Peggy Jean Core Smith

Peggy Jean Core Smith

Cedar Rapids

On Aug. 8, 2023, Peggy Jean Core Smith, 93, departed this earthly world due to natural causes. She was living in Cedar Rapids in an assisted living facility. She was born on July 27, 1930, to Hoyt Duval Core Sr. and Margaret Nadine (Whitfield) Core in Graham, N.C. After graduating from Graham High School, she married Wilton Dennis “Smitty” Smith on July 2, 1949, at First United Methodist Church of Graham.

In her early adult years, she worked as a quality inspector for Western Electric in Burlington, N.C. She sang in the church choir and taught Vacation Bible School. She participated on bowling teams, winning several trophies. She was a person of many talents – cooking, sewing, interior decorating, fixing small appliances and accessorizing clothing. All her life, she was known for being well dressed and admired for her fashion sense. She also enjoyed spending time at the Myrtle Beach residence. Her family was a priority to her. God blessed her with two daughters, four granddaughters and nine great-grandchildren. She dearly loved them all.

In 1965, the family moved to Danville, Va. Her husband became general manager and later owner of King of the Sea Restaurant Inc. She was vice president of the family business. The restaurant was a diversified food business. The dining room served 500 people and banquet hall 650. In addition, there was catering, creating meals for Meals on Wheels as well as preparing and vending food for manufacturing facilities. In her later years, she also was a member of the American Business Women’s Association. The business was closed and property sold before Mr. Smith’s death in 1996. During their time of business, they provided over 40 full- and part-time jobs to the Danville economy at any one time. When they retired, they received many awards and recognitions, including one from the House of Delegates and Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia for their Hospitality and Service to the Community. In 2019, she moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where she resided at Corridor Crossing Place.

She is survived by two daughters, Denise (Daniel) Willems of Cedar Rapids and Mitzi Mullins of Collinsville, Va. In addition, her granddaughters are Mary Beth Willems (Drew Stevens) of Cedar Rapids, Dinah Afriyie (Joe) of West Des Moines and Holly Needy (Derek Coles) of Collinsville, Va. The great-grandchildren include Antony Afriyie, Liliana Afriyie and Dom Kruger of West Des Moines as well as Kimora Dillard of Danville, Va. In addition, five are from Collinsville, Va. – Myiah Terry, Mashaylah Terry, Caleb Coles, Kyiah Coles, and Kayli Coles. She is also survived by her sister Polly Sullivan of West Melbourne, Fla. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, her brother Hoyt D Core, Jr. (Bubba), and a granddaughter, Heather Needy Terry.

The family would also like to thank the staff of Corridor Crossing Place, Dr. Lynn Banderob, Dr. Ken Cearlock, Dr. Elizabeth Gauger, Dr. Donald Johnson, Dr. Bill Lottes, Mercy Hospice, and Rev. Tim Miller for their care during the last years of her life.

Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Memorials may be directed to St Jude Children’s Hospital, www.stjude.org.

Online condolences may be left at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.