Mary Smith

Mary Allen Smith, 86, of Elizabethtown, widow of Robert Dexter Smith Jr. died on 19 January 2017 at Beacon Place Hospice Facility in Greensboro.
Mary was born 16 October 1930 in Columbus County to Jacob Allen Johnson and his wife Inez Roberts Johnson both of whom precede her in death. She is also preceded in death by brothers, David Earl Johnson and Tylon C. "Jerry" Johnson. Mary is survived by son Robert Allen Smith,and wife Julie Hamilton Smith of Greensboro, NC; grandson Robert Hamilton Smith, and wife Emily Smoot Smith, great granddaughters Charlotte and Elizabeth; grandson Lyle Sutton Smith and wife Lindsay Ellerbe Smith; son Victor Dean Smith and wife Margaret Bogle Smith of Houston, TX; and sister-in-law Minnie Johnson of Crozet, VA.
Afflicted with osteomyelitis as an infant she was a patient at Shriners Children's Hospital in Greenville, SC for several long periods of time undergoing multiple operations to rebuild affected bone structure. Surviving a condition that could have left her an invalid for life, Mary went on to bear two sons, become a successful sales person for Avon cosmetics and obtain her license as a beautician, owning and operating Mary's Beauty Shop for many years. She was known for her beauty and love of clothing and jewelry, garnering unsolicited admiration from strangers even in her 80's on trips to the mall in her wheelchair or out to restaurants. She possessed a high intelligence and the tenacity to accomplish whatever she set her mind to. She enjoyed keeping in touch with her friends on daily calls. She will be missed.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at 2:00pm at Elizabethtown City Cemetery with Rev. Darrell Copeland officiating.
The family requests that memorials may be made to Shriners Children's Hospital, 950 West Faris Rd. Greenville, SC 29605.