Cleo Smith

Our beloved grandmother Cleo Rumbley Smith passed away in the early morning hours of August 9th at the age of 99 in Burlington, North Carolina. She was a native of Alamance County and a daughter of the late Everette C. Rumbley and Rosa Lee Crouse Rumbley. She was the wife of Richard H. Smith until his death in 1981. Cleo was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.Cleo was a life member of St. Mark’s Reformed Church where she was a teacher of 5 year olds for 42 years. In the summers she taught Bible School. She was also a member of the Memorial Association and helped survey St. Marks Church’s cemetery and documented the information. Cleo enjoyed researching family genealogy which led to her membership in “The United Daughters of the Confederacy”. She was also a member of the Highland Homemakers Club as well as a member and leader of the North Carolina 4-H Honor Club for 52 years where she taught and shared the 4H mantra with an untold number of 4H’ers and her own son and grandchildren:

Head for clearer thinking

Heart for greater loyalty

Hands for longer service

Health for better living

Survivors include three grandchildren: Scott Smith, Joy Nissley, and Shaun Smith and 13 great grandchildren. Other than her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by a sister Irene S Overman, as well as three brothers, E.C. Rumbley Jr, Hoyle Rumbley and Blair Rumbley, her only child, D. Larry Smith, and her beloved granddaughter, Holly Smith Mogilevsky.

The funeral will be conducted on Wednesday at 11am at St Mark’s Church by Rev. Ben Bishop & Rev. Bob Disher. The Service will be held in the Sanctuary at St Mark’s and Burial will be held in the church cemetery with immediate family and close friends. All attendees are requested to wear appropriate masks. Rev Ben Bishop will be preforming selections and hymns on guitar during the service. Flowers and memorials may be sent to:  St. Mark’s Church, 1230 St. Mark’s Church Rd, Burlington, N.C. 27215.