Alberta Naomi Pace
Smith, daughter of Deacon Worley P. Pace and the late Deaconess Aldonia
Adams Pace was born on October 3,1946 in Wake County, North Carolina. She
was called to eternal rest to receive her heavenly reward on July 24, 2006
at Wake Medical Center, Raleigh, North Carolina. Having grown up in the
country, the youngest daughter of five children, she grew up with a deep
appreciation and love for education, family and the farm. Her love for
these three things was only superceded by her love for Jesus Christ. Her
formal education was received at Shepard High School in Zebulon, North
Carolina. Academically gifted and civic minded, she was always eager to
learn, had a fervent thirst for knowledge and wanted to give back to the
community. These three traits ideally suited her for a career in education.
She received a scholarship to attend Shaw University in Raleigh, North
Carolina. She graduated in 1968 with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies.
Her educational journey did not stop there.
She went on to earn her Master's of Arts Degree with Honors in
Social Studies/History and Education from North Carolina Central
University, Durham, North Carolina. While attending NCCU she also earned a
Certificate in Advance Study in Supervision. Her educational journey further led her
to North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina where she
earned her Certificate in Advance Study in Guidance and Personnel
Services. While attending Shaw
University, she pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and was elected "Miss
Delta Sigma Theta" for two years. After graduation, while employed at
Shaw University she met the love of her life, her future husband of 34
years and the father of her only child.
She was married in 1972 at Shaw University's Boyd Chapel to Jackie Bernard
Smith of Bayboro, North Carolina. To this holy union 4 years later a son
was born. His name was Worley Bernard Smith. As a teacher, mentor and advocate of
education, her career span more than 30 years. She taught in Clinton City
Schools, Clinton, North Carolina and Sampson County Community College,
Clinton, North Carolina. She also worked for the Philadelphia Board of
Education, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For the last 26 years of her life,
she taught in the Wake County Public School System at East Wake High
School, Wendell, North Carolina. As
a teacher at EWHS, she taught United States History, World Civilization,
Sociology, Law and Justice as well as African American Culture Studies. She
served in numerous capacities within the school as Social Studies
Department Chairperson, Student Council Advisor, Mentor and African
American Culture Club Advisor. Among
her many Honors and Awards, in 1984, she was the first African American to
receive the Teacher of Excellence Award for Wake County School System. In
1990 she was named Teacher of the Year at East Wake High School. In 1999
she was awarded the Crystal Apple Award at East Wake High School. In 2000
she was selected to Who's Who Among the Nation's Outstanding Teachers. From
1984 - 2000, she was a presenter at District, State and National Social
Studies Conferences. In 2002 she received the Excellence in Leadership and
Service to the Community Award. Throughout her career she also received
many letters of commendation from principles, supervisors, and others for
various works on the local, state and national levels.In addition to being
an educator, Mrs. Smith was also an avid writer with many of her
professional writings being published. To her credit include: Keeping the
Fires Kindled in United States History, The Administration of Raleigh's
First Black Mayor: Clarence Lightner, The First Formal History of Stokes
Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, My Joy! (a tribute poem to her son),
Social Studies Curriculum Writer for Wake County Public Schools and she developed
the African American History Course of Study (with two other Wake County
teachers). Everyone who knew her, knew that her love for family, her
community, her school and most importantly her students was genuine. But,
above all of these was her love for her Heavenly Father Jesus Christ! Sister Smith was a Christian in the
truest sense of the word. She established a personal relationship with the
Lord at an early age and cultivated that relationship throughout her entire
life. If ever asked, she would be the first to say that the most important
thing she ever learned was how to pray.As a life-long-member of Stokes
Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, Middlesex, North Carolina she upheld the
name of the Lord at every opportunity. It was a genuine sort of joy that
was experienced every time she stepped foot in the House of the Lord
