Birth Date: 08/21/1929
Deceased Date: 11/07/2024
Vertie Mae Mitchell Perry of Smithfield, 95, passed away peacefully Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, surrounded by family at SECU Hospice House after a brief hospital stay.
Born in Durham Aug. 21, 1929, to the late Ona Crafton and Nellie Bly Mitchell, she attended Campbell College, where she met the love of her life, the late William H. Perry Jr. of Martin County, to whom she was married for 66 years. She went on to graduate from Meredith College with a degree in music education. A gifted musician, she taught piano and directed handbells at First Baptist Church of Smithfield for 50 years.
But her favorite role was as Meemaw to her family and the community who knew her to be an encouraging light, a gifted listener, and a spunky spirit known for her cheerful disposition and wide smile. She loved doing word searches, regularly phoning her many friends and family and, until earlier this year, delivering homemade blueberry congealed salad or other favorite recipes.
The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall of First Baptist Church Smithfield at 10 am Saturday, November 16, 2024, with services to follow at 11 am led by Rev. Kristin Tucker and Rev. Lee Colbert. A private burial will follow later in the day.
She is survived by five children: Nell Bovender (Tim) of Rutherfordton, Denise Kopple (Mark) of Louisburg, William H. “Bill” Perry III of Raleigh, Sandy Baker (Billy) of Smithfield, and Margie Crumley (Rick) of Wilson’s Mills; 10 grandchildren, Will Bovender (Mary Ellen Kustin) of Hendersonville, Ali Bovender High (Shawn) of Rutherfordton, Clint Thompson (Robin) of Holden Beach, Jeremy Thompson (Mary Beth) of Smithfield, Shannon Thompson Biesecker (Mark) of Lexington, Clarice Perry of Boone, Jennifer Baker Lee (Jason) of Dunn, Shelley Baker Best (Jimmy) of Clayton, Nikki Crumley (Andrea Henderson) of Raleigh and Kevin Crumley (Taylor) of Smithfield; 15 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-granddaughters.
She was preceded in death by her five siblings and their spouses and the six siblings and spouses of her husband’s family. They all loved her dearly.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the household closet or handbell ministry of First Baptist Church, 202 S. Fourth St., Smithfield, NC 27577.
