Lynda Sue Smith

Lynda Sue Smith, 85, of Columbia, passed away quietly in her sleep, Friday March 1st, 2024. Services will be held Thursday, March 7th at 10:30am at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 West with burial to follow.

Lynda was born, December 30, 1938 in Wilson County, NC to George and Lorna Hinton McGinnis. When Lynda was very young, Lynda’s mother was diagnosed with tuberculosis and was sent to a sanatorium where she eventually passed. Lynda was raised by two aunts and then her father remarried to a woman named Dorothy. She graduated high school in 1956. After high school she worked at Mrs. Willis Restaurant in Morehead City, NC, a restaurant her sister Robbie owned with family. At the restaurant she met her Prince Charming, William Valdean Smith of Missouri. Bill Smith was the love of her life, and she was the love of his life. He promised mom’s dad she would get a college education. This was so important for him and her. Lynda would eventually get a teaching degree at the University of Kansas.

While raising young children Lynda attended the University of Kansas and received her teaching degree. Lynda taught 1st grade at Rockbridge elementary and then kindergarten at Midway Elementary. She was a very beloved teacher and one of her highlights as a teacher was having her own granddaughter in her kindergarten classroom.

Along with being a beloved teacher, Lynda was a very talented artist. She and a friend would take classes with a Columbia College professor. She was very prolific for a long stretch and filled their home with her art. One of her favorite stories she told is when she entered one of her paintings in the Boone County Art Show. Bill walked into the bank and saw the blue ribbon hanging on her submission. He had tears in his eyes. His daughter Melynda also won a ribbon that year and mom and daughter had their picture in the paper together.

Grindy and Poppy as they named themselves, have six grandchildren; Samson, Ryan, Jeremiah, Teylor, Makenzie, and Olivia and nine great grandchildren; Cannen, Bella, Telly, Carter, Tristan, Dea, Addie, Quinley, and Clara. She is also survived by her two daughters and their husbands, Melynda Lotven (Tony) and Laurie Ely (Patrick), six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren, as well as a sister-in-law in Colorado and half-sister in North Carolina.

Condolences and fond memories may be shared at www.memorialfuneralhomeandcemetery.com