Mary Ellen Hardin Smith

Mary Ellen Hardin Smith, 94, of Roanoke, Va., passed away on June 13, 2009. Born in Roanoke on September 23, 1914, she was the daughter of Walter Reade Hardin and Mattye Young Hardin. She was the widow of Shields Johnson and Leroy Hardin Smith Sr. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Walter Reade Hardin Jr.; a niece, Mrs. Brooke Hardin Randall, of Matthews, N.C.; and a nephew, Walter Reade Hardin III. She is survived by a nephew, Bruce Paul Randall; two greatnephews, John Reade Randall and Bruce Holland Randall, all of Matthews, N.C.; a niece, Barbara Gregory Beckham; and two great-nieces, Cary Elizabeth Hardin Garretson and Katherine Baylor Fields Hardin, all of Atlanta; a stepson, Leroy H. Smith Jr., of Roanoke; a first cousin, Mrs. Omnia Fowler, of Winston-Salem, N.C.; and a sister-in-law, Mrs. Frances Buckley, of La Jolla, Calif. The family wishes to thank Alice Motley for her faithful and loving care during the past few years. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. on Friday, June 19, 2009, at the columbarium of South Roanoke Methodist Church with the Reverend William Davidson officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to South Roanoke Methodist Church. Arrangements by Oakey's Roanoke Chapel, 540-982-2100.