Nellie Orlean Hensley Smith

2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV: We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord, was one of Nellie Orlean Hensley Smith’s favorite Bible verses. She peacefully was granted this promise at her daughter’s home, surrounded by her loving family, on Tuesday, September 5, 2023. At the time of her passing, she was 3 weeks shy of 101 years old.

Nellie was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, aunt, and a friend to many. She was born on September 26, 1922, at Collins Hill in Cabell County, West Virginia, to the late Robert Clyde and Myrtle "Myrt" Spurlock Hensley. Nellie was the seventh of twelve children born to Clyde and Myrtle.

Nellie's family relocated to a farmhouse on Beech Fork Road, where she attended Mary Davis, a Wayne County one-room schoolhouse, through eighth grade. She went to the schoolhouse early each morning and gathered wood for the potbelly stove, drew water from the well, and washed the blackboard, earning 50 cents a week. After attending Wayne High School, she became a seamstress at the Sterling Dress Factory. Several years later, she served others at Bailey’s Cafeteria in downtown Huntington, working beside her two sisters, Thelma and Effie Marie.

Nellie shared many childhood memories, one of which was that Clyde, after giving thanks around the dinner table, would often say to Myrt, “Look at the all the little violets around our table.”

She reminisced about going to church in a horse-drawn sled on a cold Christmas Eve. Her mother would place a hot iron inside the blankets for warmth. After returning home, she and her brothers and sisters were so happy to find a peppermint candy stick, an orange, and one small toy in their Christmas stockings. She also remembered the first time seeing a Model T Ford traveling on the dirt road by their farm home. The rows of corn seemed to never end as she worked in the fields alongside her father and siblings. During the Great Depression, although material things were scarce, LOVE WAS ABUNDANT.

On August 29, 1938, Nellie attended a funeral service at Macedonia Baptist Church. She stated numerous times, “Out under a sycamore tree stood this good-looking man, who was one of the pallbearers, in his brown suit, dark hair, and brown eyes. He was so handsome and I knew he was the one.” Nellie and Frank Stanford Smith were married on July 7, 1941. They had one daughter, Linda Sue Smith, in 1942. The family lived in Huntington, West Virginia, for many years, moving to the Beech Fork farm in 1955. They bought and renovated the old farm home where Frank was reared as a child. Today, in 2023, since the Beech Fork State Park was built on their homestead, one hears motorboats on the lake instead of Frank’s Hereford cattle lowing in the pastures.

When Nellie first met her future mother-in-law, Bertha Smith, “Bertie” was quilting. For Frank and Nellie’s wedding gift, she gave them that quilt. “A quilt is more than pieces of cloth sewn together. It is a labor of love that honors forever its maker.” Over the years, Nellie was a crafter who created beautiful artistic quilts. Nellie designed many quilt patterns and would sew for hours during the cold winters in Lavalette, West Virginia, using her mother-in-law’s heirloom quilting hoop. Her family cherishes each of her quilts, which adorn their homes today.

Not only was Nellie artistic, but her prose about her sister, Effie Marie’s, inspirational life won first place in the 1950 Tops in Our Town contest, sponsored by The Herald-Dispatch. In cooperation with The Betty Crocker Magazine of the Air radio program, the two sisters received an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City. They appeared on The Betty Crocker Magazine Show, which was broadcast locally in Huntington by WSAZ.

Linda Sue is so thankful for the memorable family Sunday gatherings at her grandparents’ homes. She and her many cousins played in the rain, rolled down the hill, sneaked grandmother Hensley’s homemade pickles, waited anxiously for their turn at the dinner table, and watched their uncles crank the ice cream freezers for homemade ice cream. Throughout her childhood surrounded by her parents and extended family, Linda Sue was nurtured in love.

Frank and Nellie were both members of the Mays Chapel United Methodist Church in Lavalette, West Virginia. She enjoyed singing the old-time gospel hymns like In the Garden, God Be With You Till We Meet Again, It Is Well With My Soul and When the Roll is Called Up Yonder with the choir at Mays. Her alto voice will always resonate with her daughter. She always considered Mays Chapel United Methodist her church, even after she moved to Maryland.

