EAST BEND - Mrs. Dorothy Rea Smitherman Nelson, 79, of Pine Croft Lane passed away Monday, Feb. 11, 2002, at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home.

She was born Feb. 7, 1923, in Forsyth County to Jether Alonzo and Flora Livengood Smitherman.

Mrs. Nelson retired from Western Electric and worked many years for Sunbeam. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Jonesville.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John Ralph Nelson; two brothers, Sonny Smitherman and Robert L. Smitherman; and a sister, Jean Jesteland. Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, John Ralph "Buddy" and Brenda Nelson of Sparta; a daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen and Larry Freeman of Georgetown, S.C.; a brother, Wesley Smitherman of Jamestown; three sisters, Opal Mabe of Phoenix, Ariz., and Evelyn Sparks and Joan Dawson, both of Winston-Salem; two granddaughters and spouses, Michelle Reece and Jim Benton of Boonville and Holly Reece and Tim Benton of Ronda; and three great-grandchildren, Courtney Holbrook, West Holbrook and Ty Benton.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2002, at Hodges Funeral Home Chapel, Elkin, by Chaplain Linda M. Lewis. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 Tuesday evening at the funeral home. Flowers will be appreciated or memorials may be made to Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103. Hodges Funeral Home is serving the Nelson family.