Florence Elese (McElreath) Smith, 93, born February 7, 1926, passed away peacefully at Abbey Hospice in Social Circle, Georgia on March 14, 2019. Florence was born in Crabapple, Georgia to parents, Marvin and Gertrude McElreath. After a few years in Roswell, the family moved to Cabbagetown in the heart of Atlanta. As a young person, Florence enjoyed singing at Immanuel Baptist Church, spending time with her family, and riding the streetcar with friends from Atlanta Girls High School.
Florence and her husband, Jesse Smith, married March 15, 1944. Jesse soon joined the United States Navy as part of World War II and the newlyweds moved to Daily City, California. After a couple of years on the West Coast, they returned to Georgia with their infant daughter. They settled in Atlanta and were blessed with two more daughters and one son. In 1966, the family moved to Mountain Park-Roswell full-time and became valued members of the community.
In addition to raising four children, Florence enjoyed teaching adult literacy courses at North Fulton Community Charities and volunteering with Equal Opportunity Advisors (EOA). Florence also had a successful administrative career with T&M Brokerage, DuPont, and Curtis 1000. She was an avid reader and enjoyed writing long letters to friends and family, as well as stories and poetry. Florence loved the outdoors and was known for her beautiful flowers and large vegetable garden – she shared many vegetables with neighbors. She also enjoyed walking all over Mountain Park to visit with her many friends.
Her other activities included square dancing with Jesse and friends in the Tyson Twirlers Square Dance Club at the East Cobb Senior Citizens Center, teaching line dancing with her husband to kids at area schools, and team bowling in Senior Bowling Leagues. She was an active participant with several different churches, most recently Rutledge Baptist Church. She taught Sunday school at many different times in her life; faith and mission work were central parts of her life. Weekends and warmer months were often spent with extended family and friends at the lake – both Florence and Jesse still water-skied late into life.
While Florence had such a full life raising children and helping others, late in life, she accomplished a goal that had been on the backburner for years – at age 67, she graduated with honors from Reinhardt College. At graduation, she received a standing ovation for her accomplishment and her degree was a point of pride for her for the rest of her life.
Florence is preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Jesse T Smith; parents; a sister, Kathryn; and a brother, Ralph. She is survived by four children, Sharon (Larry) Creel, Gerann (Steve) Blanton, Joy (Mike) McKinney), and Tommy (Joanna) Smith; one brother, Jack McElreath (friend Ginger Dangerfield); 13 grandchildren and their spouses; and 19 great grandchildren. Several cousins, nieces, and nephews also survive. Visitation will be Monday, March 18, 2019 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Roswell Funeral Home, 950 Mansell Road. Funeral to follow at 1:00 with interment in Green Lawn Cemetery immediately afterwards. After services, a reception for family and friends will be held at Mountain Park Civic Building – 112 Lakeshore Drive. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Mountain Park Sunday School, care of Wanda Taylor, 142 Cedar Street, Roswell, GA 30075.
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