Ocie Smith Sloan Richards

Ocie Smith Sloan Richards, 102, of Rocky Mount, went to be with the Lord Wednesday, May 2, 2012, with her loving family by her side. She was born in a log house, built by her father, near the Dry Hill community of Franklin County on August 12, 1909. Ocie was preceded in death by her parents, James Willis Smith and Sarah Terry Smith; husband, Dalton Dennis Sloan; her eldest son, Kenneth Dalton Sloan; and many siblings, Lollie Jones, Leonard Smith, Edna Scott, Lessie Peters, Bessie Peters, Artis Smith, Raymond Smith, Donald Smith, Leo Smith Sigmon and a set of twins that died shortly after birth. She is survived by a sister, Viola S. Sigmon Poindexter; and two sons and daughters-in-law, Dennis Lee Sloan (Joyce), and Cleo Ray Sloan (Regina) and a special daughter-in-law, Phyllis Ann Grodensky; ten grandchildren, Kenneth Dalton Sloan Jr., Kimberly Sloan Snider, Shelley Sloan Mounce, Dennis Lee Sloan Jr., Cleo Ray Sloan Jr., Susanne Sloan, Melissa Stanley Frith, Tina Holt, Brandi Keatts, Jason Grodensky and eleven great-grandchildren. Ocie retired from Bassett Superior Lines Furniture Company at the age of 67. In her younger years she was a homemaker and enjoyed farming, gardening and babysitting. She was a very hard worker who loved her family, especially the joys of her life, her grandchildren, and she was most often referred to as "Granny Crack" by all of them. She was well known for cracking jokes and making people laugh and she always attributed her long life to the "love of drinking milk" every day. Ocie resided at Fork Mountain Rest Home (FMRH) the last four years of her life. A special thank you to Carilion Clinic Hospice nursing staff and physicians, and FMRH staff. Funeral services will be conducted from Flora Funeral Chapel 2 p.m. Sunday with Mr. Scotty Mounce officiating. Interment will follow in Maple Grove Cemetery. Her family will receive friends from 12 noon until service time on Sunday at Flora Funeral Service & Cremation Center, Rocky Mount and other times at the home, 175 Hatcher Street, Rocky Mount.