Deloris “Lori” Tippett Smith
December 6, 1952 – October 28, 2025
Deloris “Lori” Tippett Smith, 72, of Clayton, NC, died on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.
She was born on December 6, 1952, in Zebulon, NC, a daughter of the late Rupert Adrian Tippett and Mary Lee Massey Tippett. Lori was raised in Zebulon, NC, and spoke often of childhood memories at the home of her grandparents, Wade and Lola Tippett, at their family mill and pond (Taylors Mill) and the many happy days playing with cousins. During her young adult life, she loved traveling the state teaching dance lessons.
She was survived by her sisters, Donna Williamson (Sam) and Sharon Tippett Mendiola (Vince); nephews, Bill Williammson, Chris Sandefur, and Casey Tippett Mendiola; a niece, Candice Sandefur; a step-son, Scott Smith; step-grandchildren, Dylan Smith and Destiny Smith and a step great grandchild, Victoria Mitchel.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by a brother, Michael A. Tippett and a nephew, Brandon T. Williamson.
In keeping with Lori’s wishes, there will be no formal funeral services.
Funeral service entrusted to Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory, 211 W. Third Street, Wendell, NC 27591 www.stricklandfuneral.com
4 Comments
I was blessed to take care of Ms. Smith for a little while, she was the light of my day. She was so quick to offer whatever she could to you and just enjoyed spending time with people. I’m blessed to have had the opportunity to care for her as long as I did and I hope that she rests easy. She will be missed and I will love her always.
Michaela, I would just like you to know that when I went to go live with her back in August, she spoke very highly of you and spoke about you all the time and was happy that you were going to become her nurse again is what she was told before she went to the hospital, but you made a big impact in her life and thank you for that.
Correction on your name Makayla
Sorry about the mess up on your name. AutoCorrect got me before I saw it.
This lady was a huge part of my life from the time that I was 14 years old I considered her my bonus mom. She raised me when I was in need of a mom. She called me her bonus daughter. She is an amazing person. With a big heart and I will greatly miss her, and I will forever be thankful for her, taking me in me as her own teaching me the things about life as a mom would when she didn’t have to.. I am very saddened by her passing, but I am grateful that she is no longer suffering like she was and that she’s at peace and she’s in heaven with God because I know she is.
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