Martha Setzer

Waynesville, Martha June Cogburn Setzer, age 81, went home to be with our Lord on February 17, 2008, after a long battle with breast cancer. Born March 3, 1926 in Canton, she was preceded in death by her parents, Frank Wendell Cogburn and Lavenia Cole Cogburn; her brother, Cole Cogburn; her first husband, J. Virgil "Shorty" Smith, who died in 1979 and her second husband, Carl "June" Setzer, who died in 2007. She is survived by a daughter, Susan S. Eberhardt and husband, Dennis, of Waynesville; two sons, Col. (Ret.) James V. Smith, Jr. and wife, Carole, of Gulf Shores, AL and Mike W. Smith and wife, Betsy, of Signal Mountain, TN; two stepdaughters, Sandra S. Morris and husband, Kenneth, of Waynesville and Judy S. Wiltin and husband, Steve, of Atlanta; 11 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; three nieces Julianne C. Lee and husband, Dick, of St. Paul, MN, Coleen C. Zaiser and husband, Gordie, of Bella Vista, AK, Dianne F. Lynn and husband, Barry, of Pageland, SC; several cousins; and special friends, Doris Wyatt, Geneva Erwin, and Tommy Churchwell. Martha June was very active in First United Methodist Church of Waynesville for 33 years. She moved to Dellwood United Methodist Church for 20 years and returned to First United Methodist Church of Waynesville. She was a Sunday school teacher, lay leader for Lake Junaluska United Methodist Assembly and a member of the UMW. She was active in her church until her illness in 2002. She was on the Board of the Red Cross for several terms, worked as a "Gray Lady" in the hospital, was a charter member of the Altrusa Club, and was one of the first members in Alpha Tha Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi. She taught Bible in various school programs and helped establish the first unit of the Cub Scouts in Haywood County. She served on the Haywood County Zoning Board for 12 years. Martha June was among the first women in Real Estate in North Carolina and was a member of the "Silver Club of Real Estate." She and her first husband, J. Virgil Smith were co-owners of Services Galore Real Estate, with offices in Maggie Valley and Waynesville. They were married 36 years. Her real estate career spanned more than 36 years. She was an avid gardener and maintained beautiful English Gardens. Her pride and joy were her children, stepchildren, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 21 at First United Methodist Church with Reverend Dr. W. Lyn Sorrells and Reverend Dr. Steve Brown officiating. Burial will follow at Green Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Wells Funeral Home from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday evening. At other times, the family will be at 421 Grimball Drive, Waynesville. Serving as pallbearers will be Kelley Long, Barry Lynn, Adam Mabry, Steele Morris, Michael Smith, Bill Thompson, David Thompson, Alex Wiltin, Brian Wiltin, and Nick Wiltin. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Guy Abbate, Tom Alexander, Larry Ammons, Don Blalock, Cliff Bolin, Patrick Bradshaw, Gavin Brown, GlenN Brown, Tommy Churchwell, Bob Ferguson, Bill George, Paul George, Thomas Howell, Fred Hyatt, Jesse McClure, Sam McCreary, Jack McKinney, Robert Massie, Carroll Mease, Tom Morgan, Scott Muirhead, Bob Pearl, Joseph Pistone, Burt Smith, Hallett Ward, Jim Winfree, and Hugh Williams. Memorials may be given to charity of one's choice or to First United Methodist Church of Waynesville for missions, P.O. Box 838, Waynesville, NC 28786 or Haywood Regional Medical Center Hospice, 560 Leroy George Drive, Clyde, NC 28721.

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