Faye Smith Birkitt

She was born in Miami, Florida, on August 31, 1925, to James Roy Smith and Gertrude Elizabeth (Pierce) Smith. Her family moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, after a hurricane struck Miami. She had two sisters, Mary (Smith) Hastings and Margaret (Smith) Boyce; and two brothers, Roy Smith and Neal Smith.

Faye graduated from Sharon High School, and the Spencerian Business School, both in Charlotte. She worked with Associated Transport, Inc. Faye met the love of her life, S. P. (Buddy) Birkitt, Jr., and they were married at the Ebenezer Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church on June 8, 1946. They raised two children, Beverly Faye Birkitt and Edward Neal Birkitt.

After retirement, Faye and Buddy moved to Fernandina Beach, Florida. They were active members of the First Presbyterian Church there. Faye stayed active as a member of the Ribault Garden Club, the Newcomers Club, a bowling club and also played bridge and golf regularly. She spent many days on the boat offshore of Jacksonville while Buddy was fishing.

After more than 50 years of marriage, Faye lost Buddy to cancer in 1997. She then realized a dream of living part time with her cat in the mountains of North Carolina. She also retained her primary residence in Fernandina Beach until 2015 when she moved into assisted living at Addington Place at College Harbor in St, Petersburg, Florida, near her daughter.

She was passionate about playing bingo and Rummikub with her many friends at Addington.

Faye was always fun-loving and remembered for her joyful laugh. She always maintained her kindness, grace, compassion, love of family and friends, and expressed gratitude for her long life, full of wonderful and varied experiences. She never strayed from her faith and always kept everyone in her prayers. She truly embodied the adage of a life well lived.

Faye was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and siblings. She is survived by her daughter, Beverly Birkitt (David Williams) of Terra Ceia, Florida, and her son Edward Birkitt (Cheryl) of Yulee, Florida. She is also survived by step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.

A service will be held for Faye Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at McEwen Funeral & Cremations at Forest Lawn West in Charlotte, North Carolina. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn West Cemetery.