Louisburg, North Carolina – Robert Smith Abernathy, 87, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Born and raised in Harnett County, NC, he was the son of Wilbur Dewar Abernathy and Sallie Ethel Mann. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his sister, Maxine Basnight McLean and his son, Coyte Levon Abernathy.

Mr. Abernathy is survived by his devoted wife of almost 64 years, Billie Atkinson Abernathy; daughter, Melanie Abernathy Floyd and husband, Neil, of Wake Forest; son, Kevin Abernathy and wife, Jane, of Balsam Grove; foster daughter, Cheryl Smith Passarelli of Raleigh; and grandchildren, Rachel Floyd, Erin Floyd, Sarah Floyd, Shannon Floyd, Erica Abernathy, Riley Abernathy, Emma Howell, and Hayden Howell (wife Kristina and daughter Selena). In addition, Mr. Abernathy is survived by his sisters, Elizabeth Abernathy Byrd of Durham and Lynda Abernathy Miller of Fuquay-Varina; his brother, Wilbur Horace Abernathy and wife, Jane Champion Abernathy; and 14 nieces and nephews, all of whom he cherished.

After attending Barry College, Campbell College, and North Carolina State College of Agriculture, Mr. Abernathy purchased Raleigh Flooring and Acoustical. Owner/operator for 50 years, Mr. Abernathy could easily point out building after building throughout the state in which he laid carpet or floor tile or hung ceilings. Co-owner with his wife of Pearl's of Raleigh Square Dance Fashions for 30 years, Mr. Abernathy loved getting to know customers and travelling across the country to festivals. Prior to operating the two businesses, Mr. Abernathy enjoyed participating in a variety of organizations. Raised on a farm, he excelled at 4-H pig and corn competitions. He loved music and dancing, and he and Billie had many joyful memories of dancing with the Dixie Twirlers and Rhamkatte Wheel-A-Rounds, and attending gospel quartet concerts. He served as president of the North Carolina Folk Round &Square Dance Federation, and together he and Billie earned the North Carolina Federation Presidential Service Award. He taught Sunday School at Cokesbury and Macedonia, served on the Building Committee during Macedonia Methodist's expansion,
participated in the Swift Creek Exchange Club, and coached Junior League baseball. In more recent years, when he was not working to support his family or to help someone in need, Mr. Abernathy was either working in his yard, building or repairing something, sharing a story or joke, reading gardening magazines and Our State plotting his next adventure, watching Duke basketball and old Westerns, or most recently, learning to play Monopoly. Billie and Bobby walked strongly in their faith and found a church home wherever they lived; they were grateful for their church families at Cokesbury Methodist, Macedonia Methodist, Ephesus Baptist, and Flat Rock Baptist. Throughout his life, Mr. Abernathy was known by all as hard-working, fun-loving, intelligent, and trustworthy, and he never met a stranger.

Mr. Abernathy's Celebration of Life will be held at 1 PM on Thursday, June 8, 2023, in the chapel at Montlawn Memorial Park.