Laura J. Smith

March 23, 1933 - January 1, 2022

Funeral Service will be Live-Streamed on Monday, January 10, 2022- 10:30 AM EST. Visit the Tribute Wall above to view the Live/Recorded Webcast. Our beloved Laura J. Smith entered into heavenly peace on January 1, 2022. Laura was born on March 23, 1933 in Raeford, NC to Sylvester and Parthenia O’Neal. She was educated in the Hoke County school system and was deeply influenced by her grandmother during her upbringing. Laura went on to have 2 children, Larry and Regina and they resided in High Point, NC until they relocated to Paterson, NJ in 1959. During her career, Laura was employed as a presser and retired in 1996 as a pharmaceutical production operator from BioCraft Laboratories. Her family meant more to her than anything else in the world. She was extremely proud of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren always trying her best to support them. We are blessed to have had her as the matriarch of the family. The hole left by her absence is impossible to fill. Laura loved to travel. She would visit her family in N. Carolina, Georgia and Rhode Island often over the years including a trip abroad to France, Belgium, and Germany. A loyal servant to God, first and foremost; she loved the church and sharing the love and warmth of our savior, Jesus Christ, with as many people as possible. Her favorite saying was, “If you’re going to pray; why worry? And, if you’re going to worry; then why pray?” She was a part of Canaan Baptist Church’s Food Pantry. Laura regularly attended Sunday school and was considered a prayer warrior to many. She also prepared and provided meals to the homeless herself and delivered food to families in need of nourishment. She made it her mission to improve the lives of others giving of herself in any way. Laura joins her Parents, Brother Robert O’Neal, and Grandson Davyn J. Smith in Heaven. She leaves to cherish her memories a legacy of loving family members, including her Sister- Elizabeth Fairley, Nephews- Greg Fairley and Alan (Martina) Fairley, Nieces- Karen (Jerome) Ryden, Denise (Fredrick) Purcell; Patrice (Steve) Hinton of NC; Son- Larry Smith, Daughter- Regina Smith; Grandchildren-LaVeeta (Marvin) Smith-Brown, Shakee’ (Gerald) Huntington, Sean Smith, Shanel Smith. Nine Great-Grandchildren; Davyn A. Smith, Alexis Wilson, Devyn Smith, Sheron Smith, Naja Bryant, Jordan Huntington, Arianna Huntington, Zaire Mathis and Zia Mathis; Eleven Great-Great-Grandchildren and her special friends. Now that Laura has passed into the arms of our Lord, we should remind ourselves that while this is the end of Laura’s physical life on Earth, it’s the beginning of an eternal and beautiful journey for her. We will miss our wise, ever stylish and sweet Silver Fox”. Even during times of social distancing, anyone who has suffered a loss deserves love and support more than ever before. Let the family know you care by leaving treasured memories, thoughts and prayers on the Tribute Wall.