Virginian-Pilot

Jan. 28, 2003

Willie L. Boone
GATES -- Willie L. Boone, 87, died Jan. 24, 2003. A funeral will be at 2 p.m. today in Ballard's Grove Baptist Church. Hunter's Funeral Home, Ahoskie, is in charge.

Grace Greer
AHOSKIE -- Grace Greer, of Connecticut, died Jan. 23, 2003. A funeral will be at 11 a.m. today in Hunter's Funeral Home Chapel.

Inez G. Johnson
NAGS HEAD -- Inez Griggs Johnson, 68, a resident of Britthaven of Nags Head, died Jan. 24, 2003 in her residence. Mrs. Johnson was born in Coinjock, and was a retired bookkeeper and a member of the Baptist church.

She was the daughter of the late Alvertie and Elizabeth Toler Griggs and the wife of the late Alvin Keith Johnson Sr.
Surviving are two daughters, Sandra Boone of Kill Devil Hills and Janet Williams of Coinjock; a son, Alvin Keith Johnson Jr. of Corolla; a sister, Edna Harris of Grandy; a brother, Gerald Griggs of Hickory, N.C.; and three grandchildren, Jamie Hayes, Trey Hayes and Angela Swain.

A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Britthaven of the Outer Banks, 430 W. Health Center Drive, Nags Head, NC 27959. Twiford's Colony Chapel, Manteo, is handling arrangements.

Steven L. Matlock
ELIZABETH CITY -- Steven Lee Matlock, 49, died Jan. 27, 2003. A funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Faith Baptist Church. Twiford's Memorial Chapel is in charge.

George M. Smart
RALEIGH -- George McCollum Smart died at home on Jan. 24, 2003, from pancreatic cancer. A longtime Raleigh architect, Mr.

Smart led his own design firm for over 40 years. Mr. Smart was an avid sailor and past commodore of both the Carolina Sailing Club and the Tanzer 16 Sailing Association. With over 100 sailing trophies, his honors include the Carolina Sailing Club's Robinson Cup and multiple gold medals in the NC State Games. He was an energetic member of the Lions Club, Raleigh Little Theatre, Christ Church, the N.C. Democratic Party, the N.C. Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the Raleigh Housing Authority.

Mr. Smart was born in Silverstreet, S.C., in 1931, and moved to Southampton County in Virginia at an early age. He graduated from nearby Franklin High School and received a BA in English from Randolph Macon College. Shortly thereafter, he attended Duke University Divinity School and preached briefly in the Methodist church. Changing towards a different ministry, he graduated in architecture from North Carolina State University School of Design and specialized in churches, schools, military bases, and post offices across North Carolina. In the U.S. Army during the Korean War, he designed multiple buildings in Asia and won an Army design competition. His buildings here include Ridgewood Baptist Church, Wiley School Additions, Western Middle School in Alamance County, many facilities at Pope and Seymour Johnson Air Force Bases, and UNC-Chapel Hill's Center for the Performing Arts. During the 1990s, he was senior resident fellow at Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesen Institute.

The son of the late Coyle Bedford and Gladys McCollum Smart of Franklin, he is survived by his son, George McCollum Smart Jr.; his loving girlfriend and devoted caregiver, Carolyn Matthews Hoke; brothers, John Seth Smart and Gary Bedford Smart; nieces, Jane Brett Fahey, Elizabeth Smart Borreson and Susan Smart Kowalske; nephews, Charles Jeffrey Smart and Andrew Bedford Smart; and close friend, Kirsten Echelmeier. His dear wife of 37 years, Raleigh actress and radio personality, Ann Seltman Smart, preceded him in death in 1998, as did his sister, Marion Smart Brett in 1947.
A memorial service will be held at the Raleigh Little Theatre at 11 a.m. today. His cousin, the Rev. Willie Teague, will officiate. Visitation will be held there after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Carolina Sailing Club Foundation, 2439 West Lake Drive, Raleigh, NC 27609, an organization that Mr. Smart established to encourage young people to sail. Remembrances to his family may be sent to the home or to: thinkingofgeorge@strategicdevelopment.com.
Funeral arrangements are by Brown-Wynn Funeral Home, Saint Mary's St., (919) 828-4311.