Hugh Smathers

Canton-Hugh Jess Smathers, age 90, died Tuesday, May 11, 2004 at Haywood Regional Medical Center. He was a native and lifelong resident of Haywood County. He was a son of the late Jess Reed and Lura Mease Smathers and was the beloved husband of the late Zelva Overman Smathers who died in 2000. He was also preceded in death by a granddaughter, Jessica Yvonne Crawford and two great-grandsons, Malcombe V. and Alfred "Al" Holcombe, three brothers, Charles, Fred and L.W. "Wib" Smathers and a sister, Kathryn Nichols. He retired from Champion International with 40 years of service in 1977 and was a faithful member of Phillipsville Church of God of Prophecy, where he served as trustee, finance committee member, and was an enthusiastic music participant playing the harmonica. He was a member of the North Carolina State Guard during World War II and was a member of the Canton Police Dept. Auxiliary Unit. He is survived by two daughters, Marvelene Chapman and her husband Jack of Canton and Martha "Red" Crawford of Clyde, 3 granddaughters, Vanessa Jamison, Renai Vardiman and Jamee Crawford, 3 great-grandchildren, Aaron and Jennifer Jamison and Anna Holcombe and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m. Friday, May 14, 2004 at the Canton Chapel of Wells Funeral Homes & Cremation Services. The Reverend Dr. Henry Grimes, Jr., and Reverend Curtis Stump will officiate. Burial will follow at Crawford/Ray Memorial Gardens in Clyde. The family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home prior to the service. At other times, the family will be at the home of Jack and Marvelene Chapman, 59 Sutherland Drive, Canton, NC 28716. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Phillipsville Church of God of Prophecy Music Fund, 860 Terrace Drive, Canton, NC 28716 or to the Malcombe V. Holcombe Scholarship Fund, 860 Terrace Drive, Canton, NC 28716.

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