Emma Peoples Smith

Born at home on May 15, 1928, in Providence Township, Emma Harris Peoples was the youngest child of Mattie Cordelia Perry and James McDill Peoples and sister to Rachael, James, Perry, Preston, and Margaret. Her early years were tumultuous, as the Great Depression was followed by a fire and loss of their century-old farm, plus the death of her father when Emma was but 10.

Her mother went to work for Sears Roebuck, and her older siblings pitched in to meet the family's needs as they moved from place to place in the Sardis area. A wonderful and treasured lady, Hazel Kirkpatrick, saw to much of Emma’s upbringing, and what a task that must have been!

Emma came of age during World War II. She was graduating class of 1945 Historian and Salutatorian at Sharon High School. After further study at Erskine College, she returned home to work in the Southern Bell accounting department. During this time, she was introduced to an exceptionally bright, freshly minted engineer in the Southern Railroad Bridge Department: Albert Smith. Al and Emma were married at Sardis Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church on October 8, 1949.

Al, with predominantly German ancestry, was unsurprisingly raised in the Lutheran Church. Emma’s Presbyterian persuasion held sway, and Al joined Emma at Sardis Church, where, as she often noted, she’d been involved since in her mother’s womb. Indeed, the familial roots to Sardis Church and the Mecklenburg area are deep. Her Peoples and Harris ancestors, exemplars of the Scotch-Irish settlers who made their way across the Atlantic and down the Great Wagon Road to the Carolinas, trace to the colonial American era.

Before their marriage, Al had made ready their 5143 Sardis Road home, where they raised three daughters. In 1983, they moved a couple of miles away to 1706 Piccadilly Drive. Their final earthly move was to Matthews Glen (then Plantation Estates) in 1993. Emma and Al were masterful woodworkers and bird lovers who eagerly shared their artistry across the campus.

Perhaps the difficulties of her early years purposed Emma to be especially kind to those of lesser estate. That kindness and her dispensation of countless zingers (which persisted to the end!) are how we’ll best remember her.

Late in the day on March 30, with a sudden whooshing like a bluebird set free from earthly bonds, Emma took flight to rejoin Al in a new home prepared by her Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 54 years, Albert. She is survived by daughters Susan Casada (Don), Betsy Cox, and Janet Traylor (Glenn); grandchildren Joshua Casada, Matthew Casada (Ryan), Will Casada (Meredith), Sarah Casada, Paul Traylor, and Rachael Morales (Luke); and 11 cherished great-grands: Ethan, Cavin, Jack, Sam, Rosemary, Hazel, Elinor, Charlie, Eliza, Levi, Joel.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sardis Presbyterian Church Cemetery Fund (6100 Sardis Road, Charlotte, NC 28270, or online at sardis.org) or to VIA Health Partners Hospice (7845 Little Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28226).