Obituaries

Florence Smith

Former Mattituck resident Florence Smith died Oct. 23. She was 82 years old.

She was born in Mattituck Nov. 5, 1930, to Isaiah and Priscilla Brunskill and attended local schools. She attended First Baptist Church of Riverhead, where she was a member of the usher board. In 1948, she met and married Eugene Smith.

As a young adult, Ms. Smith worked in New York City. She was later was employed at poultry plants in Moriches and Aquebogue and retired from True-Tech in Riverhead. In 2006, she moved to Gastonia, N.C., where she joined Tabernacle Baptist Church and served as a greeter.

According to family members, Ms. Smith had a warm and open heart and enjoyed welcoming family and friends into her home, frequently serving her “famous” macaroni and cheese. They also said she loved dancing, completing word searches while snacking on Twizzlers and pretzel rods, and doing yard work.

Predeceased by her husband and her daughter Darlene, Ms. Smith is survived by three children, Ronnie Smith of Riverhead and John Wayne Smith and Bernice Taylor, both of North Carolina; her brother Benjamin Brunskill, also of North Carolina; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many other family members. She was also predeceased by her brother Floyd and her sister, Betty.

The family received visitors Nov. 1 at First Baptist Church of Riverhead, where funeral services officiated by Pastor Charles Coverdale also took place. Interment followed at Calverton National Cemetery. Arrangements were handled by Seay Memorial Chapel in Riverhead.