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                  [SMITH, GAMBRELL & RUSSELL, LLP LETTERHEAD]

                                                                    EXHIBIT 5.1


Robert T. Molinet
(404) 815-3643



                               February 11, 1998


Board of Directors
Community Bancshares, Inc.
1600 Curtis Bridge Road
Wilkesboro, North Carolina 28697

RE:      Community Bancshares, Inc.
         Registration Statement on Form S-8
         400,000 Shares of Common Stock with $3.00 par value
         Community Bancshares, Inc. 1993 Stock Option Plan

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel for Community Bancshares, Inc. (the
"Company") in connection with the registration of 400,000 shares of its Common
Stock, $3.00 par value per share (the "Shares"), to be issued under the
Company's 1993 Stock Option Plan, as amended (the "Plan"), pursuant to a
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, covering the Shares.

         In connection therewith, we have examined the following:

         1.       The Articles of Incorporation and the Articles of Amendment 
                  of the Company, certified by the Secretary of State of the
                  State of North Carolina;

         2.       The By-Laws of the Company, certified as complete and correct
                  by the Secretary of the Company;

         3.       The minute book of the Company, certified as correct and 
                  complete by the Secretary of the Company; and

         4.       The Registration Statement.

         Based upon such examination and upon examination of such other
instruments and records as we have deemed necessary, we are of the opinion that
the Shares covered by the Registration

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Board of Directors
Community Bancshares, Inc.
February 11, 1998
Page 2



Statement have been legally authorized and when issued in accordance with the
terms described in said Registration Statement, will be validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable.

         We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
aforementioned Registration Statement on Form S-8 and to the reference to this
firm under the caption "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus. In giving this
consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons
whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, or the
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.

                                               Very truly yours,

                                               SMITH, GAMBRELL & RUSSELL, LLP



                                               /s/ Robert T. Molinet
                                               -------------------------------- 
                                               Robert T. Molinet







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