A native of Haywood County, N.C., Doris Rollins Cannon was a staff writer and columnist for The Smithfield Herald from 1970 to 1990.

During her 20 years in journalism, she received eight North Carolina Press Association awards and eight North Carolina Press Women awards, in competition categories of columns, features, feature series, newswriting, and opinion.

A number of her columns were reprinted in newspapers around America and one of her feature stories was entered in the United States Congressional Record.

A book of her humor columns, titled "My Pal Gladys," was published in 1985.

Her March 14, 1978 column about film star Ava Gardner, a Johnston County native, led to establishment of the Ava Gardner Museum by Dr. and Mrs. Tom Banks of Florida. Ms. Cannon worked closely with the Museum project in the star's childhood home near Smithfield, and after the death of Dr. and Mrs. Banks she served on the Museum Committee until 1996. (The Museum is now located in downtown Smithfield and is open seven days a week.)

In 1989, she wrote "Johnston!," a play based on Johnston County history. It was presented under auspices of Johnston County's North Carolina Bicentennial Commission and produced by the Neuse Little Theatre. Performed on six nights by a cast of around 250 actors, singers, dancers, and musicians, the play was the first local production in the Paul A. Johnston Auditorium at Johnston Community College in November of 1989.

Ms. Cannon was named the 1989 "Smithfield-Selma Citizen of the Year," for writing "Johnston!," for her newspaper work, and for her work with the Ava Gardner Museum. In January of 1990, she was named a Raleigh News & Observer "Tar Heel of the Week."

She is co-author of "Echoes from Pascalina" (1997), a remarkable family saga beginning with the life of Dr. Felix O. Pascalis, a French physician who came to America in 1793.

She is the author of "GRABTOWN GIRL: Ava Gardner's North Carolina Childhood and Her Enduring Ties to Home," published by Down Home Press of Asheboro, N.C. in 2001.

In November of 2001, "Grabtown Girl" was presented an award in the "history books" category by the North Carolina Society of Historians.

Ms. Cannon received her education at Bethel High School near Canton, N.C., Berea College in Kentucky, and North Carolina State University in Raleigh.

She is the widow of Captain Lloyd J. Cannon Jr., an Air Force pilot who died in 1964. She has a son, two daughters, and four grandchildren. She lived in the Smithfield-Clayton area.

Doris Rollins Cannon passed away on Tuesday, August 18, 2015 following a period of declining health.

Those of us who knew, appreciated, respected and loved Doris are forever grateful to have shared friendships with this very special and talented lady.

Respectfully submitted Mike Sutton. August 21, 2015