Mrs. Doris Inez Smith Upchurch

She was born in the Gapway area of Mullins, SC, the second of nine children. Her parents, Carl and Inez Smith, owned a tobacco farm where Doris and her siblings worked the family farm. Doris was considered the Jitter-Bug queen of her time and was an avid roller-skater.

By nature, Doris was a vibrant businesswoman and entrepreneur. All through her life, whatever she did, she put her heart into it. Early in Doris’ life, she ventured into different and male-dominated professions such as the time she worked as a photographer with Olan Mills Studio, and drove a mail truck. For many years Doris dabbled in real estate, buying and remodeling, then renting homes all around Savannah. It was only natural that she should have a career in real estate, earning her real estate license in 1973. By 1994, Doris had the largest female-owned real estate company in the Coastal Empire, with 32 Associates. During the first ten years of her real estate business, she grew her company to an aggressive enterprise serving the entire Coastal Empire . She became a Million Dollar Club Member eight times during those ten years. In the following years, she opened her Wilmington Island office and purchased the Century 21 Franchise to grow her business regionally. In pursuit of her career and a better life for her family, Doris attended every annual real-estate convention in different cities around the nation. Doris continued to pursue her real estate career until she decided to “slow down” at the young age of 86.

Doris was a member of the Alee Temple Shrine Ladies' Auxiliary, the Garden Club of Kensington Park, the Bridge Club, and an active participant in her church. She was a member of the Wilmington Island United Methodist Church, the Savannah Board of Realtors, Georgia Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, and served for 25 years on 2 of her favorite committees, RPAC (Realtors Political Action Committee) and SABOR (Awards Committee that annually honors Realtors that achieve the level of excellence for the Distinctive Sales Society). Doris received this Award too many years to count. Her fellow Realtors will truly miss her as one of the Grand Dames of Savannah Real Estate.

Doris met her husband, Joseph Cole Upchurch, while working as a photographer with Olan Mills. They were married for 57 years and during that time raised six children. Doris embraced life on many fronts from home life, to running her business as a realtor, and supporting her husband who was the second generation owner of Upchurch Music Company. Doris loved to travel and had the opportunity to savor and enjoy life and see the world with her children. Doris was a loving, caring, and kind individual who will be greatly missed.

Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Cole Upchurch, Sr., and her parents, Carl and Inez Smith. She is survived by her children, Annabelle Halverson, Judy Guyer, Joseph Upchurch, Jr., (Angela ), Charles Upchurch (Clare ), Kim Feus (Robert ), Kevin Upchurch (Lisa); 12 grandchildren: Drew Grinde, Jason Clarke, Cristina Whetsell, Charles Lee Guyer, Joseph Cole Upchurch, III, Matthew Upchurch, Marie Upchurch, Margaret Dombrowski, Catherine Barrow, Robert Feus, Jr., Karl Feus, and William Feus. 11 great-grandchildren: Charlie Guyer, Joseph C. Upchurch, IV, Elliott Eden, Eliza Everett, Evangeline Dombrowski, Kyle and Brittany Grinde, Garry and Genevieve Whetsell, 2 sisters, Carlene Bane and Betty Jo King, 4 brothers, George Smith, Haskell Smith, Reggie Smith, and Glenn A. Smith, all of Mullins, S.C., and a number of nieces and nephews.

Visitation: 6:00-8:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at the Fairhaven Funeral Home, Hubert C. Baker Chapel, 7415 Hodgson Memorial Drive, Savannah, Ga 31406. Funeral Services: 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at Wilmington Island United Methodist Church, with Rev. Michael Brown, officiating. Interment will follow in Bonaventure Cemetery.

Mrs. Upchurch will be taken to the church at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011, to lie in state.

Active pallbearers will be grandsons: Bobby Feus, Jr., Karl Feus, William Feus, Charles Lee Guyer, Drew Grinde, and Jason Clarke. Honorary pallbearers will be: Matthew Upchurch, Joseph Cole Upchurch, III, and members of the Ladies Auxiliary of Alee Shrine Temple, and the Savannah Board of Realtors.

Remembrances: Spanish Oaks Hospice, 83950 Highway 301 North, Suite 6, Claxton, Georgia 30417; phone (912) 739-0504; or the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital.