4457. Mary B. Newsom
[Kurt Stapleton & Denise Newman.FTW]
MARY B. SMITH
It is with a sad and
lonesome heart that I write the obituary of my dear mother, Mary B.Smith. She was the daughter of John and Emily Moore Newsom, born onOctober 21, 1882, and deceased December 16, 1978, at the age of 96 years,one month and 25 days. She was a member of the Old Beaver Regular BaptistChurch most of her adult life. She didn't get to attend as much as shewould have liked to because of distance and health sometimes. On August22, 1900, she was married to Cullen B. Smith, of Knott County, and ninechildren were born of this union. Preceding her in death was her husband,Cullen on March 13, 1968, and three children, Tolby in 1936, VerdaCornett in 1960, and Kermit in 1966. She is survived by two sons and fourdaughters, Homer B. Smith of Dade City, Fla.; Cullen B. Smith, Jr. ofWinchester, Ky.; Elizabeth Marvin of Paris, Ky.; Ruby Johnson, Emily B.Smith, and Inez Wilson, all of Lexington, Ky. She had 16 grandchildren,23 great grandchildren and five great great grandchildren. One brother,William Cullen Newsom, of Bradley, W. Va. also survives. She lies at restin the Evergreen Memory Garden between Lexington and Paris, Ky.
Twenty-two years ago my sister Emily and I returned to our parents hometo take care of them after they could no longer make a living on thefarm. We tried to do everything possible to make their lives morecomfortable and happy while they were here with us. They both were alwaysable to do for themselves up until the day they passed away. The angelscame quietly and took them away as they slept.
I used to think about one day writing a poem about my mother, but then, Ithought, why wait, why not write it now so Mom could know how I feltabout her. On her 95th birthday I presented her with the following poem,which tells of the kind of woman she was. I would like to share, withyou, the poem I wrote for her.
Written by Inez Wilson(For Her Mother Mary B. Smith's
95th Birthday-October 21, 1977)
7551. Arnold Casebolt
[Kurt Stapleton & Denise Newman.FTW]
Arnold was "killed in action" in World War II.
Private, U.S. Army
16061757
103rd Infantry Regiment, 43rd Infantry Division
Entered the Service from: Michigan
Died: July 1, 1943
Buried at: Plot D Row 15 Grave 108
Manila American Cemetery
Manila, Philippines
Awards: Purple Heart
7557. Donna Rosik
Donna R. Mitchell
AULANDER -- Donna Rosik Mitchell, 81, a longtime resident of Washington,D.C., died suddenly of a heart attack on Sept. 3, 1999, at her summerresidence in Ludlow, Vt.The daughter of the late William Rosik and Miriam Newsome Rosik, Donnawas born in Dickinson County, Iowa, on Aug. 18, 1918. She was the secondof five daughters, all of whom assisted in running the family's Iowa cornfarm. She was married for 44 years to Victor Mitchell, a native ofAulander, who preceded her in death in 1994. They had no children.
After graduating from Superior, Iowa, High School in 1935, Donna went onto business school in Omaha, Neb. From her first job as a stenographer inOmaha, she proceeded to remarkable achievements in her career inWashington, D.C. Early on, her talents were noticed by NelsonRockefeller, and she served in numerous posts for Mr. Rockefeller,culminating in her position at the White House as executive assistant tothen-Vice President Rockefeller under then-President Gerald Ford. Shealso served with him as an aide at HEW, in the Office of the Governor ofNew York, and as his appointee to the National Commission on WaterQuality. During these years, she developed close business relationshipsand friendships with Henry Kissinger, secretary of state to PresidentFord, and Nancy Hanks, chairwoman of the National Endowment for the Arts.Donna spent her retirement years assisting with biographies of both Ms.Hanks and Mr. Rockefeller, and researching and writing family genealogies.
Although she had no opportunity to pursue a college education, Donna waskeenly interested in educational opportunities for others. With fundsfrom her estate and the estate of her late husband, Donna established aprivate educational trust for their great-nieces and great-nephews. Sheand Mr. Mitchell also helped numerous other relatives with theireducations.
According to historian and former co-worker John C. Waugh, Donna was a``real pioneer. She was one of the great women of politics in her era.''Industrious and hard-working, with a rare penchant for organization,these qualities were matched by a warm and giving heart for her familyand friends, whom she prized highly. Donna was always there with ahelping hand for family members in need. Her friends are too numerous tocount; all benefited from her generous nature and hospitality. No one whoknew Donna Mitchell will ever forget her.
Her parents and two sisters, Jean Harris, formerly of Anaheim, Calif.,and Fern Glasgow, formerly of Nashville, Ark., preceded Donna in death.Donna is survived by two other sisters, Helene Tracy of Long Beach,Calif., and Shirley Rosik of Huntington Beach, Calif.; as well as 13nieces and nephews and 22 great-nieces and great-nephews.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the AulanderCemetery, Aulander, where Mrs. Mitchell will be interred alongside herlate husband, Victor.
A reception will follow at 5 p.m. at the Ahoskie Inn in Ahoskie, N.C.Arrangements are being handled by Massey Funeral Home in Aulander.