Cora Crisco

Cora Lee Whitley Smart Crisco, 89, of Albemarle, passed away Wednesday, November 3, 2021 at Trinity Place in Albemarle.

Mrs. Crisco was born September 10, 1932 to the late Clarence Durant and Cora Smith Whitley.

She was the youngest of seven children and was a cheerleader at Oakboro School. Cora Lee graduated from Morgan’s Business College and spent the majority of her career in banking. In the late 70’s, she left the banking industry and joined the Albemarle City School Superintendent’s office until she retired. Many years later she published a book of poems titled “I Asked, He Gave” which was a blessing to many.

Cora will be remembered for many things - her fierce love and devotion to her family, her beautiful smile, her love of butterflies and her unwavering faith. Cora never missed an opportunity to let those she loved, know just how much she loved them. “I love you with all of my heart” were the words most often heard by her family as they would part.

In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, George Bennett Smart, Jr., and husband of eight years, Terrell Ewald Crisco; daughter, Crystal Lynn Smart; granddaughter, Catherine Paige Russell; great-granddaughter, Karsyn Suzanne Jernigan; brothers, Grant Hugh Whitley, Earl Durant Whitley, Zeb V. Whitley; and sister, Myrtle Lou Teeter.

Cora is survived by her daughters, Cathy (David) Russell of Safety Harbor, FL and Jackie (Darrell) Jernigan of Albemarle, NC; son, George (Roelof) Smart III of Amsterdam, Netherlands; granddaughters, Shannon Leigh Graham and Nikki Cruz; grandsons, Britt (Dana) Jernigan, Matthew (Rachel) Russell, Payton (Megan) Jernigan and Alex Smart; great-grandsons, Carter Graham, Brendan Cruz, Micah Morton, Kobe Jernigan and Camden Russell; great-granddaughters, Kaleigh Graham, Saylem Jernigan, Cooper Russell and Kyndal Jernigan; brothers Clyde Whitely of Albemarle and Tommy Whitley of Locust.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 - 1:45 pm, on Sunday, November 7, 2021, at Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle. The funeral service will follow at 2:00 pm, in Hartsell Funeral Home's Lefler Memorial Chapel, officiated by Pastor Frank Thompson. Burial will conclude at the Stanly Gardens of Memory, 2001 East Main St., Albemarle.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to God’s Church, PO Box 1571, Badin, NC, 28009.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Crisco family. Online condolences may be made at www.hartsellfh.com