Laurie Smart Evans

Laurie Smart Evans, 57, passed away Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at her home in Greenville, NC.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Wilkerson Funeral Home on Thursday, March 26 at 4pm. The family will receive visitors following the conclusion of the service.

Laurie was born in Mecklenburg County, on July 3, 1968 to the late Thomas Eugene Smart and Patricia Calloway Smart. She grew up on Lake Norman, outside of Charlotte before the family moved to the Asheville area. Laurie was a graduate of North Buncombe High School in Weaverville, NC, later attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she received a bachelor's degree in 1990. Laurie later obtained a master's degree from East Carolina University in 2009. She was a longtime resident of Greenville, NC, where she relocated in 1990 and chose to raise a family with former spouse, John Evans.

Professionally, Laurie loved helping college students find their path. Whether working in East Carolina University's College of Nursing, or more recently as Director of the Centralized Advising Center at Beaufort County Community College in Washington, NC, Laurie exemplified unwavering dedication to student success. She was instrumental in building foundational relationships, ensuring students understood their options, and could be confident in their academic decisions.

As a mother, Laurie took great pride in her sons' lives. From volunteering many hours at St. Peter's Catholic School where they attended, to ferrying her boys to countless athletic practices and games, she was always present. Personally, Laurie had many interests, including travel, cooking, and reading. She particularly enjoyed traveling to the North Carolina coast or mountains for long weekends with Bud and friends. Her final years and most lasting impact were spent as an amazing grandmother to her grandkids. From picnics in her backyard, to reading stories, completing puzzles, artwork, or other crafts, trips to the river house or beach, Laurie's presence in their lives was one of constant love.

She is survived by soul partner, Bud Garner, of Greenville; her two sons and their families, Bailey Smart Evans and wife, Ashley, Benjamin Hughes Evans and wife, Ashlyn, all of Greenville, North Carolina; grandchildren, Dawson Mack Evans, Sawyer John Evans, Lillian Lee Harman, and Rosalie Jenks Evans, all of Greenville, North Carolina; sisters, Brenda Rhinehart and husband, Ronnie, Susan Tedder and husband, Neil, both of Candler, North Carolina; nephew, Matthew Rhinehart of Candler, North Carolina; niece, Whitney Tedder of Castle Rock, Colorado; and great-nephew, Cole Rhinehart of Candler, North Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks friends to consider a memorial gift to the general scholarship fund at Beaufort County Community College, 5337 HWY 264 East, Washington, NC, 27889.