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Carole Feld Smyth
1938 - 2025
BORN
1938
DIED
2025
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Carole Smyth Obituary
March 10, 1938 - July 4, 2025
Charlotte, North Carolina - Carole Feld Smyth, 87, of Charlotte, NC, left us peacefully on July 4, 2025 with her husband at her side. A beloved wife, mother and grandmother, Carole, "Kaki" or "Boo Boo" as she was known to her grandchildren, will be fondly remembered for her quick wit, blunt advice, passion for art, and her successful interior design career.
Born March 10, 1938 in Jamaica, NY and raised in Baldwin, NY, Carole was the only daughter of Theodore Lloyd Swanson and Edna Elizabeth McKinley. Her mother Edna passed away when she was only eight, and due to life circumstances, Lloyd asked his sister Ruth Elizabeth Swanson and her husband Clarence Miller Feld to care for Carole and subsequently, they adopted her. After Ruth's death in 1960, Clarence married Jean Marie Sutherland, and they both became loving grandparents for her children.
Carole graduated from Baldwin High School in 1955, then from Beaver College in Glenside, PA in 1959, with a degree in Fine Arts. She had a sharp artistic eye that led her into designing hats and fabrics in NYC. While traveling to Ware Shoals, SC for business with the Riegel Textile company, she met and fell in love "at first sight" with Ellison "Eli" Adger Smyth, Jr.
Carole and Eli were married in Baldwin at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, in October of 1961, and they settled in Charlotte NC to raise their family over the next 20 years. During this time, Carole founded her design business and became a proud member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). In 1982, Eli's work took the family to Columbus, GA where Carole F. Smyth Interiors, ASID continued to flourish, winning several awards for her vision and talent. The family returned to Charlotte in 1989 and she continued to cherish the friendships she made in Columbus. She was an avid reader with an eclectic collection of art, and always had classical music playing. Carole's faith was very important to her and she was a dedicated member of her church choirs in both Charlotte and Columbus. Carole and Eli were lovingly married for 63 years and her family, including 3 grandchildren, was her pride and joy.
Carole is survived by her husband Eli; sons Joseph Ellison Adger Smyth, III (Clare), Miller Feld Smyth (Ashleigh), and John Thomas Smyth; daughter Graham McKinley Smyth Reese (Jeff); granddaughters Haley Anderson Smyth and Katherine Adger Smyth (children to Miller), and Elizabeth Graham Reese (child to Graham); her brother Peter Swanson (Irene), and niece Kelly Deschamps (Matt).
A service to celebrate Carole's life will be held on July 28th, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at Myers Park Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, NC. The service will be Livestreamed at the following link: https://control.resi.io/webplayer/video.html?id=40641bad-38a6-463f-9598-73b55640faba. All are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, donations for Breast Cancer Research can be made online to the Susan G. Komen organization (http://komen.org).
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memorial Events
for Carole Smyth
Funeral services provided by:
J.B. Tallent Funeral Service & Crematory1937 North Sharon Amity Road, Charlotte, NC 28205
Memories and Condolences
for Carole Smyth
Sponsored by Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.
2 Entries
Jeannie Cumiskey
July 19, 2025
Oh, Eli!
I am heartbroken to hear about Carole´s passing. Please accept my deepest condolences - I can only imagine the weight of this loss.
What memories I have of the few years we worked together and I got to know Carole. You were such a pivotal mentor in my life. You didn´t just teach me how to be better at my job - you showed me how to do it with heart. Your support, guidance, and the example you set back then truly shaped the way I worked and led throughout my career. And the bonus was Carole! She was just simply inspirational and exceptionally funny! I often think of the convention / meeting in Bay Point or was it San Destin?? Geeze, too many years! Regardless, the 3 of us got completely lost driving to the panhandle, laughing all the way, and then declared to anyone questioning our late arrival that we found a better route from Columbus! I had the great opportunity to watch her in action at the HighPoint Furniture market years later and was truly in awe of the her amazing talent and the respect she commanded from all who knew her. She was something else and you both had such an impact on my life and Columbus. I miss those days.
I know you´re surrounded by the love and comfort of your kids and hope for nothing but good memories in the days ahead. Please know you´ve been in my thoughts. I would love to catch up some how some way!
With deepest sympathy and love,
Jeannie Cumiskey
Calvin E. Hefner, FASID, Cuenca, Ecuador
July 18, 2025
Dear, Eli, Graham, Joseph and John, you are in my thoughts and prayers at this time of Carole's transition. Carole always left a loving and thought provoking encounter with all whom she met. Carole and I worked together in several of the ASID Designer Houses. Her imagination as an Interior Designer was excellent as she carried out her beautiful designs. Carole was always fun to be with and she would always let one know what she thought. Carole will be greatly missed, but her light will always shine brightly for those fortunate to have know her. May the Love and Peace of God guide you through this time of grieving. Much Love and prayers for you. Calvin E. Hefner, FASID
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