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Nell Smith Obituary
Easley
Nell Whitley Smith, 81, of 110 Laurel Road, died at her home on Saturday, October 22, 2011, after a long illness surrounded by her family and friends.
Born in Washington, NC in 1929, Mrs. Smith was the daughter of the late Arthur Hugh and Alice Whitley Smith. She attended Salem College and graduated with a B.S. degree from UNC - Greensboro in 1951. She was an active member in the Easley Presbyterian Church, serving in several capacities. Mrs. Smith was a former teacher in the Pickens County school system and part owner in The House Antiques store. In 1981, upon the death of her husband, Senator Harris Page Smith, she ran successfully to fulfill his unexpired term in the S.C. Senate. She served in the Senate from 1981-1990.
While in the senate, Mrs. Smith served on several committee's: Medical Affairs, Rules, Corrections, and Penology, Judiciary and Education. She had a special interest in the health and education of children and was selected to serve as Chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee on Children.
Mrs. Smith served on various boards and commissions in Pickens County and the State of S.C. She served on the President's Council of Clemson University; The Board of Visitors at MUSC; SC Law Institute Council; SC Center for Teacher Recruitment Policy Board; Small Business Development Advisory Council; Tri-County Technical College Foundation Board; Advisory Board for the SC Federation for the Blind; Wildlife Heritage Trust Advisory Board; Foundation Board for Baptist Easley Hospital; and on the Board of Directors for People's National Bank, Easley and served on the Board of Birchwood Center for Arts and Folklife of Pickens County.
During her lifetime, Mrs. Smith was honored with many awards for her work in the State of SC and the community of Easley: Woman of the Year, 1984, Easley chapter of Business and Professional Women's Club; Phi Delta Kappa Education Award, Clemson University Chapter; 1986 Legislator of the Year; Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of NC, Greensboro in 1987; Distinguished Service Award, SC Youth Workers Association, 1988; Health Advocate Award, SC Nurses Association, 1988; Honored by Mental Health Association for service to children, 1988; SC Public Health Association Award, 1988; SC Association of Health Educator's Award, 1988; SC Department of Education Legislators Award, 1988; ACLU Legislator of the Year, 1990; and J. McNary Spigner Award for longstanding state service to children. Mrs. Smith was also a member of the Woman's Club of Easley, Better Homes Club, Blue Chip Ladies Club and past president of Friends of the Library.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Smith was preceded in death by her husband, Senator Harris Page Smith. Surviving are two sons, Sam (Kathie) Smith of Ware Shoals and Hugh Smith, of Easley; two daughters, Susan Elsken, of Marietta and Phyllis (Robert) Sams, of Easley. She is also survived by seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be conducted at 11:00 AM Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at the Easley Presbyterian Church by the Reverend Christie Gravely. A private burial will be held at Westview Cemetery in Easley, prior to the service. The family will receive friends at Robinson Funeral Home - Downtown on Monday, October 24, 2011 from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM.
Memorials may be made to the Pickens County Humane Society, 500 Five Forks Road, Liberty, SC 29657 or to Palmetto Baptist Easley Foundation, P.O. Box 1988, Easley, SC 29641-1988 or to Pickens County Y.M.C.A., 201 Burns Road, Easley, SC 29640.
The family would like to express appreciation to Dr. Steve Freeman and his medical staff for the care and treatment of their mother, Interim Healthcare Hospice, and to the loving sitters for their wonderful care they showed during the past few years. You all provided her with the utmost love, devotion and treatment to the very end.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Robinson Funeral Home - Downtown, which is assisting the family.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Nell Smith
Traci Saad
October 25, 2011
To the family of Nell Smith, I would just like to tell you what a pleasure it was to not only take care of your Mother but also to become her friend. She was an exceptionally wonderful lady and I say that with the upmost respect. Thank you for letting me be part of her life. I will never forget her. If you need anything, all you have to do is call. I am so sorry. Traci Saad
October 25, 2011
SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS I PRAY THAT GOD WILL GIVE YOU THE STRENGH TO GET THROUGH THIS TIME OF GRIEF THE HARDEST DAYS LAY AHEAD IF I CAN HELP IN ANY WAY DONT HESITATE TOCALL OR ASK (JOHN PORTER)
JOHN PORTER
October 25, 2011
SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS I PRAY THAT GOD WILL GIVE YOU THE STRENGH TO GET THROUGH THIS TIME OF GRIEF THE HARDEST DAYS LAY AHEAD IF I CAN HELP IN ANY WAY DONT HESITATE TOCALL OR ASK (JOHN PORTER)
Judy Callahan
October 24, 2011
Sorry to hear about Miss Nell, she was a special lady who will be missed by all. You all will be in my thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.
Stacy Israel
October 24, 2011
My thoughts and prayers go out to Robert & Phyllis Sams and all of Nells family. I am fortunate enough to have known Nell through the Easley Chamber of Commerce & through the Pickens County Library System where she was one of our Friends' Presidents. She has touched so many lives and always had a kind word to say & a smile on her face.
Stacy Israel & family
Michael Calloway
October 24, 2011
Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time. I am honored to have had her as a teacher and friend. Always a smile and and spark of encouragement. She will be missed.
David & Sherry Sewell
October 24, 2011
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Scott Rogers
October 24, 2011
Heaven has another angel . We all mourn her loss. She is truly a great southern lady that gave us so much of herself. Thank you Mrs. Smith. You have truly left a great legacy. You will be sorely missed. My sincere best wishes to Hugh,Sam,Susan,Phylis and family.
Norma Cooler & Wayne Pierce
October 24, 2011
Susan, we are thinking of you.
Love,
Norma, Wayne, & Mullet
sidney oglesby
October 23, 2011
Hugh, so sorry to read abouy your mother I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.I can't remember if I have seen you since High School. I hope all else is well with you and your family
Dot Jackson
October 23, 2011
We were so blessed to have Nell with us, to advise us, support us, and above all, to love us -- and to be loved by Nell was to be born under the star. There was no one ever quite like her. She never needed any pretense, never cared about her "image" -- she was exactly who she was, wherever she was -- and it was plenty good enough. She thought about other people -- about what they needed, and what she could do for them.
When she began to anticipate the closing down of her life, and projects, and personal missions, which were innumerable, she began to "divest" of her household and personal effects. She came to a meeting once, a couple of years ago, with a big shopping bag full of something heavy. "Give this a home!," she said. It was her perennial life-size china easter bunny, and all HIS decorative personal effects, which will one day turn up as our mutual Birchwood old house Easter display. No telling how many years, generations, he had been hers. What has moved on, with Nell, is profoundly wise, and touchingly personal. We already miss her, and always will.
But the blessing of her friendship stays with us.
Dot Jackson,
and Birchwood Center
October 23, 2011
Will be keeping your family in our prayers and hoping that memories of your mom will sustain you during this time. Suzzanne Tyras (Easley, SC)
Mark Eisengrein
October 23, 2011
What a dear, dear friend, who will be sorely missed. She loved our community, and she loved our hospital in Easley. She served for many years on the Foundation Board and was selected by her peers to be Board Chair. She had a real knack for "getting things done". Our community and state are much better thanks to the hard work of Senator Nell Smith.
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