Velma Grace Marshburn Smith, 88 of Jacksonville, died peacefully in her home on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. She was born in Onslow County on August 1, 1937, the 4th of nine children, was a cafeteria worker in the local school district for many years, and an Avon representative for a short period of time. She is preceded in death by her parents, Victoria Shepard and Robert Lee Marshburn; her husband of 62 years, Gattis Lee Smith, Sr.; son Mark Thomas Smith; brother James Grayson Marshburn; sisters Dorothy Bruno and Ruth Hayes; and daughter-in-law, Tonda King Smith.

Velma is survived by her sons Gattis Lee Smith, Jr. (Judy Hansley) of Holly Ridge; and Robert Alan Smith of Jacksonville; sisters Fay Gould and Flora Raynor, both of Jacksonville; Ruby Doyle (Sam) of Alabama; Mary Lofton (Pete) of Maysville; and Vickie Harrington (Terry) of Greenville; grandchildren Annie King Swinson (David), Victoria R. Smith, Beverly Smith Johnson (Nelson), Jessica Smith Randle (CJ), and Anthony J. Smith; 7 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandson. She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Velma was 13 years old when her mother died. With the help of her older siblings and other women in her family and community, she became the ‘woman of the house’ and helped raise her five younger siblings that ranged in age from newborn to 12 years old. Hard work was normal for her and she never complained. One of her greatest loves was sharing life with her husband and working side by side with him, especially gardening on the family land. One of her favorite sayings was, “we only ate what we grew in the garden.” During the summertime, it was common to find her and her mother-in-law, Mrs. Beatrice, tending to the garden, shucking a bushel of corn, shelling butter beans, or canning a jar of pickles together. Her cooking was cherished at family gatherings, especially her potato salad, cream corn, butter beans, cabbage rolls, sausage, pecan pie, and lemon cake. If you ate a dinner meal in her home, she would almost always serve fried corn bread. She loved to spend time with her siblings and grandchildren, watch soap operas and westerns, and complete word search books. She was respected by her neighbors and community and the congregation of Pineland Presbyterian Church where she worshipped the majority of her life.

Visitation with the family will be on Friday, July 17, 2026, from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., at Jones Funeral Home, 303 Chaney Avenue, Jacksonville; followed by her funeral at the same location on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., officiated by the Reverends Preston Wells and Jack Marshburn. Burial will follow at Onslow Memorial Park, 3280 Richlands Highway (Hwy. 258), Jacksonville.

Thank you to the many family and friends that visited, called, provided meals, and prayed for her and her family. Also, the family would like to thank all of the professionals and volunteers of Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Hospice that cared for both her and the family over the past four months. In lieu of flowers, the family requests tax-deductible donations be made in her memory to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Foundation, mailed to 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401 or made online at https://lifecare.org/donate/.