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Martha Smith Balsley passed away on Monday, May 20, 2024. Her death resulted from complications from a fall. Martha was born in Newberry, SC to Larry Thomas and Velma Burton Smith on December 1, 1945. One of Martha’s earliest school experiences was attending a year of grammar school in Guam where her father was stationed in the Navy. After her father retired from the Navy, her family moved to Cary, NC where she graduated from high school. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in English from Appalachian State University and a master of Arts in English from UNC-Greensboro. She taught English for 17 years at Morehead High School in Eden, NC and English as a Second Language (ESL) at Reidsville High School for three years. She also was a part-time English instructor at Rockingham Community College. In addition to her teaching career, Martha was a Reidsville Jr. Service League sustainer, a member of the Reidsville Study Club, the Couples Book Club, and was chairman of Rockingham County Reads. She was also an active member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church where she served as a lay reader, a member of the Altar Guild, Vestry, and Episcopal Church Women. Her greatest pleasure was being with friends and family. Martha was predeceased by her sons Stuart and Burton and sister Linda Smith. Martha is survived by her husband Tom, to whom she was married for 55 years and her granddaughter Mary Stuart Balsley; brother-in-law Robert Balsley of Savannah, GA; sisters-in-law Peg Slaydon (David) of Reidsville, NC; and Molly Brian of Easton, MD; step-brothers-in-law Cliff Baggett (Mary) of Raleigh, NC; Fred Baggett (Carolyn) of Raleigh, NC; and step-sister-in-law Margaret Banks (Steve) of Greer, SC.
Online condolences may be sent to: www.cittyfh.com.
The family is extremely grateful for the compassionate, professional people of Annie Penn Hospital in Reidsville, NC, the UNC Rockingham Health Rockingham and UNC Rockingham Rehabilitation Center in Eden, NC and Ancora Compassionate Care (formerly Hospice of Rockingham County). The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be sent to Ancora Compassionate Care, 2150 NC-65, Reidsville, NC 27320 or to St. Thomas Episcopal Church Reidsville (315 Lindsey Street Reidsville, NC 27320.
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