Minister Elvira Carroll McWilliams Smith

"Ms. Elvira"

On April 19, 1950, Minister Elvira Carroll McWilliams Smith better known as Ms. Elvira, was born in the town of Enfield, North Carolina to Mr. Theodore McWilliams Sr. and Mrs. Pattie Mae McWilliams, both of whom preceded her in death. Ms. Elvira was the oldest of eight children and the only daughter, a loving and proud sister to her seven brothers.

Ms. Elvira graduated High School at Inborden in Halifax County and later went on to receive her B.S. in Political Science at San Diego State University in San Diego, Califor- nia where she pledged Zeta Phi Beta. Ms. Elvira also served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam Era where she met her husband, Bobby Ray "Smitty" Smith.

Ms. Elvira and Smitty were married forty years and the couple have one daughter, Rehshetta "Shea" Wells. Ms. Elvira truly cherished being a wife and mother but she especially loved being "Nana" to the apple of her eye, her granddaughter, Winter Belle Smith.

Some of Ms. Elvira's proudest moments in life were accepting her call to ministry, serving in the Navy, getting married, being a mother and grandmother, and seeing all of the many blessings God continued to bestow upon her daily. She truly felt that all of her other accolades were not important because living right and helping people was the ministry God called her to serve. Left to celebrate Ms. Elvira's life and memories are her husband, Rev. Bobby R. Smith of the home; one daughter, Rehshetta "Shea" Wells and son-in-law Karl Lemart Wells of Greensboro, NC, one granddaughter, Winter Belle Smith; seven brothers, Theodore McWilliams Jr. of Greensboro, NC; Tony McWilliams (Marnie) of Snellville, GA; Walter McWilliams of Enfield, NC; Glen McWilliams (Patricia) of Rocky Mount, NC; Jeryl McWilliams (Barbara) of Enfield, NC; Donald McWilliams of Enfield, NC; and Michael McWilliams of Enfield, NC. Special Aunt Elmyra McWilliams of Pleasantville, NJ; special Uncle Curtis McWilliams of Absecon, NJ; God daughters Kimberly Ridge of San Diego, CA and Theya Patrice of Greensboro, NC; three special friends, Linda Silver (Rudolph) of Enfield, NC; Angela Hines of Wilson, NC, and Sandra Rosario of Walnut Cove, NC; special nephew Terrance Parham (Lisa) of Pittsburgh, PA; two special nieces Toi McWilliams of Greensboro, NC and Telaya Parham of Belleville, NJ; in-laws, Willie Belle Wade of Cleveland, OH; Louise Holder (Joe) of Lumberton, MS; Charles Smith (Trudy) of Pittsburgh, PA; Donald Smith (Mary) of Covington, GA; Gloria Wade of Cleveland, Oh; and a multitude of coudins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

The arrangements: Funeral will be held at St. James Home of a Fresh Start 4705 N. Church St. Greensboro, NC 27455 at 1 pm Saturday, March 8, 2014. Dr. James R. Woodson officiating.