Mrs. Bernice S. Smith

Bernice Stancil C. Smith passed away Sunday, July 18, 2010 at St. Francis Hospital due to complications of leukemia with her loving family by her side. She was born in Pickens County and attended Liberty High School. Mrs. Smith is survived by her sons Scott and Jason Chastain of Liberty and their father Steve (Diane) Chastain; grandchildren Molly and Stone Chastain of Pickens; husband Wayne Floyd Smith, his son Mark (Kathy) Smith and grandchildren Emily and Lindsay Smith; her husband’s brother James C. (Pat) Smith of Piedmont, also her brother Colie Stancil and loving sisters Shirley Kelly, Bonnie (Bobby) Boggs, Loraine Dale (David) Martin; and several nieces, nephews and cousins; her sisters-in-law Maxie Stancil, Eunice Stancil and Martha Stancil. She was preceded by brothers Jesse, Charles Heyward and Melvin Stancil. She was the daughter of the late Houston and Alma Stancil of Six Mile and a lifelong Baptist Christian. Bernice was from a musically talented family and sang in her youthful years on radio stations in Easley and Seneca and Upstate churches with the Stancil Sisters group. Family musical talent ran deep. Bernice took early retirement in 1995 from AT&T in Liberty and traveled extensively since. A classmate and coworker Sue (Ken) Holcombe of Pickens became her best friend. Her favorite gospel music group was the local Roy Knight Singers. She faithfully played their CD’s on regular trips to the family’s vacation home in St. Augustine, FL. Funeral service 4 PM, Wednesday, July 21, 2010 in the chapel of Dillard Funeral Home with Dr. Boyce Whitman, Rev. Randy McAlister and Dr. Kris Barnett officiating and special music by Mr. Greg Boggs and the Roy knight Singers. Visitation from 3 until 4 prior to the service. In lieu of flowers the family respectfully requests donations to East Pickens Baptist Church Building Fund, 2244 Gentry Memorial Highway, Pickens, SC 29671; American Cancer Society, 154 Milestone Way, Ste. A, Greenville, SC 29615 or The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, SC Chapter, 107 Westpark Blvd, Ste. 150, Columbia, SC 29210. The family is at the home, 1869 Belle Shoals Road, Pickens. A private interment service will be held at a later date.