Sweet, humble, and creative, Coralene Smith Morrow entered this life on July 6th, 1949, in Durham,
North Carolina, born to Joseph and Theola Smith. As Psalm 90 tells us, “The days of our lives are seventy
years,” Coralene entered eternal life one day after her 70th birthday, on July 7th, 2019, at home with her
husband and daughter holding her hands.
Coralene graduated from Hillside High School with the Class of 1967, and she completed her undergraduate
studies with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from North Carolina Central University in
1984.
While a student at NCCU, Coralene’s friend, Emma, set up a blind date for her with a young soldier
named Ronald. When he formally met Coralene, Ronald declared to his friend “I am going to marry that
girl!” He left for Korea after that first blind date, and they exchanged hundreds of letters while he was
overseas. When Ronald returned, the pair dated for a few more months and were married on
December 19, 1970. From this union, one child was born, their daughter, Janelle E. Morrow (Nell).
After a career in the healthcare management field, Coralene retired from the job she loved as a Medicare
Auditor for Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
Affectionally called “Red” by those who knew her from her early days, once Coralene made you her friend,
you remained friends for life! She was still close to her childhood buddies. She loved meeting up with her
high school classmates, and she enjoyed fellowshipping at the pool with her friends at Emerge Otho Wellness
Pool Group. Coralene was the perfect combination of artistic, industrious, and giving. An avid scrap
booker, she made plenty of scrapbooks for family members, friends and neighbors. She also made her own
lotions and would gift them to family and friends. She loved to find new recipes and try them out. She
even collected them in a book she called “Coralene’s Favorite Recipes”.
Coralene was a voracious reader, and she was also active in her community. She was a soror of Delta
Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, having been initiated with the “Renaissance 42” in the spring of
1994 through the Durham Alumnae Chapter. She also belonged to the Women of Spirit at Union Baptist
Church.
Coralene LOVED her puppies: Ruffles (deceased), Snowball, and Polo. They were her other children. S
he protected them fiercely would take them everywhere she went. If you knew Coralene, you knew she had
puppies and a host of other canine nieces and nephews.
Coralene was preceded in death by her siblings, Shirley Vales, Joseph Smith Jr., and Charles Earl; and
her father-in-law, Anderson S. Morrow (Genevieve). Left to grieve her absence are her husband, Ronald
Morrow; her daughter, Janelle E. Morrow; brother, William Smith; sisters-in-law, Rev. Clora Smith, Mrs.
Becky Smith, Mrs. Rosiland Wallace, Mrs. Brenda Morrow-Clark; one daughter-in-law,
Treeva L. Creek-Morrow; five grandchildren, Makayla Stewart-Morrow, Aniya Stewart-Morrow,
Charles Anderson Morrow (Chuck), Jade Cummings-Creek, and Nandi Cook-Creek; and a host of
nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, sorors, and loved ones.
In Lieu of Flowers you can make a donation to
Make donation in the name of Coralene S. Morrow
American Cancer Society
8300 Health Park Suite 10, Raleigh, NC 27615 or call (919) 334-5218
Make donation in the name of Coralene S. Morrow
or to the
NCCU Foundation
Delta Sigma Theta Alumni Endowment
Here is the link:
everyeagleeveryyear.org/give
http://everyeagleeveryyear.org/institutional-advancement/ways-to-give/