Nancy Lee Mills Smith

She was born December 26, 1940 in Winston-Salem, NC and moved to Charlotte in 1949. Nancy graduated from Central High School in 1959 and furthered her education by majoring in Business at Women’s College in Greensboro, NC. She met Freddie Smith, “the love of her life’, while in high school. They married June 26, 1960 in Charlotte, NC.

After she was married, Nancy opened three women’s clothing stores called “The Ornament Shoppe”. They were very successful. She sold them and got her real estate license in 1981. Nancy and Freddie opened The Real Estate Center and sold residential and commercial real estate along with their fourteen agents. The last 30 years Nancy was a developer and President of N&W Smith Properties. She told everyone she would never retire.

Nancy had many talents and loved music. She sang in the Charlotte Choral Society in the Singing Christmas Tree for many years. She organized a hand bell group called the Musicality Ringers of Rock Hill and also served as director of the group. They rang at many assisted living facilities and presented many seasonal concerts. Nancy also learned to play the harp. She also served as choir director for Providence Presbyterian Church. She was President of the Accolade Garden Club in Rock Hill. Nancy organized “River Queen Red Hats” fourteen years ago and was the current Queen Mom. She loved playing bridge and formed two different groups.

Nancy traveled all over the world and continued after Freddie’s death traveling with her children and friends. She was a member of India Hook Methodist Church in Rock Hill, SC, the Rock Hill Women's Club and the Rock Hill Music Club..

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, Hubert and Catherine Mills of Charlotte, NC; and her beloved husband, William Frederick Smith, known to everyone as “Freddie”.

She is survived by her children, Melodie Carswell and husband Eddie of Waxhaw, NC, and Brad Smith and wife Tammy of Charlotte, NC; sisters, Merillyn Sifford and husband Ken of Holly Springs, NC and Carolyn Fite of Waxhaw, NC; brother-in-law Dewey Smith and wife Cookie of Albany, GA; as well as multiple nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind her beloved dog, Cooper.

A service to celebrate Nancy’s life will be held at 2:00 pm Tuesday, January 2 at Providence Presbyterian Church, 10140 Providence Church Lane in Charlotte. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Following the committal service, the family will receive friends at a reception held in the church Fellowship Hall.

Memorials may be sent to the Humane Society of Charlotte, 1348 Parker Dr, Charlotte, NC 28208 or JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), 200 Vesey Street, 28th Floor, New York, NY 10281. For those wishing to send flowers, please send them to McEwen Funeral Home – Pineville Chapel, 10500 Park Road, Charlotte, NC 28210.

Condolences may be offered at www.McEwenPinevilleChapel.com.