Evangeline Pressley Smith

Van was the daughter of Rev. F. H. and Mrs. Lillian Knight Pressley, and she was the youngest of eleven children. Van grew up in various small towns in South Carolina, wherever her father was ministering at a church. Van was deeply devoted to the family of her birth. She lived near her parents all of her adult life and cared for her parents during their final years. She also remained close to her siblings throughout her life.

Van graduated from high school at Wesleyan Methodist Academy. She then attended college at Central Wesleyan College (now Southern Wesleyan University) and Furman University, where she studied Library Science. She worked as a librarian after her children were grown.

Family and faith were the two most important things in Van’s life. While at Southern Wesleyan University, she met and married Herschel A. Smith. Van and Herschel were married for 63 years until Herschel passed away in 2019, and together they had three children. Van was happiest when she was surrounded by her family. She loved to host family gatherings at her house, not only for her immediate family but also for her extended family. Van’s most beloved contribution to those family events was her wonderful cooking. She was a superb cook, and her desserts were especially loved.

Van was a faithful member of Greenville First Wesleyan Church for many years, where she played the piano for worship services, adult choirs and youth choirs. Her piano playing was skillful and artistic, and she had the ability to interpret a musical score and make it communicate and come to life. Van also played the piano for her husband during his many years of serving as Minister of Music at their church and singing in other local churches and Christian camps. She also served faithfully on the Spouses’ Auxiliary of the Southern Wesleyan University Board of Trustees, where her husband served for over 20 years.

Surviving Van are three children, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren: Herschel P. Smith (wife Sherri) of McAdenville, NC, their four children, Joshua (wife Ashley), and their three children (Chloe, Audrey and Grayson) of Boiling Springs, SC; Joseph of Austin, TX; Daniel (wife Kassi) and their daughter Elizabeth of Shelby, NC; and Devon of Belmont, NC; Sheryl Medders (husband James) of Simpsonville, SC, their two children Matthew (wife Sarah) of Dallas, TX and Aaron of Simpsonville, SC; and Keith Smith of Atlanta, GA.

Funeral services for Van will be 3:00 p.m. Sunday, March 13 at Mackey Funerals and Cremations, 311 Century Drive, Greenville, SC 29607. The family will receive visitors at Mackey Funerals and Cremations at Century Drive from 2:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 13. Burial will occur at Woodlawn Memorial Park at Wade Hampton Boulevard in Greenville, SC.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Southern Wesleyan University, 907 Wesleyan Drive, P.O. Box 1020, Central, SC 29630.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mackeycenturydrive.com for the Smith family.