I ribute To Dr. John G. Smith
i
By BIGNALL JONES
Dr. John Goodrich Smith died on Tuesday, July
12, in Nash General Hospital and a small notice of
his death was carried in last Wednesday's edition of
The Warren Record because of the large number of
his relatives and still larger number of his patients
in Warren County.
Dr. Smith was my wife's brother-in-law, was
married in Emmanuel Episcopal Church in War
renton, and was a good friend of many years. He
was a very distinguished physician, as will be
shown from his death notice in his hometown
newspaper which I will use later in this tribute.
First I would speak of John Smith, the man, and
warm personal friend for more than 40 years. He
was a kind and both a gentle man and a gentleman.
A good friend in time of trouble, and a good com
panion in times of joy. He was a very religious man
and often would attend services at the Church of the
Good Shepherd at Ridgeway, where his father-in
law, the late Rev. B. N. de Foe Wagner, was rector
for many years.
The Wagner family, into which both Dr. Smith
and I married, are a very close and a very devoted
family, easy to love, as both John, who married
Mary Lilian Wagner in 1939, and I, who married
Grace in 1936, were quick to find out. John was
both appreciated and loved by his in-laws and their
children. I know that my wife loved him for his
many excellent qualities and for the many acts of
kindness shown to her and her family. Because of
my own affection for the man, his wife and son,
John, Jr., and the affection I feel toward each
member of the Wagner family, I am republishing
the account of his death as carried in the Wednes
day, July 13, issue of The Rocky Mount Evening
Telegram and the editorial published in that paper
on the following day, as follows:
DR. JOHN GOODRICH SMITH
Dr. John Goodrich Smith, 73, died Tuesday.
Dr. Smith was born Feb. 10, 1910 in Scotland
Seek. He conducted his pre-med studies at the
University of North Carolina where he received his
B.S. degree in 1931. Smith also received hisTvi.D.
iegree from Duke University School of Medicine in
L935. His internship and residency was at Hospital
rf the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia,
Pa., 1935-37, and his postgraduate studies were at
North Carolina Tuberculosis Sanitorium, London
School of Medicine, London, England.
Smith was in private group practice of Internal
Medicine beginning in 1937 with the Boice-Willis
Clinic, P.A., Rocky Mount. Additionally, he served
as a Diplomate on the American Board of Internal
Medicine in 1950. He was a life-time fellow of the
American College of Physicians and served as a
Fellow of the Council of Clinical Cardiology with the
American Heart Association.
In Armed Forces services, Smith was Captain of
the Medical Corps from 1942-46 and served with the
Fourth Infantry Motorized Division from Utah
Beach. While serving in the Germany Campaign he
received the Combat Medical Badge and Bronze
Star Award.
Among Smith's contributions to medical
literature are "Abnormal Heart Rhythms,"
"Pericarditis," and "Coronary Occlusion Before
the Age of Forty."
In 1952 he was founder and past president of the
Edgecombe-Nash Heart Association and served as
president of the North Carolina Heart Association.
In 1957 Smith was the first to receive the
association's highest award, the Silver Heart with
Scroll. In 1960, he received the Award of Merit with
Bronze Medallion by the American Heart
Association.
In 1957 he was chairman of the Fund Raising Ad
visory and Policy Committee of the American
Heart Association, served four years on the Nutri
tion Committee of the American Heart Association
and was vice-chairman of the Council of Clinical
Cardiology in 1962. He served six years on the Board
of Directors of the American Heart Association,
five years on its Executive Committee of the Board
and three years as vice president of the American
Heart Association.
At the 1965 annual meeting of the American Heart
Association he received the highest award within
that association, its Gold Heart Award. He was the
first North Carolinian to receive the award which
was given "In recognition of the utmost in service,
contributions and accomplishments in the conquest
of cardiovascular diseases."
In February of 1964, he was named "Tar Heel of
the Week" bj North Carolina's News and Observer,
At home in Rocky Mount he served a three-year
term on the Kocky Mount Area Chamber of Com
merce's board of directors and served three terms
as Senior Warden in the Episcopal Church of the
Good Shepherd.
He was a member and past president of the Edge
combe-Nash Medical Society; member of North
Carolina Medical Society and the American
Medical Association; member of North Carolina
Society of Internal Medicine and American Society
of Internal Medicine and a member of the Council of
Medical Staffs of the American Society of Contem
porary Medicine and Surgery. Smith received the
American Medical Association's Physician's
Recognition Award in Continuing Medical Edu
cation from July 1,1970, through Dec. 1,1984.
