Frank Morrison Smither Jr.

Published 10:59 pm Thursday, May 9, 2013

PINEHURST, N.C. — Frank Morrison Smither, Jr., 54, died peacefully Wednesday, May 8, 2013, at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital. He is predeceased by his father, Frank Morrison Smither, and his mother, Nell Cobb Ramsey Smither. He was born in Suffolk and graduated from Suffolk High School in 1978. While in high school, he received a certificate of achievement from P.D. Pruden Vocational-Technical School in horticulture. He also worked with Tidewater Occupational Center and Lipton Tea for several years. Frank was involved with the Boy Scouts and achieved the Order of the Arrow. He had a passion for gardening and handled the lawn care at his home for many years. He loved his family and was a caregiver for his mother and father for many years until his father died last year. He was an avid sports fan and loved watching Washington Redskins football, Chicago Bulls basketball, and Virginia Tech sports as well as following Lakeland High School football, where his cousin, Ed Smither was a coach for many years.

In 2004, after his mother’s death, he and his father moved to Pinehurst, N.C., to live with his sister, Susan Holmes, and her husband, Brent. In Pinehurst, Frank was able to enjoy a very busy social life and volunteered with The Arc of Moore County’s First In Families Management Team, American Red Cross, FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, and the Back Pack Pals program. He also worked part time for The Arc of Moore County. He was very involved with the Aktion Club of Moore County and served as president from 2009-11. He received much recognition for his service to his community while living in Pinehurst. Among his service awards were: Administrative Volunteer of the year for the American Red Cross, Moore County Chapter in 2005, The Arc of Moore County Self- Advocate of the Year in 2008, The Carolinas District Aktion Club Member of the Year in 2010. In 2012, he was a finalist in the Moore County Caregiver of the Year Awards.

Frank’s infectious smile and sense of humor will be missed by all, as well as his positive outlook on life and those he loved. He is survived by his sister, Susan Smither Holmes and her husband, Brent, of Pinehurst; nephew, Michael Holmes and his wife, Acey, of Winston-Salem, N.C.; nephew, Scott Holmes, of Beaufort, S.C.; a niece, Kathryn Holmes Galloway and her husband, Eric, of Seven Lakes, N.C.; and two great-nephews, Jackson Reid Galloway and Hudson Steele Holmes; and several loving cousins.

There will be a memorial service held Saturday, May 11, at 4 p.m. at Boles Funeral Home in Southern Pines, N.C. A graveside service will also be held at Holly Lawn Cemetery on Tuesday, May 14, at 3 p.m. in Suffolk. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Arc of Moore County, P.O. Box 773, Southern Pines, NC 28388, The American Red Cross, Moore County Chapter, P.O. Box 407, Southern Pines, NC 28388, or The Aktion Club of Moore County, c/o The Arc of Moore County.

Online condolences may be left at www.bolesfuneralhome.com. Boles Funeral Home will be assisting the family.