July 29, 2021, 92, Goldsboro –

Essie Woodard Smith, 92, passed away peacefully on July 29, 2021. She was born to the late Estella Wilkins Woodard and William David Woodard on July 11, 1929, the second of nine children, and was a lifelong resident of Wayne County.

Essie graduated from Rosewood High School and, after her marriage, she moved to Goldsboro. She was active in church, civic, and charitable activities throughout her life. For many years, she taught a Sunday School class for the deaf. After thirty-three years of service, she retired from Southern Bell Telephone Company and continued her volunteer work. She was a member and former President of the Telephone Pioneers of America. She was a member of Grace Baptist Church in Princeton, NC.

She is survived by her children, Donald E. Smith (Kathie) of Springfield, VA, and Wannett Smith Ogden Miller (Ralph) of Arlington, VA; her grandchildren, Tara Smith DeGarmo (Bret) of Fort Worth, TX; Jonathan Smith Ogden (Allison) of Brooklyn, NY; Elaine Smith Ogden (John) of New York, NY; her great-grandchildren Shelby Kay DeGarmo and Ryan James DeGarmo of Fort Worth; her siblings Linda Shaver of Brookline, MA, and Harold Woodard of Princeton, NC; her sisters-in-law, Naomi Woodard of Roanoke Rapids, NC, and Jean Whitaker Woodard of Goldsboro, who cared for her lovingly over the last several years; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband of thirty years, Thurman, and her daughter-in-law, Sandra Kay Smith; her siblings and their spouses, Jessie Parnell, and her husband, Edward Parnell, Melvin Woodard and his wife, Gladys Woodard, Leamon Woodard, Anne Giddings and her husband, Luby Giddings, Elwood D. Woodard, Charles Layton Woodard and his wife, Frances Lewis Woodard, and brother-in-law, John A. Shaver.

A graveside service will be held at 2:30 on Saturday afternoon, July 31, 2021, at Grace Baptist Church Cemetery, 220 Barden Street, Princeton NC.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to your local Meals on Wheels or the charity of your choice.