Cynthia Preston Smith

Cynthia Ann Preston Smith, age 70 of Rocky Mount, Virginia, passed away on Thursday, January 15, 2026, surrounded by the love and arms of her family. Cindy was born on July 9, 1955, at Franklin Memorial Hospital, the oldest child of John Hampton Preston and Annise Grant Preston. Her mother once described her as “sweet and beautiful,” two words that fit her just as perfectly at 70 as they did at birth.

Cindy was a 1973 graduate of Franklin County High School. She earned her nursing degree in 1975 and began her career at Franklin Memorial Hospital, launching what would become a lifelong calling. A true learner at heart, she went on to receive her Bachelor of Science from Bluefield College in 1996 and her Master of Science in Nursing Administration from Jefferson College of Health Sciences in 2007.

After early work at Franklin Memorial Hospital and Family Physicians in Rocky Mount, Cindy found her professional home at Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where she began working in the Coronary Care Unit in 1982. Over the next 34 years, she served Carilion Health System in many roles, including Director of Cardiac Services, Director of Nursing at Stonewall Jackson Hospital, Director of Cardiac and Vascular Services, and Senior Director of Quality and Patient Safety. No matter the title, Cindy’s heart never left the bedside. She was known for giving “125%,” for leading with a patients-first mindset, and for being a fierce advocate for both those in her care and those who worked beside her. To many, she was simply “a nurse’s nurse.”

Even after “retiring,” Cindy continued to serve as adjunct faculty at James Madison University, Virginia Tech College of Health Sciences, and Radford University. In recent years, she could still be found in the hospital halls giving flu and COVID vaccines or volunteering as a nurse at Camp Bethel, never quite able to step away from caring for others.

As devoted as she was to her profession, Cindy’s truest gifts were found in how she lived and loved. She was endlessly creative and found joy in creating things that were beautiful and meaningful. She often spoke of her first job picking tobacco across from her home in Redwood, earning “a penny a stalk,” and the work ethic she developed there stayed with her for life. That same dedication showed up in her many talents: playing piano and organ at Redwood United Methodist Church from her teenage years until 2004, creating floral arrangements and wreaths, sewing quilts and home décor, stitching gifts, weaving baskets, decorating wedding cakes, and even planning entire ceremonies. If you were welcomed into Cindy’s world, you were often gifted something lovingly crafted by hand.

Cindy loved a good adventure. She enjoyed traveling with her family, listening to live music, counting down the days to Quilt Camp, and gathering with friends and family. But her greatest joy was found in the time spent with her grandchildren. Nana’s French toast, her warm hugs, and her steady presence are memories they will carry with them always.

Cindy is survived by her husband of 50 years, James Barry Smith; her daughters, Heather Davenport and her husband, Paul, of Roanoke, and Jamie Moss and her husband, Saxton, of Lynchburg; her grandchildren, Caroline Moss, Carter Shepardson, Lena Shepardson, Layla Moss, and Kate Moss; her brother, John H. Preston, Jr. (Jolee); her sister, Jackie Brubaker (Steve); her brothers-in-law, Aubrey G. Smith and John L. Smith (Debra); and many beloved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Annise and Hampton Preston; her parents-in-law, Grace and Sam Brame Smith; and her sisters-in-law, Phillis Smith and Patsy Smith.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, January 23, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Flora Funeral Chapel with Dr. Nathaniel L. Bishop officiating. Interment will follow at Franklin Memorial Park. Friends may visit with the family on Thursday, January 22, 2026 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Flora Funeral Service in Rocky Mount. The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the care teams in the Emergency Department, 10 West, Palliative Care, and Hospice at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for their excellent and compassionate care during Cindy’s last few months. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association and the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of Cindy’s life and legacy.

To know Cindy was to be cared for, encouraged, and loved. We are forever grateful for the life she lived and the legacy of kindness she leaves behind.

Arrangements by Flora Funeral Service and Cremation Center, Rocky Mount.