Mary Elva Smith Caffey, 97, passed away on Sunday, August 27, 2017, at Moses Cone Hospital. On Sunday, September 3, a graveside committal service will held at 1:30 p.m. at the New Garden Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at 3 p.m. at Flat Rock United Methodist Church in Stokesdale. Mary Elva was born in Charlotte, NC on April 2, 1920 to Louis H. and Annie Ballinger Smith. She grew up loving the cello, playing throughout her education and performing as a concert cellist. At an early age, Mary Elva won a cello contest and had the privilege of playing with the late John Philip Sousa, one of her fond memories. Mary Elva also loved the church and, as a young woman, had dreamed of becoming a missionary. Mary Elva graduated from (then) Queen's College with a degree in mathematics. After graduation, she taught third grade and worked with the church, going where she was needed. While working at the church in Mt. Gilead, NC, she met a young sailor home on leave named Dalton Caffey. They were married for 60 years. Mary Elva enjoyed the Navy life, traveling and teaching in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Newport, Rhode Island and her favorite, St. Augustine, Florida. After the Navy life, Mary Elva settled in Greensboro, NC where she raised her family and was a frequent substitute teacher in the 1960s and 1970s. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star for more than 60 years. Upon their retirement, Mary Elva and Dalton moved to Countryside Village in Stokesdale and joined Flat Rock United Methodist Church. Mary Elva is preceded in death by her father, Louis H. Smith, her mother, Annie B. Smith, her brother, Louis H. Smith, Jr., and her husband, Dalton Caffey. She is survived by her daughter, Anne Caffey Rowland, and her husband Gregg Rowland; son John D. Caffey, and his wife Dana P. Caffey; grandchildren Justin and Tara Rowland, Elizabeth Ohadi, Philip Rowland, Keith Rowland, Jillian Caffey, Thomas Caffey, Marissa Caffey; great-grandchildren, Isabella Rowland, Alexandra Rowland, Evangelina Rowland; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

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