Frances Glover Smith

Published 8:12 pm Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Frances Glover Smith, 90, of Raleigh, passed away early on July 4, 2016.

Born Nov. 5, 1925, in Louisburg, Frances married Jim Glover in 1943. He died in 1969. She married Ralph Smith in 1972, and they were married for 44 years. She worked for 17 years as executive secretary at Home Insurance Agency. She spent another 10 years managing a Durham Nationwide Insurance office.

Upon retiring, she worked for agencies in Durham, Chapel Hill and Carrboro for 10 years. A member of Bethany United Methodist Church since 1950, she was active in the church’s McFarland Kearns Circle and the senior choir. She danced in the Durham Twirlers Square Dance Club for 11 years and Goodtimes Line Dance Club for 15 years. She was still active in both until leaving Durham in 2014.

Frances taught line dancing and started a Divine Red Hatters Club chapter in 2005. As the club “hysterian,” she led the Red Hatters in a joke at each meeting and kept the club’s history.

Frances was preceded in death by her parents, Reuben and Ethel Kissell; her first husband, Jim Glover; and her brother, Reuben Kissell Jr.

Frances is survived by her husband, Ralph Donald Smith; three daughters: Patricia Glover Roberts-Farr (Woody) of Raleigh, Deborah Glover Ryals (Phil) of Washington, and Jayme Glover Currin (Smokey) of Oxford; five grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. She is also survived by her two stepsons, Richard Smith (Cathy) and Jeff Smith (Mary). Her grandchildren include Kristen Ryals Smithwick of Washington and Jimmy Ryals, formerly of Washington.

A memorial service will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Friday at Bethany United Methodist Church with the Rev. Julia Bowden officiating. The family will receive friends after the service.

Frances’ family wants to thank Community Home Care and Hospice for bringing her comfort in her last days. In lieu of flowers, her family requests donations in Frances’ memory to Bethany United Methodist Church, 2809 Guess Road, Durham, NC 27709.