He was currently on the medical staff of Nash
General Hospital and Rocky Mount Sanitarium and
past president of the Boice-Willis Clinic, Profes
sional Associates in active group practice of
medicine.
Smith was married in 1939 to Mary Iilian Wagner
of Warrenton, native of Canada. They have one son,
John G. Smith, Jr., of Florence, S. C.
A Fortunate Community
An Editorial From
The Rocky Mount Evening Telegram
Because of his significant contributions to
medicine, his outstanding achievements in varied
fields and his unique personality, Dr. John G. Smith
stood out like Mars at perihelion. True, the popular
Rocky Mount physician had achieved such
distinguished honors as the Gold Heart Award and
the Award of Merit from the American Heart
Association and the North Carolina Heart
Association's Silver Heart with Scroll, each of
which has been awarded extremely sparingly. At
the same time he was just as happy over being a
member of the Area Chamber of Commerce board
of director or a senior warden of his beloved
Episcopal Church.
However, Dr. Smith was loved and respected
perhaps most for those genuine attributes which
caused all who knew him to regard Dr. Smith as a
learned human being who was extremely interest
ed in his fellow human beings and who had the
ability to help countless individuals enjoy fuller
lives.
The stories told about Dr. Smith are legion and
whole volumes could be written about his unique
behavior which might turn tragedy into something
anyone could understand.
Many local citizens vividly recall the national
tension which prevailed after President Eisenhow
er's first heart attack. A famed heart specialist
from Boston named Dr. White had won national at
tention and was asked to treat the president. It was
while Dr. White was still making front page news all
over the country that Dr. Smith, president of the N.
C. Heart Association, was able to bring him here for
a public interview.
Because of the nature of heart ailments and their
affect upon the victims. Dr. Smith had developed an
amazing ability to put a sufferer at ease even as
medicine's magic was being put into use.
Despite all the acclaim and recognition that
naturally came to him, Dr. Smith remained a sin
cere friend, an individual whose interest in his
fellowmen was often displayed.
This whole community is fortunate indeed to have
enjoyed the fruits of Dr. Smith's labors during a
long and useful life.
Health Fair Is Planned
For Hollister Area Folks
Hollister and the
surrounding com
munities in both Warren
and Halifax counties
will sponsor a health
fair this summer for the
benefit of local resi
dents.
The health fair is a
ten-day event during
which free comprehen
sive physical examina
tions, including lab tests
and optional pelvic
exams for women, are
administered by Duke
and UNC medical
students closely super
vised by doctors and
medical personnel from
the region and state.
The fair runs from
July 20 through July 30
and is open from 1 p. m.
to 9 p. m. on weekdays
and from 9 a. m. to 5 p.
m. on Saturdays. It will
be held at the Hollister
Elementary School.
Residents can either
walk in or make an ap
pointment by calling the
school at 586-4344.
The event is planned
and organized by
Hollister and surroun
ding communities with
assistance from the
North Carolina Student
Rural Health Coalition.
"For these ten days,
we'll also celebrate the
region's rich culture by
holding tribal dances,
craft sales, Indian
exhibits, gospel
singings, talent acts,
music ensembles, etc.
during the afternoons
and evenings of the
fair," a spokesman said.
"Call Ernestine Lynch
at 5864548 for more in
formation."
The
Public
Record
Deed Transfers
Tar Heel Production
Credit Association to
Ernest B. Harris and
wife, certain lots, War
renton Township.
Calvin Davis to
Calvin Davis and wife,
10 acres, Warrenton
Township.
Hugh T. Jones and
wife to Methodist
Retirement Homes, Inc.
Methodist Retirement
Homes, Inc. to King
Construction Company
of Raleigh, Inc.
Nowell Y. Bradley
and wife to John L.
Mullinax and wife, cer
tain lot, River Town
ship.
Lorena B. Nelson to
Outdoor World Corpora
tion, 1 acre, River
Township.
Tanglewood Land
Company, Inc. to Owen
R. Toler and wife, cer
tain lot Roanoke Town
ship.
W. B. Brown to Twin
Oak Shores, Inc., cer
tain lot, Roanoke Town
ship.
Nancy Harris Echols
and others to Nancy H.
Williams, certain lot,
Fork Township.
Nancy H. Williams
and husband to Nancy
Harris Echols, certain
lots, Fork Township.
Peter Bradford and
wife to Richard W.
Batko and wife, certain
lot, Roanoke Township.
Virgie T. White and
others to Clarence E.
Thompson, II and wife,
1.01 acres, Hawtree
Township.
Board of Education of
Warren County to
Carlton J. Terry and
wife, certain lots, Sandy
Creek Township.
