Eva Smith

Eva R. Smith, 92, passed away on Saturday, September 5, 2015. Eva was born December 28, 1922 in Griffin, Ga., the daughter of Evelyn C. and William Oscar Reeves. She was a member of Pinecrest Baptist Church. She was married to L.Robert Segredi from 1943-1955 in Macon, Ga. Eva worked for Southern Bell in the early 1940s, and in 1944 she worked at Streitman Biscuit Company (now Keebler’s) until 1958. In 1958, she married Chief Petty Officer John A. Smith in Macon, Ga., and the Navy family moved to Charleston in 1963. While living in Hunley Park, Eva was a driving force in organizing the baseball and t-ball leagues for the children of Navy personnel. She and her husband, John, also enlisted the help of Capt. Linden in building a baseball park for the children of Hunley Park. In 1973 when Eva found out that a minor league baseball team would be locating in Charleston, she called Mayor Joe Riley and offered to work (at any position) for the team. She was hired by Ray Bloomquist as the secretary for their Pittsburgh Pirates minor league team in 1973-1974. In 1975 Bill Edwards and Ty Cline, the new owners, promoted Eva to general manager of the team and was one of only four female general managers in all of minor league baseball at that time. She served as general manager again in 1976. She continued working in the front office through the 1977 season and made many lifelong friends in the baseball families. Eva is survived by her daughter, Lynn Segredi Freshwater (John) of North Charleston and two sons, James R. Smith (Jennifer) of North Charleston, John A. Smith, Jr. (Vera) of Charlotte, N.C., six grandchildren, two great grandchildren and four nieces. Her brothers, William “Bill” Reeves (Mary) of Macon, Ga., Henry T. Reeves (Dianne) of Cordele, Ga., Hilary B. Reeves (Barbara) of Macon, Ga., and brother-in-law Richard Smith (Theresa of Kopperl, Texas. Eva was preceded in death by her son, William Thomas Segredi, mother and father, Evelyn and Oscar Reeves, and her husband of 48 years, John A. Smith. The viewing will be at from 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, September 9, at Carolina Memorial Funeral Home, 7113 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston, S.C. 29406. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, September 10 at Carolina Memorial Park of the same address. A special thank you to Hospice of Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, Chaplain Marshall Stanley and Eva's daughter-in-law, Jennifer L. Smith, for the loving care of our mother in her final days. Arrangements provided by CAROLINA MEMORIAL PARK, FUNERALS and CREMATIONS, 7113 Rivers Ave., N. Charleston, SC 29406 (843) 797-2222. A memorial message may be sent to the family at www.carolinamemorial.com.