Virginia Martin Smith

Virginia Martin Smith, 89, of Bristol, Virginia, ever so peacefully slipped out of her earthly body to be ushered into her eternal life on January 12, 2015, at 9:27 p.m. She was born on August 8, 1925, in Princeton, West Virginia, to the late Loami Lewis Lawson and Lillie Lee Foley Martin. Her husband, Irvin, along with three brothers, Fred, Cecil and Basil, and six sisters, Dovie, Judy, Ivy, Pansy, Gatha and Frances, preceded her in death.

Virginia attended Emmanuel College and Holmes Bible College where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Theology and Journalism. She met Rev. Robert Irvin Smith during a revival in the mid-40s and was married to him on June 12, 1947, in Princeton, WV. Irvin and Virginia became a powerful church planting and pastoral team in the Virginia (now Appalachian) Conference of the IPHC. Over the years, they have pastored and pioneered new works in W. Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Texas. They were married more than 58 years before Irvin’s death in 2005.

Virginia is survived by four daughters: Evelyn Harlow and husband Tony of Piney Flats, TN; Rebecca Earnest of Oklahoma City, OK; Irvina Parker and husband David of Oklahoma City, OK; and Glenda Dalton and husband Titus of Christiansburg, VA; five grandchildren: Tabitha Brown and husband Terry; Carrie Wolf and husband Mike; Ryan Parker and wife Jessica; Jennifer Terry and husband Shane; and Chad Dalton; seven great-grandchildren: Rylan, Ashton, Sophia, Grace, Aubrey, Tristan, and Jasper; one brother Ernest Martin and wife Frances of Mullens, WV; a multitude of nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.

The family will receive friends from the Tri-cities area on Thursday, January 15, from 6-8 pm at Weaver Funeral Home in Bristol, TN; there will also be a viewing on Friday, January 16, from 6-8 pm at Harbor of Hope PH Church in Christiansburg, VA. The church is located at 2720 Roanoke Street. Funeral Services have been set for Saturday, January 17, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Harbor of Hope with Rev. Edward Wood, Sr., officiating. Interment will follow in the Appalachian Conference Cemetery, Dublin, VA.

Online condolences may be left at www.weaverfuneralhome.net and www.hornefuneralservice.com . Arrangements have been made with Weaver Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Bristol, TN, and Horne Funeral Home & Crematory, Christiansburg, VA.