Smith

Memorial Service for Cora Sue Smith, 81, of Rockdale will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, 2019, at First Baptist Church in Rockdale, with Pastor Matt Higginbotham of First Baptist Church officiating. Visitation will also be Friday, 6 p.m. at the First Baptist Life Center, until service time. A private family burial in the Salty Cemetery will be at a later date.

Cora Sue Smith passed away peacefully Saturday, Jan. 26, at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Temple.

She had been a New Salem resident since 1962 and formerly lived in Thorndale. She moved with her husband to the New Salem community to raise their growing family.

Cora was born on Nov. 20, 1937, in Milam County to the late Enoch Arden Caffey and Viola (Stephens) Caffey.

Cora attended Rockdale High School graduating in 1956. She then attended and earned her vocational nursing degree from John’s Hospital in Taylor in 1958.

She took a hiatus from her nursing career to raise five children and years later resumed her nursing career at Richards Memorial Hospital in Rockdale, where she worked for 15 years.

Cora and Hughie Willis Smith were married Nov. 3, 1956, at First Baptist Church in Rock-dale. They were married 59½ years before his death on May 8, 2016.

Cora was a member of the First Baptist Church of Rock-dale. She previously was a member of Black Jack Baptist Church for many years before returning her membership to the Rockdale First Baptist Church.

She was an auxiliary member of the Black Jack Fire Department and a member of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

Cora was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and finally a great-grandmother. In her words regarding her role as a great-grandmother, “It’s about time! I was beginning to think that I was not going to have any great-grandbabies.”

Cora enjoyed cooking for her family and prepared wonderful meals with her loving hands each Sunday as we came together to discuss what was going on in each other’s life. The family looked forward to her pot roast, mashed potatoes and cornbread each Sunday dinner.

She was an excellent homemaker. She not only possessed the skills of housekeeping, but something much more; she made everyone feel loved, cared for and comforted, always cultivating beauty and family relationships.

When not taking care of others, she enjoyed playing volleyball or listening to polka music.

Cora also looked forward to the annual W.F. Stephens reunion held in July in honor of her great-grandfather.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Hughie Willis Smith; parents Enoch and Viola Caffey; and grandson Dwayne Vance Davenport.

She is survived by a son Jesse Smith and wife Rosaliana; daughter Valerie McElwrath; daughter Veronica Jones and husband Kelley; daughter Vivian Davenport and husband Gerald; son William Smith and wife Sheree; grandchildren David Jones and wife Erica, Carol Jane McElwrath and Mike Culp, Kay Kay Lineweaver and husband Tyler, Geritt Davenport, Dalton Smith, Noah Smith, Joshua Davenport, Victoria Smith, Wyatt Smith and Jayden Davenport; great-granddaughter Emma LaRue Jones. She is also survived by her brother, James Caffey and wife Patsy; nephews Jeff and Jerald Caffey and niece Jeanne Drapeau.

Memorials may be made to Salty Cemetery Association, c/o Rebecca McWilliams, 230 CR 447, Thorndale, TX 76577; Black Jack Volunteer Fire Dept., 11341 FM 908 S., Rockdale, TX 76567; or Rockdale First Baptist Church, 240 Green St., Rock-dale, TX 76567, in memory of Cora Sue Smith.