‹
Cover photo for Phyllis Ruth Smith Tolbert's Obituary
Moody Funeral Services Logo
Phyllis Ruth Smith Tolbert Profile Photo

Phyllis Ruth Smith Tolbert

December 3, 1938 — May 16, 2024

Mount Airy

Share

Phyllis Ruth Smith Tolbert

Mrs. Phyllis Ruth Smith Tolbert, 85, of Mount Airy, passed away Thursday morning, May 16, 2024, at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem.   Mrs. Tolbert was born December 3, 1938, in Surry County, one of eight children born to the late Joe S. and Nannie Bell Hall Smith.  Phyllis grew up in the Pipers Gap community and graduated from Franklin High School.   She worked at Spencer’s Inc. in her early adult life, and then later she worked as a school nutrition worker at Franklin Elementary School for many years.  Phyllis and her late husband, Troy, were two of the founding members of Victory Baptist Church.  Upon the church’s establishment, the congregation met in the basement of Troy and Phyllis’ house.  With a servant’s heart, she devoted her life to the Kingdom’s work through her church.   She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Shaytonya Tolbert; three grandchildren, Bridget Crist, Briley Ryan Tolbert, and Ilah Ruth Tolbert; a sister, Clara Smith Berrier; a brother and two sisters-in-law, Silas Junior and Margaret Smith and Eva Smith; and several nieces and nephews.  In addition to her parents, Mrs. Tolbert was preceded in death by her husband, Troy Washington Tolbert; a daughter, Linda Gayle Tolbert Crist; a son, Billy Wayne Tolbert; a grandson, Richard Lee Crist, Jr.; three infant sisters, Carrie Smith, Katherine Smith, and Iris Smith; two brothers, Calvin J. Smith and Hersel G. Smith; and a brother-in-law, J.C. Berrier.  A service of worship and celebration of Phyllis’ life will be held Sunday, May 19, 2024, at 3:00 PM at Victory Baptist Church, with Dr. Joey Jessup and Pastor Chad Edwards officiating.  Burial will follow in the Booker-Busick-Smith Family Cemetery.  The family will receive friends Saturday, May 18, 2024, from 6:00 until 8:00 PM at Victory Baptist Church.  Her body will lie-in-state one hour prior to the service at the church on Sunday.  Moody Funeral Services in Mount Airy is serving the family.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Phyllis Ruth Smith Tolbert, please visit our flower store.

Past Services

Visitation

Saturday, May 18, 2024

6:00 - 8:00 pm (Eastern time)

Victory Baptist Church

2120 Riverside Drive, Mount Airy, NC 27030

Get Directions Plant Trees

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Funeral Service

Sunday, May 19, 2024

3:00 - 4:00 pm (Eastern time)

Victory Baptist Church

2120 Riverside Drive, Mount Airy, NC 27030

Get Directions Plant Trees

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Burial

Sunday, May 19, 2024

Starts at 4:00 pm (Eastern time)

Booker-Busick-Smith Family Cemetery

1059 Pipers Gap Road, Mount Airy, NC 27030

Get Directions Plant Trees

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Guestbook

Visits: 3470

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Send Flowers

Send Flowers

 Plant A Tree

Plant A Tree