Paula Elizabeth Smith

Paula Craven Smith, of Asheboro, died Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at Randolph Hospice House. Funeral services will be Friday, May 2, 2014 at 1:00 pm at Pugh Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. George Roberson officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral at Pugh Funeral Home. Interment will follow in the family plot at Biscoe Cemetery, Biscoe, NC. Paula was preceded in death by her father, Paul E. Craven. She is survived by her mother, Elizabeth (Lib) Delk Craven Copple and step-father, Charles Copple, sister, Donna Craven, and step-sister, Gwen Wright (Reece). Paula graduated from East Montgomery High School. She received an associate degree in art from Sandhills Community College. She graduated in 1986 from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Upon graduation, she began teaching in North Carolina public schools. She began at Mountain Heritage High School in Burnsville, NC, and later returned to Randolph County where she taught for several years at Randleman High School. Leaving the teaching profession behind to concentrate on her work, she joined the North Carolina Zoo as a member of the exhibit design staff during the construction phase of North America. Upon completion, she left the zoo to concentrate on painting and ceramics. She combined teaching art privately with serving as an instructor for the Moring Arts Center in Asheboro. Her commissioned pieces include paintings, ceramics, and exterior/interior rock projects. Paula was commissioned by Visit Randolph County in 2005 to paint the North Carolina Zoo themed Authentic Kennedy Rockers. Klaussner commissioned her to paint outdoor scenes on the 40-foot wall in their new leather building. One of her most unusual projects was to build a life-sized horse (a mustang, their mascot) for the McCrary School. It is still displayed in the school foyer. She also painted a miniature copy of the Wall of Memories. There is a framed copy in each of the patient rooms in the Randolph Hospice House. She will be greatly missed by friends and co-workers. The family would like to thank the nurses and staff at Randolph Hospice House for all their care during Paula's illness. Memorial contributions may be made to Randolph Hospice House, P. O. Box 9, Asheboro, NC 27204-0009.