Sarah Emma (Smith) Long

Sarah Smith Long, 88, of Kinston, passed away on Thursday, July 6, 2023 at Greendale Forrest in Snow Hill. Raised on a farm in Deep Run, she was the youngest and last surviving child of Vance and Bertha Smith. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Robert C. Long, II, brothers, Norman, Mark, Ervin, and Dennis Smith; sisters, Fleeta Sauls, Sally Young, Easter Smith, Margie Cox, Barbara Smith, and Arlene Barbee, daughter-in-law Angela H. Long, son-in-law Ronald Heath, and granddaughter, Stephanie Cherry.

Left to cherish her memory are her children; Bonnie Heath of Kinston, Charles Long (Susan) of Deep Run, Becky Grady (Dean) of Mount Olive, Emily Sugg (Paul) of Snow Hill, and Robert Long (Glenda) of the home, her grandchildren; Matthew Heath of Burgaw, Jennifer Moody (Chris) of Duluth, GA, Jonathan Heath (Emily) of Kinston, Roxy Smith (Brandon) of Kannapolis, C. J. Long (Carmen) of Concord, Jessica King (Christa Forquer) of Pittsburgh, PA, Robert King (Heather) of Grifton, Samuel Long, of Kinston, Rylee Long, of Deep Run, Sarah Willoughby (Jason) of Princeton, Stephanie’s husband Travis Cherry of Hubert, Shane Grady (Alexandrea) of Willard, Tyler Sugg of Greenville, Nikki Butterly (Mark) of New Bern, and Robert C. Long, III of the home. great-grand children; Lily Dugay, Chase Heath, Anthony Moody, Lukas Moody, Mary Katherine Elizabeth Moody, Luna Heath, Jace Parham, Brantley Parham, Keelan Parham, Tyssen Smith, Peyton Long, Jackson King, Wyatt King, Rebecca Lanier, Noah Willoughby, Jack Willoughby, Luke Willoughby, Clayton Cherry, Hannah Cherry, Trent Cherry, Dean Grady, Waylon Bunn, Wyatt Bunn, Nick Butterly, James Butterly, and Emma Butterly. Sarah is also survived by her sister-in-law, Sue Jarman of Kinston, brother-in-law, Don Long, of Fitchburg, M.A. and many special nieces and nephews of both the Smith and Long families.

Sarah was an alumni of Southwood School and was very active in planning Southwood School reunions. Sarah had many gifts and she loved to share them with those around her. She played the piano by ear. Sarah was a talented seamstress. She made her own wedding gown, made clothes for her children, and made toys and dolls for her grandchildren.

Sarah loved to go to the senior dance every Tuesday night at the Galaxy in Kinston. She looked forward to being with her “dance family” every Tuesday night. She told everyone she met about the dance and she would say, “If you want to live to be 100, you’ve got to keep on dancing!”. She danced her last dance on the evening of June 6, 2023 with Bonnie and Becky by her side.

Sarah was a member of Jackson Heights OFWB Church and attended until her health began to decline.

Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, July 10, 2023 at Jackson Heights OFWB Church. Funeral will begin at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Ashley Summerlin officiating. The burial will follow the funeral service at John Green Smith Family Cemetery.