Dr. Mary NeSmith

Dr. Mary NeSmith - STATESBORO - Caroline Mary Brannen NeSmith, a Bulloch County native, died yesterday at Ogeechee Area Hospice after a seven-year battle with Alzheimer's Disease. Born in Pulaski on March 25, 1932, she was the daughter of Irvin A. Brannen, Sr, and Carrie Mae Brinson Brannen. The Brannen family moved to their Statesboro home place in 1942. She is survived by her husband Colonel E. Archie NeSmith, Jr. (Retired), and her two children, Caroline Otwell Harless of Atlanta and Roy P. Otwell, III, of New York City. She is also survived by her brother, Irvin A. Brannen, Jr., her sister, Annie Sula Brannen Moxley, both of Statesboro, and a host of nieces and nephews. In addition to being a wife and mother, she was an educator, a career woman, an activist, a world traveler, a philanthropist, and a very creative, dynamic force. Earning her BBA from The University of Georgia in the late 1950's, she attended Georgia State University where she earned a Master of Business Education degree, followed by a PhD concentrating in Business Management and Communication. She married Archie NeSmith, also a Bulloch County native. They lived in the Washington, DC, area numerous times and in Munich, Germany, before Archie's retirement from the military. Mary taught at the University of the District of Columbia and the University of Maryland (Munich Branch). She then became the chairman of the Division of Business and Social Sciences Program of the Northern Virginia Community College. She retired from academia in the early 1990's to spend time in Statesboro renovating her beloved family home. She also participated in many social and charitable organizations including the Adam Brinson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Colonial Dames of the XVII Century, Civic Garden Club, Georgia Southern Botanical Garden, Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, Georgia Southern University Museum Board of Directors, and Park Steering Committee. She was also an accredited flower show judge. Her perseverance, even while fighting Alzheimer's Disease, was noble and relentless. She was, above all, strong, beautiful, gracious, and strong-willed. Those wishing to express condolences may do so between 4:00 and 6:30 PM on Saturday, November 21, at the family home. A private family funeral service will held on Sunday at the home with interment at New Hope Cemetery on. Funeral arrangements are being coordinated by Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Ogeechee Area Hospice (200 Donehoo Street, PO Box 531, Statesboro, GA, 30459. (912) 764-8441, www.OgeecheeAreaHospice.org) or to the National Alzheimer's Association (225 N Michigan Av, Floor 17, Chicago, IL, 60601. (800) 272-3900, www.alz.org) Friends and family may also visit www.joineranderson.com to extend your condolences. Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home Statesboro Chapel Savannah Morning News November 20, 2009 Please sign our Obituary Guest Book at savannahnow.com/obituaries .