After 99 beautiful years on this earth, Mary Elizabeth Smitherman Randolph-Dunn entered heaven on March 15, 2026. Mary leaves behind a large family of loved ones and is survived by her four living children: DeRome Dunn, Denise Wofford, Derrell Dunn, and Derrek Dunn, ; seven grandchildren: Danielle Dunn, Gabrielle Dunn, Samantha Gray, Abigaelle Dunn, Nathan Dunn, Samuel Dunn, and MaryElise Dunn, one great grandchild Emerson Gray, and son-in-law Freddie Wofford, daughter-in-law Elise Dunn, sister in-law Margaret Randolph King, cousins Emma Pemberton, Amber Pemberton and sons, George Harrison and wife Nancy, Patrica Harrison Moore and husband Rev. John Moore, grandnephew Sirron (Tony) Bailey and wife Nicole and many other nieces, nephews and friends.

Born Mary Elizabeth Smitherman to Clora Harrison Smitherman and Alfonso Smitherman on February 10, 1927, in Randolph County, North Carolina, Mary spent most of her youth in Lexington, NC. Mary was an accomplished musician and graduated with honors from Dunbar High School in 1943, and was selected to attend Hampton University in Virginia. Mary graduated from Hampton University in 1947 with a Bachelor in Music. She began her career as a music teacher in Washington, NC, where she developed an outstanding music program, and in 1966 accepted a teaching position in Richmond, VA, at the Benjamin Graves Middle School. In 1971, she obtained her master’s degree from North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC. Finally, in 1975, she took a teaching position as a music instructor for an elementary school music program in Richmond, VA which she held until her retirement in 1991. Also, while in Richmond, VA, she served as the Minister of Music many years at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church. Over her long career, Mary taught for forty-two years.

In 1994, she returned to her childhood hometown, Lexington, NC, to live, where she served as a faithful member, organist, and choir director at the St. Stephen United Methodist Church. Mary was also a member of the Lexington Choral Society, the Tourism Committee, and a dedicated member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. One of her favorite pastimes was playing pinochle weekly with Arlene Pinnix-Marrow. She will be dearly missed by everyone she taught and for the great joy she brought by sharing her musical talent.

Mary is preceded in death by her two sisters, Alberta Madison Carter and Mable Smitherman; her first husband, Leon Randolph Jr.; her second husband, Samuel J. Dunn; and her son, Leon (Trey) Randolph, III.

The funeral service will be Saturday at St. Stephens United Methodist Church at 12:00pm and family visitation at 11:30am. The entombment will follow at Forest Hill Memorial Park