Foster Brown and
wife to David Lee Brown
and wife, 1 acre, Fishing
Creek Township.
Marriage Licenses
Perry Almond
Milliken of Littleton to
Hestine Norwood Boyd
of Littleton.
Jessie Arrion Elliott
of Henderson to Vickie
Rose Loyd of Wise.
Thomas Allen
Cameron of Warrenton
to Ellen Suzette Currin
of Henderson.
Victor Jerome Cozart
of Henderson to Jacque
line Denise Seward of
Manson.
Council Ruffin, Jr. of
Richmond, Va. to Con
nie Yvonnia Ross of
Richmond, Va.
William Curtis Car
trette, Jr. of Tabor City
to Beth Ann Summey of
Warrenton.
Field Survey
Is Under Way
Representatives of
Carroll-Phelps Co. of
Winston-Salem, which
handles property ap
praisals for Warren
County, are conducting
a field survey in Judkins
and Sandy Creek Town
ships this week, accord
ing to Steve Whitacre, a
company representa
tive.
The field surveys,
which began in June, in
volve only the gathering
of information,
Whitacre said. Ap
praisals are not being
made at this time.
First mosquito: "Why are
you so happy?"
Second mosquito: "I just
passed the screen test."
Day Camp
Held Here
Area girls attended
the annual Warren
County Girl Scout Day
Camp recently.
This year's camp was
Sparked with * en
thusiasm, excitement,
and good participation
by 26 scouts and non
scouts.
Many activities were
enjoyed by the girls in
cluding tennis,
volleyball, arts and
crafts, trail-blazing,
pantomime, and
storytelling.
Mrs. Louise Hunter
and Mrs. Elaine Cole
man captivated their
audiences with their
stories, and the contri
bution of their time and
talent was appreciated
by the girls.
Badges were earned
in individual sports,
group sports, and
theater by a large num
ber of the girls attend
ing.
The week's activities
were capped with an
awards ceremony and
cookout. Afterward, the
girls enjoyed a swim
trip to the Soul City
swimming pool.
Those on the day
camp staff were: San
dra Norwood, Joann
Wright and Vickie Nor
wood.
The following
organizations helped
with the camp: Young's
Septic Tank Service,
General Box, Warren
County Jaycees,
Warrenton Rotary Club,
Willing Workers,
Norlina Woman's Club,
and area troops.
Earth Cracks
Despite a deep snow cov
er and low temperatures dur
ing a Yellowstone National
Park winter, elk can feed at
steaming pools and springs
forced by pressure through
cracks in the earth, accord
ing to National Geographic
World magazine. Green
plants grow around the pools
and springs.
Hot Dog Sale Scheduled
The Church of God of Warrenton will have a hot
dog sale Saturday from 10:30 a. m. until 5 p. m. at
the fellowship hall of the church. Call 257-3912 to
place a take-out order.
Homecoming Plans Listed
Ix)cust Grove Baptist Church will observe its an
nual homecoming and family day on Sunday, July
24, beginning at 11:30 a. m. The Rev. Raymond
Games of Reading, Penn., formerly of Wise, will be
the guest minister. Dinner will be served. Revival
services will begin on Tuesday night at 7:30 with the
Rev. Dr. John McKnight as evangelist. The public is
invited.
Anniversary Is Slated
The Senior Choir of Cooks Chapel Baptist Church
of Warren Plains will observe its anniversary at 6 p.
m. Sunday. Eight-year-old Alyssa Wright will be
one of the soloists, along with other soloists and
various vocal groups. The public is cordially in
vited.
State Workshop Held
For Retired Personnel
A state workshop for
the Retired School Per
sonnel met at the Holi
day Inn in Williamston
July 14.
Members of the
Warren County Unit at
tending were Ms. Ada
Waller, president, Betty
A. Ingram, treasurer,
Annie Mae Alston,
chairman of Community
Participation, and Mc
Carroll Alston, substi
tuting for Ada Johnson,
chairman of Inform
ative and Protective
Services.
Mrs. Phoebe Em
mons, state president,
presided. After the
opening session, the
delegation went into
l
assigned workshops.
Following the workshop
a delicious luncheon
was served by AARP.
In the closing session,
Mrs. Beverly Nicolas
from Washington, D. C.
headquarters gave an
explanation of the ad
vantages of AARP. A
report was given from
each workshop. Mrs.
Emmons closed the
meeting with com
pliments to the
delegation for its attend
ance and participation.
Harmless Film
The film that forms on o
pened bottles of olives is
harmless and does not affect
the olives.