Myrtice W. Smith

Myrtice Whitaker Smith, age 97, passed away peacefully in Hospice Savannah, Inc. early Thursday, June 18, 2015.

Myrtice was the daughter of James Talmadge Whitaker and Debbie Woods Whitaker. Myrtice was born, reared and married in Bulloch County. She was valedictorian of her 1936 class from Brooklet High School and studied design and illustration after graduation. She was married to James Woodrow Smith for 55 years. In 1955 she and her husband moved to Savannah, GA and lived in the Silk Hope District, where they raised their four children. After retiring, she and her husband returned to Bulloch County and made their home in the Denmark Community. Myrtice was a devoted wife and mother and a devout Christian all of her adult years. She loved her church family and her pastors. Over the years she served the church in various capacities, teaching children and for the last fifty years she taught adult Sunday school classes. She was a very wise and gifted woman serving her community with her leadership abilities in many clubs and organizations. She was a member of Trinity Baptist Church, God’s Companions and the Statesboro Regional Arts Association. Myrtice was an accomplished artist, receiving many awards for her art and she blessed many with her paintings. She will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her son, James W. Smith, Jr.; daughters, Bonnie S. Johnson and Debbie I Smith; loving sister, Betty W. O’Berry and her husband Fred; daughter-in-law, Gail Smith; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents, James and Debbie Whitaker, husband, James Woodrow Smith, son, Edwin O. Smith, grandson, Barry Smith, sisters, Jane W. Fordham and her husband Wilbur, Velma W. Dickerson and her husband, Lawrence, brothers, James H Whitaker and his wife, Maude and Hubert O. Whitaker and his wife, Terry.

The family will receive friends 6:00 to 8:00 PM Friday, June 19, 2015 in Hodges-Moore Funeral Home.

Mrs. Smith will lie in state from 10:00 AM until the funeral hour.

The funeral service will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, June 20, 2015 in Trinity Baptist Church with Reverend Joe Eason officiating. Burial will follow in Bulloch Memorial Gardens.

Nephews will serve as pallbearers

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Roscoe Roberts Sunday school class and the God’s Companion’s Group.

Please visit our online memorial at www.hodgesmoore.com to sign the guestbook and share fond memories with the Smith family.

Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Baptist Church, Building Fund, 1172 Nevils-Denmark Road, Pembroke, GA 31321.

Hodges-Moore Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements.