First Posted: 1/15/2009

Maxton
Thomas Laban Smiling, 58, died Feb. 26, 2008, at Scotland Memorial Hospital.
The funeral will be 3 p.m. Saturday at the Union Light Baptist Church in Maxton, the Revs. Romey Revels, Carson Smiling and Joe Jacobs officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Smiling was born on Nov. 20, 1949, in Marlboro County. He was the son of the late Thomas Early Smiling and Lizzanna Chavis Smiling. He worked in drywall construction for Jacob’s Drywall. He was a avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed fishing and spending time with his family.
Surviving are two daughters, Tonya Orr and her husband Timothy, both of Auburndale, Fla., and Rebecca Varda and her husband Mike, both of Estero, Fla.; five brothers, Robert Smiling of Bird Island, Fla., Clifton Smiling and Donnie Smiling, both of Maxton, William Smiling of Laurinburg, and Gary Smiling of Melbourne Beach, Fla.; three sisters, Betty Brown of Cocoa Beach, Fla., Flora Brewer and Annie Clark, both of Red Springs; and two grandchildren, Aaron and Ashley Varda.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Union Light Baptist Church.
Richard Boles Funeral Service is serving the family.