Dorothy Rita "Dottie" Smith

Loris, South Carolina

Mrs. Dorothy "Dottie" Rita DeFreest Smith, age 83, passed away on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at McLeod Loris Hospital. Born on May 17, 1942, in Troy, NY, she was the daughter of the late Walter DeFreest and the late Bertha Wagar DeFreest. Mrs. Smith enjoyed crafting, crocheting blankets for the Ronald McDonald House, participating in Bible study groups, and fishing.

Survivors include her son, Jeffrey Martin Smith (Becki Lewis); daughters, Laurie Ann Smith and Jean Marie O'Rourke (Alfred "Lou" O'Rourke, Jr.); six grandchildren, Melissa Maier (Richard Montgomery), Ashley Aburto, Alfred "A.J." O'Rourke, III. (Shona), Lurizah Sackett (Dylan), Alisa Evans (Aaron), and Chenoah O'Rourke; ten great-grandchildren, Justin Ashworth, Ariana Aburto, Landon Ashworth, Johan Aburto, Maya Aburto, Silver O'Rourke DeWitt, Landon Ramsey, Nevaeh Sackett, Leland Aburto, and Aurorah Sackett.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Smith was predeceased by her husband, John Barton Smith, Jr.; son-in-law, Ryder Camp, and ten siblings, Walter DeFreest, George DeFreest, Clayton DeFreest, Irene Sousis, Shirley Minnafield, Caroline Simpson, Grace Radliff, Doris Paglia, Ruth Shaw, and Elizabeth Ratigan.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 AM on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at The Catholic Church of The Resurrection. Committal services will follow at Carter Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Monday, January 26, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Hardwick Funeral Home. The family requests that memorials be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Please sign Mrs. Smith's online guestbook at hardwickfuneralhome.com or call Hardwick Funeral Home at 843-756-7001 for further information.