Frances "Mikel" Smith Raley

Frances Michael Smith Raley, born to Helen Grace Savage Smith, and Francis Michael Smith on October 21st, 1944 in Nassawadox, Virginia, and who went by Mike, Mikel, or Mikey, passed away on Monday, November 25th, 2024 from old age (and perhaps a bit of neglect in favor of an adventurous life well lived) with family by her side and an Irish ditty on the radio.

She had many gifts, each of which lives on in her children, Wendra Beth Raley-Gonzalez, Shellen Dawn Raley-Masterman, Wade, and grandchildren, Fionna Skye Raley-Theberge, Lorenzo Antonio Gonzalez, and Saredhiel Moon Raley Masterman.

Mikel attended Berklee College of Music for Jazz singing and first performed in public on the Horn and Hardart show, at age 8. Her gift of song, with a voice that danced in the wind, and a poet’s heart, will live on in her son, Wade, whose lyricism, and charmed stage presence have been perfected through years of sweat, tears, practice, heart, and soul.

Mike obtained her BA in English from the University of Delaware while raising 3 young children as a single mother, then later packed up those 3 children and moved to New York City with little else but a dream. She published 2 poems in New York’s “Just Pulp Magazine” and an original play was produced and performed in Portsmouth, NH. Her love of writing, her empathy and compassion, and her Halliburtonesque sense of adventure, which manifested in fierce selflessness and impulsivity, lives on in her daughter, Shellen, a literacy educator and traveler striking out into the unknown (jumping freight trains and riding atop elephants bareback in India).

Mikey had more energy for debate than anyone we’ve ever known, often inserting the phrase, “That is unreasonable.” She usually won. Although not a career woman, one of her favorite jobs was helping young brides find their perfect dress for that perfect day while working at Klienfeld’s in Brooklyn, NY (she also had many original wedding dress designs including a daisy one we loved!). In her spare time, she watched shows about the cosmos. Her love of the mysteries of the universe, her talent as an artist and designer, and her leadership live on in her firstborn daughter, Wendra, who is as impressive an artist and fashion designer as she is a boss, conversationalist, and jokester with the “gift of gab.”

Mikel truly put “all living things on the same level.” Her love of animals, great and small, lives on in a multitude of rescued cats, dogs, horses, fish, insects, arachnids, and worms (plucked from the wet pavement before impending doom!)

She sang right up to her last few days and that singular talent also lives on in her granddaughters' voices, carrying in them her love of Celtic melodies and “Porgy and Bess” musicals that move a room to dance and weep. Her endless inquisitiveness (manifested in “but why” questions even at age 80), lives on in her grandson, Lorenzo, who engineers cities from an imagination fueled by her curiosity that will surely change the world.

Her smile lit up a room, her fight was a lioness protecting her cubs, and her passion was a guiding light for all who knew her. And, since an obituary could not possibly capture the multi-faceted nature of this unique woman, we invite you to post a favorite memory on this web page (https://svremembrancecenter.com/obituaries/frances-raley) so that we can all share in your moments with her.

We'd love to hear all the stories! Mikey, mom, mommy, grammy mommy, will forever reside in our hearts. Her legacy, exemplified by her fervent pursuit to live with passion, will continue to inspire and guide us. As we grapple with losing her physical presence, we find solace in knowing that her spirit lives on through her music, poetry, and the curiosity and love for life she instilled in all who met or knew her.

“An Ocean of Love”

By Mikel Raley

An ocean of love

We give to you in

Starry vault above

Not to be contained within

Now, elegies and love

For you must fly,

Into the sky Into eternity

Beyond all time,

A song sublime

To live, and breathe and be…

A melody to drift upon

The moonbeams shining through

The misty curtain

Of the night

That we here spend with you

The morning sun

Will bring us joy

And happiness that lasts

Through sleet and hail and

Wintry gale

Once the storm has passed

And so you see,

It’s meant to be

Our love is forever true

So dream, be free

Beyond the sea

And we will be with you

And we’ll soon be with you

A memorial service will be held Friday, July 18, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., at Parksley Cemetery in Parksley, VA. Come as you are.

In lieu of flowers and in remembrance of Mikey, you can donate to an animal rescue non-profit organization located in Middletown, Delaware. Search “It Takes A Village Animal Rescue” on Facebook. You can make a note that the donation is in Mikey's name. Your donations will serve as a testament to Mikey’s life, reflecting her impact on those privileged to have known her.

Memory tributes may be shared with the family at www.williamsfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements by the Williams-Parksley Funeral Home.

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