Denver & Ethel Raines Smith Memorial Fund
TYPE OF FUND: Designated DATE ESTABLISHED: 1996
PURPOSE: To honor the memory of their parents, the 8 children established this fund for the continuation of the Lord’s work through the St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Parsons, WV.
DISTRIBUTION: To St. Paul’s United Methodist Church of Parsons, WV, upon the recommendation of the Grants Committee, and approval by the Board of Directors of TCF. Funds will be distributed when the trustees of the Church have a need for financial assistance that can not be met by other means. The use of the fund must have majority support of the Administrative Board of the named church. Should St. Paul’s cease to exist, the fund will go to the benefit of Flanagan Hill United Methodist Church of Red Creek, WV.
VARIANCE POWER: If, in the judgment of the TCF Board of Directors, the restrictions and conditions of the fund become unnecessary, incapable of fulfillment or inconsistent with the charitable needs of the community, the TCF Board of Directors maintains the right to modify the terms of this fund.
FUNDING: $5,000.00 donated equally by the eight children of Denver and Ethel Raines Smith.
BACKGROUND: Denver Lee Smith was born on Rich Mountain in Randolph County, WV on January 8, 1899, a son of the late Albert C. and Susan Mallow Smith. After many years on Rich Mountain, the family moved to Flanagan Hill in Tucker County. Denver graduated Rich Mountain School and was a farmer and well-known carpenter in the Tucker county area.
Ethel Raines Smith was born at Red Creek in Tucker County, WV on August 27, 1911, a daughter of the late Dow and Carrie Raines Raines. She was a 1932 graduate of Parsons High School and a proud full time homemaker. In her later years she became a member of the Tucker County Senior Citizens and the Goldenaires Choir.
Denver and Ethel were married in Baltimore, MD on March 3, 1943. Long time residents of the Holly Meadows area of Tucker County, together they served 75 years as members of the St. Pauls United Methodist Church. Both served as Sunday School teachers. Denver also served as church treasurer and Ethel as president of the Women’s Society for many years.
Denver and Ethel were both faithful volunteers to the band parents’ organization and for many years they were seen at the cake walks on the Court House Square in Parsons almost every Saturday evening. They both truly enjoyed family and were very proud of each of their children, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They were the parents of Norma L. Parsons, Warren E. Smith, Frank R. Smith, James B. Smith, Anne Rebecca Smith, L. Hugh DeMotto, John M. Smith, Wayne C. Smith and two infant children, Dorothy Louise and Jerry Dean Smith, deceased.
Denver Lee Smith departed this life on November 24, 1976 and Ethel Raines Smith on October 27, 1995.