Laura Smith

Laura Sewell Smith CHESAPEAKE - Laura Sewell Smith, 85, beloved wife, mother and friend passed away Oct. 6, 2008, at University Hospital in Brackenridge in Austin, Texas. "Laurie," as she was called by her friends, was born in Jonesville, Va., Nov. 23, 1922, to Joy Edith Neal and Hagan F. Sewell of Jonesville. Survivors include her daughter, Saluda J. Stapleton and husband Ray Stapleton of Staunton, Va.; sons, William C. Smith Jr. of Apison, Tenn., James L. Smith and wife Barbara of Rockledge, Fla.; daughter, Sharon Dickmann and husband Ross Dickmann of Dripping Springs, Texas; and brother-in-law, Robert Covel Jr. of Merritt Island, Fla. She is also survived by seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Laura was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Hagan F. Jr. and James R., and younger sister, Jean N. Sewell Covel. She married William C. Smith Nov. 1, 1939, in Harlan Ky. Laura and Cecil left Lee County, Virginia, to settle first in Portsmouth, then Chesapeake, where she and her husband raised their four children. She was very active in the PTA in Cradock and Deep Creek. She was active in supporting both the Boy and Girl scouts for her children. She stressed the importance of helping others and set an example by driving for Meals on Wheels, participating in food drives and various charity fund raisers. Laura loved politics and enjoyed a tremendous knowledge of the governmental process. Other than her family, her greatest love was Virginia. Laura was a strong, intelligent and independent lady. She cared for our father after his stroke with kindness and patience until his death in 1996. Even after a stroke in 2001, she was able to live alone in her Chesapeake home for more than years. As her physical condition became more fragile, she sold her home and moved first to Miramar, Fla., in 2005, then to Austin, Texas with her youngest daughter Sharon and son-in-law Ross in February of 2007. She resided at Querencia at Barton Creek in Austin since June, where she thoroughly enjoyed the social atmosphere and was a guardian angel for fellow residents and staff. The memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Sunday at Snellings Funeral Home on George Washington Highway, with visitation following. The graveside service for family will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 27, in Hampton National Cemetery. While flowers are lovely, in keeping with Laura's spirit, we suggest a memorial donation to the Fisher House Foundation Inc., 1401 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852, www.fisherhouse.org. This organization provides a "home away from home" which enables families of military members to be close to their loved ones during hospitalization at military or VA hospitals.