Dr. Georgia Smith

Dr. Georgia Hooks Shurr Smith, of Greenville, NC, slipped into eternal life on Saturday, November 8, 2025.

Georgia was the daughter of Rep. George Wesley Hooks and Chrissie Goins Hooks White of the Smyrna community of Columbus County, North Carolina. She was preceded in death by her father George Wesley Hooks, her mother, Chrissie Goins White, her brother, George Wesley Hooks, Jr., her brother, James Hooks, her stepfather, Owen Donald Prease, and her husband, Dr. William Shurr.

She is survived by her husband, Edward T. Smith of Greenville, NC, her daughter, Emily Shurr of California, her sisters, Alexas Jane Prease of Whiteville, and Donnis Krueck (Jeff) of Greensboro, her brother-in-law, Henry L. Smith of Chapel Hill and Farmville, NC. She is also survived by her stepchildren, Paige Ritchie of Raleigh and Tyson Smith (Alicia) of Charleston, SC, and step grandchildren, Denver Smith, Kyla Ritchie, and Tucker Ritchie. Also, surviving is her sister-in-law, Susan Hooks of Lumberton and her children, Jamie Hooks (Amanda) of Lumberton and Heather (John) of Mount Pleasant, SC,

Growing up on a tobacco farm in the Smyrna community of Columbus County, she dreamed of a career teaching and traveling. She graduated from Whiteville High School in 1960. In the fall of that year, she entered East Carolina College and began a life of involvement and accomplishments in the academic world. Upon entering ECC, she quickly became involved in leadership roles among her fellow students. She served each year as a representative to the SGA, as president of her dorm, on the Women's Judiciary and on the Dean's Advisory Council. These leadership roles and her academic accomplishments were recognized her senior year when she was elected to Who's Who Among Students in America's Colleges and Universities.

Upon graduation from East Carolina College, Georgia began a lifetime of teaching, travel, and academic and personal accomplishment. She secured a position as an Au piar for a French family through connections at ECC. During 1964 and 1965, she studied at Sorbonne, the University of Paris, and the University of Geneva. While working, she traveled through Europe. She returned to the United States in the Spring of 1965 and enrolled for study at UNC Chapel Hill. Earning scholarship funds at the conclusion of her first semester as a student at UNC, she completed the requirements for both a Master of Arts Degree in 1967, and a Ph.D. in Romance Languages in 1971. She completed further studies at the Modern Language Association Summer Institute at the University of Alabama in 1978.

At the completion of one year of teaching at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, and her completion of her Ph.D. in Chapel Hill, both she and her husband were offered tenue. Other opportunities demanded their attention as she continued her quest to teach and to travel. During her professional career, she held the following positions: Assistant professor French, University of Tennessee Chattanooga; associate professor French , University of Idaho, Moscow; professor, University of Idaho, Moscow; Adjunct Professor liberal arts, University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Board of Directors National Conference Governor's Schools, Lexington, Kentucky; Director Governor's Academies, Nashville/Knoxville and Governor's School for the Humanities, Nashville; Visiting Professor Humanities, Department of English, American University of Athens, Greece; and , Adjunct Professor of French, East Carolina University.

Believing that a well-rounded education included the ability to speak foreign languages and to understand the history and culture of foreign countries, she pursued studies and teaching experiences throughout France, Japan, and Greece, as well as in the United States. She also published several books, including "Yourcenar: A Reader's Guide," And "Smyrna: My Mother's Story."

"Georgia Grey," or simply "Grey," as most addressed her, believed in the worth and the practice of kindness and love of those in her daily life. Her deep blue eyes and beautiful smile drew friends and colleagues and strangers to her in all her travels and in her life's endeavors.

The family would like to thank the caregivers at Cypress Glen for the dedicated service: Miss Lillie, Bernadette, Liz, Sheila, Kiara, Tiffani, and Rena.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Arrangements are by Farmville Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be made at www.farmvillefh.com.