Sara Clayson McNeill Smith

Sara Clayson McNeill Smith MT. PLEASANT - Sara Clayson McNeill Smith, of Sullivan's Island, SC. Clayson was born in Mt. Pleasant on September 27, 2006, and died August 29, 2025, of complications from chemotherapy. She was at MUSC's Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital, where she received excellent care from the most amazing, professional and loving staff, many of whom she bonded with and befriended. She is the daughter of Bachman S. Smith, IV, and loving older sister to Celia and Bachman, V. Her mother was Kathryn Benton. Clayson was diagnosed with Leukemia August 23, 2024, on the first day of her senior year of high school. That day she learned she would not be able to attend school and would lose all her hair, and yet, she graduated and was accepted at the University of South Carolina. She did this with the encouraging help of the faculty at Ashley Hall, largely from bed and often a hospital bed. She was 18 years old when she died. Clayson was an athlete, a Student Ambassador, a founding member of the Love Club, and a hard worker. She also managed to have more fun than anyone else, whether on a boat, the beach or wrapped up in a blanket sharing the latest gossip with friends. In childhood, as a teenager, and as a young woman, she made being a parent easy. Her brother and sister were number one in her heart. Clayson was fun-loving, funny and fiercely loyal to her friends who came from every school in the Lowcountry and beyond. Anyone she called a friend was both genuine and kind. She would accept nothing less, and she could forgive, but she would not forget. Her radiant smile was a reflection of the way she lived her life with grace and gratitude. In adversity, which she shouldered more than her fair share, she displayed incredible courage, major sass, and no small amount of spirit. While cancer did not and does not define her, she would walk into the hospital the same way she walked into a party, a friend's house, or school. She owned the room with her chin up, a warm smile, immaculate nails, just enough flex that made you check yourself, and always respectful. Simply put, she slayed! Clayson is survived by her grandmothers: Edie Benton and Ann Smith, a handful of very loving aunts and uncles and her cousins, Seabrook, McGregor, Hoke, Arch, Zinny, Lizzie, and Tatum. A service will be held at Grace Church Cathedral, 98 Wentworth St., Charleston, SC, at 2:00 pm, Monday, September 1, 2025. Family and friends are invited to share laughter and tears and have a real good time at the Kellett's home, 1453 Iverson Rd., in Mt Pleasant, after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the MUSC Children's Hospital Fund, 59 Bee St., MSC 201, Charleston, SC 29425, and Blood Cancer United, PO Box 98011, Washington, DC 20090-8011. You can also get an orange heart tattoo, which would be pretty cool. Arrangements are by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Mt. Pleasant Chapel. A memorial message may be sent to the family on our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.