Grace Lucille Smith Burrows, age 97, of Raleigh and formerly of Wallace and Rose Hill died Monday, March 14, 2011 at Springmoor Retirement Center in Raleigh.

She was born January 13, 1914 in Davidson County; the daughter of the late Henry Elmer and Etta Surratt Smith. She was predeceased by her husband, Arthur Wilson Burrows; her son, Charles E. Burrows; sisters, Henrietta Lanier, Ella York, Margie Ferguson and Clara Hull and brother, Robert Smith.

Grace was born in a log house that was built in the 1700's and which later became the studio and subject of many of the works of the famous artist, Bob Timberlake. Her early years were spent on the farm surrounding that cabin, a place where she learned values and skills that sustained her for all of her long life: values such as love of family, humility, self-reliance, thrift, perseverance, faith in the Almighty, and homemaking skills that served her well as she selflessly served others all her life. In addition to being a devoted Mother who with her husband, Arthur, reared six sons, she was an outstanding cook, an avid and skilled gardener, and an accomplished seamstress and creative needle crafter who provided her family and friends with many heirloom pieces of her work in quilting, knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, cross-stitching and crewelwork.

Surviving are her devoted sons, Harold W. Burrows (Alice) of Raleigh, Richard L. Burrows (Clara) of Rose Hill, Sam H. Burrows (Dorothy) of Cary, Dennis A. Burrows (Beverly) of Chester, VA and J. Michael Burrows (Mollie) of Atlanta, GA; grandchildren, Ben Burrows (Suzanne), Leesa Galloway (Scott), Erik Burrows, Kelley Burrows and Gordon McGirt; great grandchildren, Melissa Brooke Burrows, Burton Burrows, Luke Burrows, Grace Burrows and Hayden Hales; brother, Clarence B. Smith (Dot) of High Point and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be 2:00 pm Thursday, March 17, 2011 at Rose Hill United Methodist Church with the Reverend Paul Stallsworth and the Reverend Leah Skaggs officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:00 pm, one hour prior the funeral service at Rose Hill United Methodist Church.

Interment will immediately follow the funeral service at Rockfish Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Wallace.

Casketbearers will be Harry Bradshaw, Tommy Carter, Courtney Cooper, John Cooper, Billy Floyd and Grey Morgan.

Memorial gifts may be given in honor of Mrs. Burrows to Hospice of Wake County, Inc., 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607, Wallace United Methodist Church, 301 S. College St., Wallace, NC 28466 or Rose Hill United Methodist Church, PO Box 177, Rose Hill, NC 28458.

Condolences may be sent to the family below.