James "Taylor" Smith

James "Taylor" Smith, 95, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at Grace Hospital following a period of declining health. He was born Knoxville, TN on September 23, 1913 and was a son of the late Robert Fulton Smith and Cansada Loy Smith. Mr. Smith was a U. S. Army veteran of World War II where he was awarded the Purple Heart for his service in the European theater. Taylor worked for over 35 years at Morganton Full Fashion Hosiery and later retired from the Morganton Post Office in 1980. He was a faithful member of Calvary Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher as well as various committees. The family would like to express their appreciation to Terry Newton and the staff of Direct Care for their compassionate care, and special thanks to Dr. Tim Robinson and Dr. G. Michael Gould for their excellent care during Taylor’s recent hospital stay.Surviving are his daughters, Linda L. Smith and Martha S. Dale, both of Morganton; grandchildren, Franklin Dale and his wife, Taylor, of Valdese and Jeff Dale of Morganton; great-grandchildren, Brittany Dale, Josh Dale, and Haiden Dale; a sister, Lola Bollinger of Elizabethtown, NC; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Taylor was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Mary Whisenant Smith; brothers, Edwin, Walter, and J. G. Smith; and by sisters, Velma Hayes and June Hayden.Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 7, 2009, at Calvary Baptist Church with Reverends Larry Thompson and Jerry Gamble officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery with military honors conducted by the ceremonial team of American Legion Post 234. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Friday at Sossoman Funeral Home where the body will remain until placed in the church thirty minutes before the funeral hour. Memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 407 S. Green St., Morganton, NC 28655 or to Mt. Home Baptist Church Building Fund, 2272 Mt. Home Church Rd., Morganton, NC 28655.