Judea F. Smith

Obituary: Kannapolis- Judea Mae Fortner Smith, 94, died Saturday, the 19th of March at her home surrounded by family members who loved her dearly. Born March 5, 1917 in Alexander County, N.C., Judy was the oldest of seven children. She moved to Statesville, N.C. when her father started working in the mill. In 1930, she moved to Charlie Walker Road where she lived until her death. At the age of 15 Judy started working at Cannon Mills, where she worked for 10 years until enlisting in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. She attended basic training at Daytona Beach, Florida. After basic training she attended Cooks and Bakers School at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, for one year until taking a discharge to go home and care for her family. On August 30, 1948 Judy started working for Concord Telephone Company where she worked for 36 years until her retirement on March 1, 1984. After retiring, Judy stayed at home taking care of family, cooking, sewing, and feeding the birds. Judy attended Bethpage Presbyterian Church since 1929, where she was loved by all. Judy was known for being kind and caring to all those around her and had a wonderful personality that could light up a room. A funeral service to celebrate her life was held 2:00 P.M. Monday, March 21, 2011 at Bethpage Presbyterian Church, Kannapolis, NC officiated by Rev. Rick Hoffarth. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family received friends from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Sunday, March 20, 2011 at Whitley's Funeral Home. She is survived by her daughter Martha Jean Jones of Charlotte, N.C., granddaughter Kimberly Ingram and Frank Sexton of York, S.C., great-grandsons Justin Ingram and wife Shannon of Richfield, N.C. and SPC Matthew Brown of Charleston, S.C., great-great-grandsons Jackson and Lucas Ingram both of Richfield, N.C., brothers Roy Fortner of Huntersville, N.C. and Clifford Fortner of Arizona, sister Zane Saul of Asheville, NC., son-in-law Charles R. Ingram of Kannapolis, N.C., extended family of Debbie J. Haslach of Kannapolis, N.C., and Beth and John Shoup of Kannapolis, N.C., Al Brown of Concord, N.C. the Chappell family, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother Naomi Bentley Fortner and father James Clarence Fortner, daughter Lois "Skip" Ingram, sister Ruby McGavran, and brothers Paul Fortner and Sloan Fortner. Whitley's Funeral home has been entrusted with arrangements. The family would like to give a special thanks to Bethpage Presbyterian Church and the Ladies of Bethpage Church, as well as the staff of Hospice and Palliative Care. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Bethpage Presbyterian Church, 6020 Mooresville Road, Kannapolis, NC 28081 or the charity of your choice. On-line condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com.
Visitation: 6:00 - 8:00 PM Sunday, March 20, 2011 at Whitley's Funeral Home, Kannapolis

Service: 2:00 PM Monday, March 21, 2011 at Bethpage Presbyterian Church, Kannapolis

Interment: Bethpage Presbyterian Church Cemetery