Rachel Louise Smith

Rachel Louise Griffith Smith, born in Greenville, SC, to Hanson and Greta Etheridge Griffith on April 20, 1922, passed away Monday March 23, 2009 at the Oaks at Town Center in Harrisburg, NC. She was predeceased by her husband of 55 years, John W. Smith, in 2000 and by four brothers Frank Griffith, Pert Griffith, and Charles Griffith, all of Greenville, SC, and Billy Griffith of Buffalo, NY. Rachel moved to Johnson City, TN, with her husband John and daughter Jackie in 1956 where John worked for Pet Dairy General Office. She was a member of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church for 50 years and enjoyed singing in the chancel choir and attending Sunday school and circle meetings. She was a Red Cross volunteer with the Bloodmobile, a Gray Lady at Johnson City Memorial Hospital, and a volunteer at Johnson City Medical Center. She helped with Girl Scout Troop 45 as an assistant leader and was active in PTA. In addition to church and family, Rachel loved playing golf with the ladies at JCCC and was also known to share a joke or two and always greeted people with a hug. She and John lived briefly in Charlotte, NC, and Knoxville, TN, after his retirement from Pet Dairy in 1977, but they returned to Johnson City to be closer to their family and friends. In June 2002, Rachel suffered a cerebral hemorrage and has resided at the Oaks at Town Center since that time. People there will remember her for her singing, especially the Alleluia Chorus. She is survived by her daughter Jacquelyn (Jackie) Smith Taylor and son-in-law Gordon Taylor; grandson John Gordon Taylor and wife Nancy Bennett Taylor; and great-grandchildren Darby and Wesley Taylor, all of Charlotte, NC; her sister Esther Marchbanks Addis and husband Les of Greenville, SC; goddaughter Susan Marchbanks Culbertson and husband Lloyd of Greenville and godson Greg Marchbanks of Dublin, GA. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hospice and Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, 5003 Hospice Ln., Kannapolis, NC 28081; or Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 225 Princeton Rd., Johnson City, TN 37601. The family wishes to thank the staff of the Oaks at Town Center and Hospice for the love and attention they gave Rachel and to Dr. Carol Rupe for her medical care.