Ethel Smith

Waynesville, Nina Ethel Hamilton Smith, 98, passed away on Sunday, August 16, 2015 at her residence. A native of Jasper, Virginia, she was born October 21, 1916, the daughter of the late Patrick Hagan Hamilton and Bertie Marie Shortt Hamilton. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Pritchard C. Smith, Jr. who died in 1995; a daughter, Linda Kay Smith Bell Moore and son-in-law, Paul E. Bell, Jr.; sisters, Juanita "Tom" Cole, Edith Hooper and Lorine Franklin; and one brother, Ernest Hamilton. Ethel graduated valedictorian from Cullowhee High School and attended Western Carolina Teacher's College. Ethel was employed for 16 years at Central Elementary School as a teacher's assistant. She was a former member of the Home Demonstration Club and enjoyed sewing, quilting and embroidery. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Franklin. A devout Christian, she shared her faith daily through her steadfast prayers, actions and most of all her love for everyone. She exemplified Christ and lived a life that was an extraordinary example of selflessness. Nana was a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother and was an inspiration to many generations. Nana is survived by a daughter, Kathy Smith Franklin and Butch; son-in-law, Dr. Douglas Moore; a sister Mary Katherine Robinson; five grandchildren, Dr. Alison Kay Bell and Donald Gaylord, Matthew Paul Bell, Jason Pritchard Fulton and Shanna, Jenna Fulton Yarbrough and Scott, and Jocelyn Marie Fulton and fiancé, Austin Francis; seven great-grandchildren, Whitman and Schuyler Barefoot, Mitchell and Adara Bell, Hagan and Hannah Fulton and Knox Yarbrough. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 20, 2015 in the Waynesville Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with Reverend Paul Murdock and Reverend Dr. Ron Robinson, and Reverend Dr. Robert Prince, III officiating. Burial will follow at Garrett-Hillcrest Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home and at other times at Ethel's home. The family would like to thank Nana's caregivers, Sandra, Brenda, Irene, Phyllis, Joan, Chloe, Annette and Haywood Hospice. Memorials may be made to Meals-on-Wheels, 157 Paragon Parkway, Suite 300, Clyde, NC 28721 where Ethel faithfully volunteered, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or First Baptist Church of Spartanburg, 250 E. Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306.

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