Irene Merritt

Mrs. Irene Smoak Merritt, 73, of Coosawhatchie, entered into eternal rest Sunday, April 21, 2024, at her residence.  She was the wife of the late Billy Wayne Merritt, Sr.

Born January 29, 1951, in Orangeburg County, she was a daughter of the late Ned Smoak and Shirley Smith Smoak.  She retired from the South Carolina Forestry Commission, where she was a fire tower operator for many years.  After retiring, she helped her husband and son run the family business, Merritt’s Garage. She had attended Huggin Oak Church of God and Walterboro Church of God when she was able.  Mrs. Irene loved gardening and taking care of her flowers.  She had a passion for taking care of others and especially helping the elderly.  She was a wonderful wife, mother and sister.

Surviving are: her son, Billy Wayne Merritt, Jr. of Yemassee; sisters, Geraldine Mobley of Hampton and Bootsie Wood of Orangeburg; and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her siblings, Grace Smoak, Kathleen Cook, Ruby Wright, Patricia Hyneman, Bennie Smoak and Dan Smoak.

Funeral services will be held 11 o’clock, Thursday, April 25, 2024, at The Brice Herndon Funeral Chapel, Varnville.  Interment will follow in Cook-Hull-Schaffer Cemetery, Old Salkehatchie Road, Early Branch.

The family will receive friends Thursday morning from 10 am until the hour of service at THE BRICE W. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOMES AND CREMATORY, VARNVILLE-HAMPTON CHAPEL, 1074 Yemassee Highway, Varnville, South Carolina, 29944.  Visit the guestbook online at: www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com.