Charlene Wood McCorkle Smith

Born in New Orleans in 1927 to Katherine Wood McCorkle and John McCorkle, she had one brother, John Lewis McCorkle (Nancy Wallbillich). Her mother, father, brother, and sister-in-law predeceased her. Charlene attended Allen, Newman, Lusher, and McGehee graduating from McGehee where she received French and English prizes and an Honor scholarship to Newcomb College. She graduated from Newcomb in 1949 with distinction in English, and received the Pierce Butler Prize in English. As a member of Pi Beta Phi social fraternity, she was Treasurer and Rush Captain, and was also President of the New Orleans Pi Phi Alumnae Club in 1949-50. After graduation, she was employed in the Newcomb Registrar and Admissions Offices, and was promoted to Secretary to Tulane Dean of Students. She served several terms as Representative to the Newcomb Class of 1949.

Charlene was married to Rev. Prim B. Smith, Jr. for 53 years. They had five children: Katherine Conner Smith, Barrett Godwin Smith (Angela Cabell), Carolyn Ruth Smith, Charlotte Louise Smith (deceased 1970), and Guerry Michael Smith (Janet Barnwell Smith). She had a grandchild, Ethan Barnwell Smith, and two step-grandchildren, Kenneth Cabell, and Brittany Barbou.

A faithful member of the Episcopal Church, Charlene served on the first St. Andrew’s Episcopal School Board. She volunteered as Secretary to Fr. Donald George, Tulane Episcopal Chaplain. She and her husband taught Sunday School at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church for years. She moved to Berkeley, CA when her husband entered the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in response to a vocational calling, after he had served ten years as an attorney at Lemle and Kelleher Law Firm and as First Assistant U.S. Attorney in New Orleans. Charlene returned to Louisiana when her husband was appointed Curate at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Metairie, and returned to New Orleans when her husband was appointed Episcopal Chaplain to Tulane, UNO, and Loyola students and faculty in 1968. She remained a member of the Chapel of the Holy Spirit until her death, where a former chaplain always referred to her as “the matriarch.”

After working as Secretary to Fr. Robert John Dodwell, Rector of St. Anna’s Episcopal Church, from 1972-74, Charlene became the Executive Director of the Louisiana Psychiatric Medical Association where she served from 1974-2007. She was Managing Editor of the LPMA Newsletter until 2012, and won several newsletter awards from the American Psychiatric Association.

She was a member of the Democratic Party, Fourth Tuesday Book Club (1971-present), League of Women Voters, LAMI New Orleans, MHAL, NOMA, Audubon Institute, Friends of City Park, Preservation Resource Center, Community Relations Council Panel on Prejudice and various environmental groups.

Charlene was blessed with good friends and a caring faith community throughout her life. She loved the theater, movies (especially with a good discussion following), reading books, and keeping up with current events and politics. She was a proud liberal. A wonderful mother and wife, she always found a way to affirm and encourage her children and husband in their lives, and provide support when needed. A kind, intelligent, engaging, and loving person, she will be greatly missed.

If you would like to make a donation in memory of Charlene, please send it to the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, 1100 Broadway, NOLA 70118, to support its ministry. Memorial arrangements are pending.

To view and sign the online guest book, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com