Janet Manning Smith, 95, of Mocksville died on Wednesday morning with her daughters at her side, Aug. 8, 2018, at Autumn Care of Mocksville.

She was born June 20, 1923 to the late Edward Ferdinand and Alice Edwards Manning in Broadtop City, Pa. Her mother died when she was 4 years old and she was raised by her aunt and uncle, Dr Jack and Janet Zuck. She attended State Teachers’ College in Trenton, N.J. for two years and graduated from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh with a bachelor’s degree in public school music. She had a beautiful singing voice and excelled at flute, violin, ukulele, harpsichord, guitar, piano and cello. She first taught music at Netcong school in New Jersey. Her dream was to teach music at a different school in a different state each year. She journeyed to Valdosta, Ga. by train with two trunks and her instruments – a beautiful young woman from north of the Mason-Dixon Line without knowing a soul – to teach music in public school there. The following year she then moved to Statesville where she taught music. She had signed a contract to teach in Colorado the following year until her plans were altered when she met her future husband while Christmas shopping in Salisbury. She married John Quentin Smith of Mocksville in 1947. Her public school teaching career ended with the birth of the first of her five children. She joined First United Methodist Church of Mocksville where she kept the children’s nursery, taught children’s Sunday School and played piano and sang in children’s church. She loved classical music and opera. She was a true intellectual, cultured, soft spoken who loved learning phrases in different languages, and studying the Bible, frequently jotting down interesting facts and quotations. She enjoyed listening to NPR, WFDD and WDAV, and loved to watch educational programs on UNC-TV. She kept her grandchildren and shared her great wealth of knowledge with them. She enjoyed sitting in the back yard with family watching birds and nature. She was humble and was known for driving around Mocksville in her famous turquoise and white 1957 Chevy. (Papa Smith’s old car)

She was preceded by her mother and father; her aunt and uncle who raised her; 2 brothers, Bobby Manning who died as a youngster, and Johnny Manning of California; a sister, Hannah Evy Watson of Pittsburgh, Pa.; her husband, Quentin Smith; 2 sons, Richard Smith of Muncie, Ind. and Steve (Woo Woo) Smith of Cooleemee; and a grandson, Chris Jordan.

Survivors: a son, Bob Smith (Ann) of Boise, Idaho; 2 daughters, Alice Hanes (Chris)  of Mocksville and Monica Jordan (Joe) of Mocksville; granddaughter, Sharon Fisher (James) of Cooleemee; grandson, Kevin Jordan (Abbey) who are traveling abroad; 3 great-granddaughters, Summer Lawson (Trent Hill) of Mocksville, Sydney Lawson and Raegan Fisher of Cooleemee; grandson, Brian Jordan (Kelly) and great-grandchildren, Bailey, Mary, Ellie, and Casey Jordan of Mocksville.

She lived with her daughter Monica and son-in-law, Joe where she was so well cared for nearly five years and then resided at Autumn Care in Mocksville for the past four months.

There will be no formal visitation. A private family service will be held at a future date.

Memorials: The Stephen Ministry, FUMC, 310 N. Main St., Mocksville; or Davie Hospice, 377 Hospital St., Suite 103, Mocksvill.