Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

AHOSKIE – Cathy Smith Stroud Piland, age 61, passed away on August 14, 2021 at her home with her family by her side.

Mrs. Piland was born in Ahoskie, NC, on March 6, 1960, a daughter of the late Cecil Earl and Wilma Minton Smith Stell. Cathy was a graduate of Ahoskie High School, and earned two master’s degree from East Carolina University, one in Early Childhood Education and one in Library Science. Cathy taught elementary school for a while and then took the position of Librarian/Media Center Coordinator at Bearfield Primary School. She touched the lives of many young children, many of whom she looked to as her own. Cathy was a woman of many talents, especially when it came to sewing, quilting and embroidery. She loved teaching others her craft through instruction classes in Virginia. Cathy was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her husband, Bill, at their home on the Albemarle Sound and her grand babies. Cathy also had a soft spot in her heart for her grand puppies and grand kitty.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Timmy Stroud.

Left to cherish her memory is her loving husband, Bill Piland; two daughters, Leanne (Hugh) Stroud of Scotland Neck, NC, and Stephanie Piland of Austin, TX; four sons, Chris (Sarah) Stroud of Ahoskie, NC, Zach (Candace) Stroud of Concord, NC, Jeremy Piland of Shelbyville, KY, and Nicholas Piland of Ocracoke, NC; four grandchildren, Alyssa Roussis, Dawson Stroud and Mackenzie Copeland of Scotland Neck, NC, and Austin Stroud and Kaylee Stroud of Ahoskie, NC; two sisters, Janet (Dave) True of Micro, NC, and Samantha (Kevin) Dunlow of Seal Beach, CA.

The family would like to send out a special thank you to Winton Baptist Church for installing the ramp for Cathy, and to Vidant Home Health and Hospice for the excellent, compassionate care given to her.

The family will receive friends on Monday, August 16, 2021, from 6-8:30 p.m. at Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service, Ahoskie, NC, and other times at the home.

A celebration of life service will be held on Tuesday, August 17, 2021, at 2 p.m. at the Carpenter’s Shop Church, Ahoskie, NC, with Rev. Dr. Wallace Phillips, and Rev. Randy Miller officiating. A private burial will be in the Brinkley Family Cemetery.

Flowers are welcome or memorial contributions may be made to Vidant Home Health and Hospice, 521 W E Myers St., Ahoskie, NC, 27910; or to Bearfield Primary School, Media Center, 145 Hertford County High School Road, Ahoskie, NC, 27910; or you may donate online by visiting www.tmcfunding.com/search; then type Cathy Piland.

Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service – Ahoskie Chapel is handling the arrangements for the Piland family and online condolences can be directed to the family by visiting www.garrettsykesfs.com.