Frances Best Smith

Frances Best Smith died peacefully July 19, 2008, at Mission Hospital, St. Joseph Campus, following an extended illness. She was surrounded by her beloved family. Frances was a native of Goldsboro (Wayne County). Born on August 6, 1928, she was the daughter of the late Cuyler Deems and Frances Herring Best. She graduated from Pikeville High School and Crumpler's Secretarial College. She and her family moved to Asheville in1972. Frances retired in 1999 from years of community service work, including her last 12 professional years with the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. In Goldsboro, she worked with Wayne Memorial Hospital directing their Candy Striper program. Other jobs included working in the business office at Weil's Department Store in Goldsboro and serving as a clerk for the late Judge Charles Gaylor of Wayne County. She worked for many years as office manager for the Odd Fellow's Children's Home, Goldsboro, and with the Frank Clark Architectural Firm. She was an accomplished seamstress, knitter and homemaker. Frances was a former officer in the Buncombe County Democratic Women's Club and worked several years as an election precinct worker. Frances is survived by her two devoted daughters, Debby Burchfield and her husband, John, of Asheville, and Tracey Benton and her husband, Dale, of Goldsboro; her two wonderful grandchildren, Johnathon Benton and Amanda Benton of Goldsboro; one sister. Elizabeth Biggerstaff of Youngsville; and her very special friends, Sam Colyer, Roger Radcliff and Phyllis Henderson, all of Asheville. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Karl Best of Goldsboro and Cuyler Best, Jr., of Wilson. A celebration of her life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue with the Rev. David L. Warren officiating. Interment will follow at Green Hills Cemetery. Her family will receive friends at the funeral home Tuesday one hour prior to the service.