Verma Smith Hardee

Verma Dale Smith Hardee was born on January 25, 1952,in Whiteville, NC. She was a daughter of the late Wendell Johnny and Lucille Long Smith. Verma was the second of five children. She is preceded in death by her parents, Lucille and Wendell; sisters, Lois Smith Norris, Renee Smith; and brother,Buddy Boy Smith.

Verma and Randy’s love story began in 1968. Their first date was at the movie theater to see True Grit. They married on June 11, 1972, while she was in college.

She graduated from UNC-Pembroke in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science Teaching Degree. She taught at Bolivia Elementary for several years, then moved to Union Primary School to finish her teaching career. She enjoyed each student and still reminisced about them and recalled many of them by name and year, even up to a month before passing.

After teaching, she worked alongside Randy in the family business. Over the years, she was faithful to the church, serving as pianist, secretary, treasurer, Sunday School teacher, VBS teacher, and in many other ministries. Once Brandon and Allyson were grown, she began working in Real Estate and met many wonderful people along that journey.

To know Verma is to love her. The doors of their home were always open, and no one was ever turned away. If you knew her, you knew her love language was caring for people. She would give you the coat off her back or the shoes off her feet – literally.

She was loving, compassionate, merciful, understanding,and helped you however she could. Her favorite hobbies included cooking and baking; if it was with her grandchildren, it was the best day ever. Her favorite family activities include driving the golf cart around their farm with the grandkids to look at the horses, fish in the pond, and even checking out the recent growth in the garden. She cherished time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She loved to freeze-dry bananas and pineapple and make strawberry freezer jam every spring that would be devoured throughout the year. In addition, she loved to ride through the NC Mountains with Randy and look at God’s creation in all its splendor.

Surviving are her loving husband Randy, of 52 years; her son, Brandon Hardee, and wife, Kristi; daughter, Allyson Newcomb, and husband, Brian; six beloved grandchildren, Philip, Lauren, Rainey, Gray, Kenzie, and Lane, all of Sunset Beach; brother Wayne Smith, and wife, Rhonda, of Shallotte;nephew Ellis; and nieces Crystal, Jenean, Jessica, and Kristen.

She personified I Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”. She prayed faithfully about everything, all day, every day. She was dedicated to her prayer list, and she added to it continually. It was her honor to lift others to the feet of the Father.

​It is with the utmost confidence that she heard her Savior say, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” when she entered His presence on April 24th.

A Celebration of Life will be conducted at 3pm on May 8 by Pastor Sam Crane and Pastor Jason L. Benton in the Lee Funeral Home Chapel, Little River, SC. Visitation will be two hours (1:00-3:00pm) prior to the service at the funeral home.

Private Interment will be in the Bethel Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery following the service.

Casket bearers will be Philip Newcomb, D.L. Little, Joey Smith, Graham Davis, Jonathon Siler, and Justin Milliken.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorials be directed to Ambassador Camp, P.O. Box 200, Lake Waccamaw, NC 28450; or Breath of Life Building Fund, 8148 Ocean Hwy W., Sunset Beach, NC 28468; or Soldier Bay Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 10, Ash, NC 28420.

Lee Funeral Home and Crematory of Little River/North Myrtle Beach is serving the family.

She is forever in our hearts as she walks with Jesus.