Our mother, Christa Cate Smith, died peacefully in her sleep just after midnight on July 30th with her 3 children, 3 of her grandchildren and a great grandchild at her bedside. She had been on hospice care since October 2020 and was 81 years old.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Laura and Jack Cate, of Pell City and a brother, Bill Cate of Mt. Brook.
She raised three children and went back to school to obtain her nursing degree in her early 30s with her children in tow. She attended nursing school full time at Carraway School of Nursing. She graduated with honors earning top grades all the way through.
After that, her nursing career was both in hospitals and later as Senior Vice President for a national home care organization, before retiring to her parent’s old home place in the Pell City community of Eden. She was a faithful member of Logan Martin Church of Christ working diligently with the women of the congregation making bears for area children.
She lived with her daughter, Sondra Moss, a hospice nurse, and her husband Jerry, for the final 6+ years of her life at their home in Pelham. When the end was near, Mom was well taken care of by Sondra with the loving help of her daughter Jamie, and Jamie’s daughter, Zoe. Mom leaves behind three children: Dave Smith (Kim), Sondra Moss (Jerry), and Laurie Eden (Andy). She had six grandchildren: Kelly Thomson(James), Jacqui Smith, Jordan Smith, Jamie Starns(Alan), Cate Eden and Laney Chesterman(Dave). She had three great grandchildren: Zoe Starns, Vanna Thomson and Isla Thomson.
A graveside service for family and close friends is planned for Monday, August 2, 2021 at 11 AM at the New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery in Pell City Alabama. W.E. Lusain Funeral Home (Birmingham) presiding over the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to Backwoods Christian Camp at:
backwoodschristiancamp.org/donate
She was preceded in death by her parents, Laura and Jack Cate, of Pell City and a brother, Bill Cate of Mt. Brook.
She raised three children and went back to school to obtain her nursing degree in her early 30s with her children in tow. She attended nursing school full time at Carraway School of Nursing. She graduated with honors earning top grades all the way through.
After that, her nursing career was both in hospitals and later as Senior Vice President for a national home care organization, before retiring to her parent’s old home place in the Pell City community of Eden. She was a faithful member of Logan Martin Church of Christ working diligently with the women of the congregation making bears for area children.
She lived with her daughter, Sondra Moss, a hospice nurse, and her husband Jerry, for the final 6+ years of her life at their home in Pelham. When the end was near, Mom was well taken care of by Sondra with the loving help of her daughter Jamie, and Jamie’s daughter, Zoe. Mom leaves behind three children: Dave Smith (Kim), Sondra Moss (Jerry), and Laurie Eden (Andy). She had six grandchildren: Kelly Thomson(James), Jacqui Smith, Jordan Smith, Jamie Starns(Alan), Cate Eden and Laney Chesterman(Dave). She had three great grandchildren: Zoe Starns, Vanna Thomson and Isla Thomson.
A graveside service for family and close friends is planned for Monday, August 2, 2021 at 11 AM at the New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery in Pell City Alabama. W.E. Lusain Funeral Home (Birmingham) presiding over the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to Backwoods Christian Camp at:
backwoodschristiancamp.org/donate
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Gallery
Mother and I about a year ago
Christa in her younger days
