marilyn (gessner) smitherman
Mrs. Marilyn Gessner Smitherman, 66, of 3623 Crooked Oak Lane, departed this life on Thurs- day, August 8, at her home.
She was born September 24, 1929 to William Russell and Anna Ruth Gessner.
She was a member of Augsburg Lutheran Church (ELCA). She was a devoted wife and mother. She belonged to various charitable organizations in Winston-Salem and was a member and past President of the Olympic Club of Winston-Salem..
As a previous resident of Salisbury, N.C., she was active in the Symphony Guild, First Nighters, A Church Women's Bible Study Teacher, LCW, President of the Piedmont Players and starred in various Piedmont Player productions. She was also a member and past President of the United Arts Council of Salisbury. She was an active member and served in leadership positions at St. John's Lutheran Church in Louisville, Kentucky, when the family lived there.
She gave love, honor, and friendship to us all. Our lives are much more complete because of her.
She was preceded in death by her father.
Survivors who cherish her memory are her husband, Robert A. Smitherman, Sr.; her mother, Anna Ruth Gessner; her sons and daughters-in-law, Robert A. Smitherman, Jr. and wife, Kay W. Smitherman, Bruce W. Smitherman and wife, Susan W. Smither- man; her daughters and sons-in- law, Karen S. Wilson and hus- band, Joe Russell Wilson, Kathy S. Hardy and husband, John P. Hardy; her ten grandchildren, Robert Alexander Smitherman III, William Myrl Smitherman, Eric Stephen Smitherman, Mat- thew Thomas Smitherman, Erin Bryce Smitherman, Andrew Jo- seph Smitherman, Austin McKenly Smitherman, Kathryn Louise Wilson, Sarah Elizabeth Wilson, and Robert Franklin Hardy.
Mrs. Smitherman is also survived by her sisters and their hus- bands, Janet Louise Noland and husband, Thomas Edward Nolan, Ruthann Beth Stemler and hus- band, William Lee Stemler; her brothers, Robert Leighton Gessner and Lawrence Ralph Gessner and his wife, Mary Al- lean Gessner.
The funeral service is to be held 11 a.m. Monday, August 12 at Augsburg Lutheran Church with the Reverend Dr. Ronald A. Rinn officiating. Burial will follow in Forsyth Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Sunday, August 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Hayworth-Miller Funeral Home on Silas Creek Parkway.
The family wishes to express its thanks to the staff of N.C. Baptist Hospital and the Bowman Gray School of Medi- cine, The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University and Hospice of Winston-Salem/ Forsyth County, Inc., and also to the many, many friends and loved ones who gave support and comfort. Thanks to the Olumpic Club members for their support. Special thanks to Mrs. Robert B. Miller III for constant devotion. Flowers will be accepted or me- morials may be made to Hospice
She was born September 24, 1929 to William Russell and Anna Ruth Gessner.
She was a member of Augsburg Lutheran Church (ELCA). She was a devoted wife and mother. She belonged to various charitable organizations in Winston-Salem and was a member and past President of the Olympic Club of Winston-Salem..
As a previous resident of Salisbury, N.C., she was active in the Symphony Guild, First Nighters, A Church Women's Bible Study Teacher, LCW, President of the Piedmont Players and starred in various Piedmont Player productions. She was also a member and past President of the United Arts Council of Salisbury. She was an active member and served in leadership positions at St. John's Lutheran Church in Louisville, Kentucky, when the family lived there.
She gave love, honor, and friendship to us all. Our lives are much more complete because of her.
She was preceded in death by her father.
Survivors who cherish her memory are her husband, Robert A. Smitherman, Sr.; her mother, Anna Ruth Gessner; her sons and daughters-in-law, Robert A. Smitherman, Jr. and wife, Kay W. Smitherman, Bruce W. Smitherman and wife, Susan W. Smither- man; her daughters and sons-in- law, Karen S. Wilson and hus- band, Joe Russell Wilson, Kathy S. Hardy and husband, John P. Hardy; her ten grandchildren, Robert Alexander Smitherman III, William Myrl Smitherman, Eric Stephen Smitherman, Mat- thew Thomas Smitherman, Erin Bryce Smitherman, Andrew Jo- seph Smitherman, Austin McKenly Smitherman, Kathryn Louise Wilson, Sarah Elizabeth Wilson, and Robert Franklin Hardy.
Mrs. Smitherman is also survived by her sisters and their hus- bands, Janet Louise Noland and husband, Thomas Edward Nolan, Ruthann Beth Stemler and hus- band, William Lee Stemler; her brothers, Robert Leighton Gessner and Lawrence Ralph Gessner and his wife, Mary Al- lean Gessner.
The funeral service is to be held 11 a.m. Monday, August 12 at Augsburg Lutheran Church with the Reverend Dr. Ronald A. Rinn officiating. Burial will follow in Forsyth Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Sunday, August 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Hayworth-Miller Funeral Home on Silas Creek Parkway.
The family wishes to express its thanks to the staff of N.C. Baptist Hospital and the Bowman Gray School of Medi- cine, The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University and Hospice of Winston-Salem/ Forsyth County, Inc., and also to the many, many friends and loved ones who gave support and comfort. Thanks to the Olumpic Club members for their support. Special thanks to Mrs. Robert B. Miller III for constant devotion. Flowers will be accepted or me- morials may be made to Hospice