In later years, Frank and Nellie’s greatest joy was spending time with their four grandchildren: Eddie, Kelli, Frankie, and Nelli. Frank would often say to Nellie, “Let’s go up and see what the kids are doing.” They made many trips up to Maryland for visits. They would help around Linda Sue and Ed’s home in Glen Arm and take the kids on many trips to the grocery store for goodies and ice cream. Nellie would cook and bake the entire visit. Oh, to be able to taste her homemade potato salad and pies made from scratch once more! Frank and Nellie were the wind beneath their families’ wings. They shared 51 years together before Frank’s death in February 1993.

On her many trips to Maryland, Nellie's son-in-law, Ed, would tease her and say he was “Driving Miss Daisy” as he chauffeured her around town. Nellie sold her home on Beech Fork Road and relocated to Maryland in 2002 to be closer to her daughter, Linda Sue Smith Adams, and her four grandchildren. Nellie resided at Park View at Bel Air Apartment Homes for Seniors from November 2005 - February 2018. She was an active member of the Forever Young Club. She enjoyed their monthly dinners and weekly 5-cent Bingo nights. The many word search puzzle books she completed kept her mind sharp. In 2018, as her health declined, Nellie lived with her daughter until her death.

On September 26, 2022, Nellie celebrated her 100th birthday. Her family gathered at Ed and Robin’s home to honor her milestone centennial birthday. She was so appreciative of all the phone calls, cards, and flowers from her loved ones. Her late sister, Carolyn, wished to submit her name and photo for use on the Smucker’s Jar of the TODAY Show. Carolyn’s wish was granted, and Nellie received her fifteen seconds of airtime announced by Al Roker. When asked how old she was, she often replied, “Sweet 16 and never been kissed.” She wore a sash at her party that said, “100 Years Blessed.” Nellie was blest with a long and loving life.

Even though she spent many years in Maryland, she always referred to the hills of West Virginia as home. Her smile while dancing with her grandsons, Ed and Frank, and great-grandson, A.J. to Take Me Home, Country Roads will always be remembered.

Nellie was preceded in death by her parents, Clyde and Myrtle Hensley; her husband, Frank Smith; her son-in-law, Edward C. Adams; and her eleven siblings: Thelma Drown, Ezra Hensley, Ray Hensley, Effie Marie Spaulding, Robert Lee Hensley, Ralph Hensley, Natalie Bennett, Clyde (C.J.) Hensley, Jr., Mary Lee Adkins, Jo Ann Smith, and Carolyn Mullins. Yes, all of Clyde and Myrtle’s children are in!

Nellie’s legacy will live on through her daughter, Linda Sue Smith Adams, and her four grandchildren: Edward Carroll Adams, Jr. (Robin), Kelli Adams Ronning (Marty), Frank Anthony Adams (Colleen), and Jennifer Nell Stewart (Len); her ten great-grandchildren: Samantha Adams Rossi (Vince), Austin Adams (Melissa), Joshua Ronning (Heather), A.J. Ronning (Simone), Kelsi Lewis (Tyler), Frank Adams, Jr., Douglas Adams, Clara Stewart, Nathan Stewart, and Jenna Stewart; and her seven great-great-grandchildren: Jeffrey, Madi, Leah, Jackson, Sage, Kamryn and Killian.

Visitation and Celebration of Life, officiated by Pastor Jim Plyburn, will be held at Reger Funeral Home & Chapel, 1242 Adams Avenue, Huntington, West Virginia. Visitation will be from 11:30-1:00 followed by a Celebration of Life at 1:00 on Friday, September 15, 2023. Burial will follow at Mount Vernon Cemetery, in Wayne County, where she will be laid to rest on the hill next to her husband Frank.

Our deepest appreciation to Gilchrist Hospice Nurse, Edna Barton, and Home Health Aide, Laurie Schantz, for providing such compassionate home care for the past two years. Very thankful to Steven Doyle for his attentive aid and running errands when needed.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to either Mays Chapel United Methodist Church, 3005 Beech Fork Road, Lavalette, West Virginia 25535 or Gilchrist Hospice Care, 11311 McCormick Road, Hunt Valley, Maryland 21031. Condolences may be left on Reger Funeral Home and Chapel’s online guest book at www.regerfh.com.

As Nellie wrote for her husband’s funeral service, “Good night down here, and good morning up there.” She is now reunited with Frank and their family members. With the sentiment Nellie used to close all of her correspondences, LOVE AND GOD BLESS!