Frances Blackwell Smith

Dr. Frances Blackwell Smith, a resident of Orlando and Winter Park, Florida since 1972, went to be with her Lord and savior on October 12, 2022.
She was born in South Carolina on October 8, 1942, to James Lewis and Eunice Fletcher Blackwell. Frances graduated from: Jefferson High School; North Greenville College (AA); Baptist Hospital School of Nursing (RN); UNC-Chapel Hill (BSN); Univ. of Florida (Masters in Psychiatric Nursing; and FSU (EdD/Higher Ed.) She worked while attending school including work scholarships, summer missions, psychiatric nursing at NC Memorial Hospital, Chapel Hill, and taught while completing her doctoral studies. She served on the nursing faculties of Duke Univ., UNC-Chapel Hill, Valencia College, Orlando and the University of Central Florida. During her tenure at UCF, Dr. Smith was the Interim Director of the nursing program, served on the Faculty Senate and was instrumental in developing new programs and campuses. As the UCF Coordinator of Psychiatric Nursing and Honors program, she valued quality and especially enjoyed supervising students clinically at Florida Hospital (now Adventist Health), working with thesis students, and developing peer tutoring. She was well published and received the College of Nursing award for Teaching Excellence, Florida's Teaching Incentive award and was selected for Faculty Emeritus status when she retired from UCF. The Florida Nurses Association awarded her the statewide Outstanding Educator Award. She loved leading FNA's annual Clinical Excellence Conference: "Making a Difference" for over two decades. She served as President of the local nursing honor society, was on several boards, and gave hundreds of presentations. She was an active member of the NU class at First United Methodist Church of Orlando, she was past chair of the Wesley Child Development Center Board, led training sessions for the Stephen Ministry and volunteered in city outreach efforts. Frances was predeceased by the love of her life: Robert L. "Bob" Smith, both parents and her sister, Emily Kleppel.
Frances is survived by her nephew, Eric M. Kleppel and his wife, Missy and son, Henry, Greenville, SC and goddaughter, Emily Royall. Bob's children include Miriam (Rick) Hart, Lanier Smith and Laura (Mike) O'Neal; 8 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
A Graveside Service will be held at 11:00 AM on October 22, 2022 at White Plains Baptist Church Cemetery in Jefferson, SC where she will be laid to rest with her family.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11 AM in the chapel of the First United Methodist Church Orlando on October 26, 2022.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to First United Methodist Church Orlando or the UCF Nursing Scholarship Program
Baumgartner Funeral Home of Pageland, South Carolina (www.baumgartnerfh.com) is assisting the
Smith family.