Mary Collie Gerringer Smith

Mary Collie Gerringer Smith, 96, passed away early Thursday morning, August 3, 2017 at Annie Penn Memorial Hospital. A funeral service will be held 12:00 Noon, Saturday, August 5, 2017, at Wilkerson Funeral Home with the Rev. Cleveland Duke officiating. Interment will follow in the Evergreen Memory Gardens. Visitation for family and friends will be one hour prior to the service, from 11:00 till 12:00 Noon, other times at the home of LaVerne Carter. Mary was born on December 29, 1920, in Chatham, VA, to the late Robert Carter Collie and Stella Cardwell Collie. Mary was a very prim and proper and classy lady, even her grandchildren referred to her as the “First Lady.” She was a very sweet soul and was known for being a great cook. She was a member of Faith Christian Church in Reidsville. She retired from American Tobacco Company after 33 years of service. Along with her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her husbands, Earl Gerringer and Elwood Smith; three brothers: Robert, Archie and Jack Collie; son-in-law, Wayne Carter; and daughter-in-law, Gail Gerringer. Mary is survived by her daughter, LaVerne Carter of Reidsville; her son, Gary Gerringer of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; grandchildren: David Carter and wife, Sandy of Reidsville, Daryl Carter and wife, Rachel of Conover, NC, Lisa Carter of Greensboro, NC and Brenda Gerringer of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; great grandchildren: Cody, Josh, Jack and Jude. A special thanks should go to Leslie Chilton and her staff at Chilton’s Family Care Home for their loving care given to Mary during her time there.