Elizabeth Smith

Smith, Mrs. Elizabeth Hobbie Wright or "Grammy", "Toots", or "Cupcakes" as lovingly called by her family, age 87, a resident of Montgomery, AL passed away Wednesday, March 21, 2012, leaving a legacy of her years of dedication to Faulkner University and the City of Montgomery. Visitation services will be held on Monday, March 26, 2012, 5-7 p.m., at the Rotunda on the Faulkner University Campus. A Celebration of Her Life will be held on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 11 a.m., at the University Church of Christ, Montgomery, AL. Graveside services will be held Thursday, March 29, 2012, 11 a.m., at Ramer Cemetery. Elizabeth was a mother, grandmother, entrepreneur, public servant, lobbyist, philanthropist and teacher. She served Faulkner University for nearly 70 years with unparalleled devotion as a fundraiser and Trustee. Some of Elizabeth's many accomplishments outside of the university included her role as director of Montgomery 's Urban Renewal program in the 1960's, a former lobbyist for the Alabama Safety Counsel and her appointment by President Jimmy Carter in 1977 to serve as the Director of the Farmer's Home Administration for the State of Alabama. Elizabeth affected change throughout this city and the State of Alabama. A couple of her most notable public accomplishments consist of the development of the Wind Creek State Park and the addition of trees to the downtown area sidewalks through the Urban Renewal Program. During her time as a lobbyist she helped to pass the seatbelt and drunk-driving laws in Alabama. Elizabeth battled breast cancer like the strongest warrior for almost 30 years, stumping doctors and amazing people across the globe by curing herself twice through a holistic approach. She decided she was ready to go home having experienced a life well lived and accomplishing much for the Kingdom. Family meant the world to her and she to us as we will greatly miss and cherish her jokes, her tall tales, her hugs, her laughs, her smiles, her examples and her love. She leaves behind her devoted and loving son and daughter-in-law, Hobbie and Tracy Wright of Tallahassee, Fla., three grandchildren, Hobbie Sloane Wright, Justin Taylor Wright, and Lindsay Elizabeth Wright, a sister, Hobbie Freehling, a niece, Beryl Smith, a goddaughter, Stephanie Thompson, a trusty sidekick and long-time companion, Carl Chandler, her loving Tallahassee family, as well as hundreds of friends from all over the world. She was preceded in death by Henry Wright, J. Sam Smith, a sister, Mary Hobbie Cahn, brothers Judge Walker Hobbie, Jr., William Livingston Hobbie, Wiley Hobbie, Winston Hobbie, and her parents.

The Family extends special thanks to Hospice of Montgomery and our wonderful nurse Jennifer and her loving caregivers Jeanette Stubblefield and Cynthia Salyer.

Still working on behalf of her beloved school, Elizabeth requested memorial donations be made in her name to Faulkner University, Attn: University Advancement, 5345 Atlanta Hwy, Montgomery, Al, 36109.