She was born July 4, 1935 in Greenville, SC to Ralph and Elsie Alexander (nee Medlock) and grew up in Liberty, SC then Pickens, SC where she graduated from Pickens High School in 1953. Upon graduation, she moved with her family to Clinton, SC. She married David Smart, her high school sweetheart, on June 9, 1957 and started a great adventure of being an Air Force wife and helping raise two children. She loved being part of the military family as she travelled the world, met new people, and devoted her life to helping serve her country. During her marriage she lived in seven different states, plus Puerto Rico and London, England. She enjoyed doing volunteer work, singing in various women’s choirs, playing bridge and acting and singing in community musical productions. Over the past several years, she and her husband resided at Spring Harbor where they enjoyed many activities and friendships.
When her husband retired from the Air Force, they remained in Columbus, GA where they were active at St. Luke United Methodist Church, and she was a choir member. She also travelled far and wide with her family and friends to all fifty states, Europe, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Israel, Egypt, and the Panama Canal. She always found time to cheer on her favorite team, the Atlanta Braves. She could tell you the name of every player and their stats and explain obscure baseball rules.
She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend and never failed to express her love. She had great Christian faith and lived it daily. We will miss her always.
She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Lt. Colonel (Ret.) David Smart; her son, Tony Smart, and his wife, Susie of Suwanee, GA; her daughter, Lisa Walker, and her husband, Richard of Roswell, GA; her grandsons, Michael Smart and Evan Smart of Suwanee, GA; her sister, Betty Avery of Clinton, SC; her brother, Frank Alexander of Clinton, SC; her niece, Kim Windsor; and four nephews, Greg, Kevin, Tim and Todd Alexander, all of Clinton, SC.
A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, January 30, 2021 at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon Road, Columbus, GA 31907. She will have a private burial at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, GA.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Luke United Methodist Church, Columbus, GA: https://saintlukecolumbus.org/.
