Helen McMahan Smith

Helen McMahan Smith, 80, of Up The Creek Road, Morganton, NC, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at Grace Hospital. Born in Marion County, VA on December 5, 1928, she was the daughter of the late Samuel Grant McMahan and Lydia Twiggs McMahan. Helen was a member of Smyrna Baptist Church.A loving wife, mother, and grandmother, she is survived by her husband, Clarence Smith of the home; children, John Smith and wife, Kathy, of Morganton, Pete Smith and wife, Linda, of Surfside, SC, Sharon Norman and husband, Keith, of Morganton, Rebecca Massie and husband, Kevin, of Waynesville, NC, Gena Epley and husband, Roy, of Jacksonville, NC, and Sam Smith and wife, Robin, of Lenoir, NC; a brother, Jim McMahan of Morganton; thirteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.In addition to her parents, Helen was preceded in death by a daughter, Karen Smith; a brother, Ed McMahan; and two sisters, Georgia Tourchette and Viola Davis.The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 12, 2009 at Smyrna Baptist Church with Rev. Issac Propst officiating. Burial will follow in Hemphill Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. at Sossoman Funeral Home where the body will remain until placed in the church thirty minutes prior to the funeral hour. Memorial contributions may be made to Smyrna Baptist Church, 3500 Brown Mountain Beach Road, Morganton, NC 28655.