Sylvia Smith

SWANSEA – Sylvia R. Smith, of Swansea, SC, born January 16, 1937, peacefully entered into her heavenly life Saturday, June 17, 2017.

The oldest daughter of Lonnie “Cowboy” and Rosa Lee Roland, she was a graduate of Swansea High School. Sylvia continued her education attending the University of South Carolina receiving her Masters in Nursing and becoming a licensed Nurse Practitioner. Her career began with Moore Orthopedic Clinic which gave her the opportunity to help many of the Carolina Gamecock football and basketball players. She, of course, became one of their biggest fans! Eventually her career moved her to Richland Memorial Hospital where she was head RN in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit taking care of premature/addicted infants. During this time, she furthered her education to gain yet another achievement of becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner. She worked in several healthcare facilities before moving to Gaffney to help open a Family Healthcare Practice, making her the first FNP at this location. Sylvia eventually moved back to Columbia where she retired, spending her days with her family and enjoying her flowers.

Sylvia’s greatest joys were her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She spent many hours playing make-up with her granddaughters until they grew “too old” to play, which then turned into shopping adventures and theater plays. She was always bragging on her grandsons for their talents from baseball, basketball, football and lacrosse. She would smile the biggest of smiles when talking about her family but we all know if her Gamecocks were playing, everyone took a backseat. She was an avid fan of the SC Gamecocks and watched/followed them through the good seasons and bad. Frank McGuire was always her favorite coach.

Sylvia is survived by her children, Terry (Heather) Smith, Jenny (Frankie) Wilson and Rob (Kelly) Manuelsmith; brother, Phil; sister, Francine; five grandchildren, Nikki (Michael), Jordan, Ryan, Michael and Matthew; four great- grandchildren, Mercedes, Phillip, Kaytlin and Hunter; her very special friend, Ward Faulkenberry; three nephews, three nieces and many other family members that she loved dearly. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Darrell Lee and Joe Wayne Roland; son, Neal and grandson, Matthew.

Services will be held at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel, Saturday, June 24, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will be held at Red Bank Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38101.