Thomas Smith

Mr. Thomas George Smith, affectionately known as “Smitty”, age 77, of Cottageville, entered into his eternal rest Tuesday evening, October 23, 2012, at his residence under the care of Amedisys Hospice.

Funeral services will be conducted 3 o’clock Saturday afternoon, October 27, 2012, from The Brice W. Herndon and Sons Funeral Chapel, Walterboro. The Reverend Sidney Mims officiating. Interment will follow in Cottageville Cemetery, Cottageville.

Born September 29, 1935, a native of Charleston, his parents were Robert Shephard Smith and Ida McAlhany Smith. Mr. Smith retired from the Charleston Naval Shipyard in 1991 where he was a rigger in Shop No. 72 having worked the last seventeen years of that career on the graveyard shift. Following retirement, he was a Bailiff for the Colleton County Judicial Court on Hampton Street in Walterboro. He was a member of Rehoboth United Methodist Church in Cottageville.

He retired and his wife and he moved to the big town of Cottageville. He enjoyed the country life. Until his Parkinson ’s disease prevented him from doing so, he grew a big garden. He said God provided the garden and he freely gave away vegetables of his harvest to many elderly residents. He charged no one for what he done; he was doing what the Lord wanted him to do.

Surviving are: his wife of forty-one years, Mrs. Myrtle Rushton Smith; two daughters, Sonie Jones of Walterboro and Dani Carter and her husband James of Cottageville; a brother, Dan Smith and his wife Sandy of Moncks Corner; and two sisters, Sarah Hiott of North Charleston and Arbell Ellis and her husband Bill of North Charleston. There are six grandchildren, Christina Jones, Michaela Jones, Emily Blevans, Joshua Blevans, Sam Carter, and Ariana Carter, as well as three sisters-in-law, Amelia, Carolyn, and Myra that also survive. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Dick and John; and a sister, Julia.

No flowers by request. For those who so desire, the family has suggested that memorial contributions may be directed in his memory to the following: Rehoboth United Methodist Church, Post Office Box 386, Cottageville, South Carolina 29435; or to Amedisys Hospice, 203A Eddie Chasteen Drive, Walterboro, South Carolina 29488.

For those who desire, memorial messages and thoughts of condolence as well as memorable recollections about Mr. Smith may be shared with the family at the online guestbook, www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com.

Family and friends are invited to call prior to the funeral ceremony beginning at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon in the Harbiston Stateroom of THE BRICE W. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOMES, WALTERBORO CHAPEL, 1193 Bells Highway, Walterboro, 843.538.5408.

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