PM Thursday at the West Cramerton Baptist Church, 5006 Wilkinson Blvd., Gastonia, NC 28056 with the Rev. Mike Ivey and Rev. James Barnes officiating.

Interment will follow at Gaston Memorial Park, Gastonia, NC.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial donations be made to either Robin Johnson Hospice House, c/o Gaston Hospice, P. O. Box 3984, Gastonia, N. C. 28054 or to the West Cramerton Baptist Church, Fellowship Building Fund, 5006 Wilkinson Blvd., Gastonia, NC 28056.

Online condolences may be made at: www.carothersfuneralhomegastonia.com:

Carothers Funeral Home, Gastonia is serving the Smith family