Bonnie Louise Ollis Smith

Bonnie was born August 2, 1940, in Charlotte, NC to Clyfton Cole and Elsie Sloan Ollis. She was the youngest of four children. Her mother died when she was four years old and her father died when she was eight years old. Bonnie and her siblings grew up in a home for orphans run by the Junior Order of United American Mechanics (JOUAM) in Lexington, North Carolina due to her father’s involvement in the organization. After her father’s passing, the family belongings were auctioned off, and proceeds were placed in a trust fund for Bonnie and her siblings.

Bonnie loved to sing as a young girl. She was selected to sing with a group from the orphanage under direction of the Superintendent of the home, enabling her to travel to various states -- New York, Kentucky, Vermont, and Georgia. The choir sang popular tunes for the JOUAM organization, Rotary Club, Jaycees, and Christmas parties. In the eighth-grade Bonnie was assigned to the orphanage infirmary which led to her decision to become a nurse.

In her early years in the orphanage, Bonnie was chosen to attend the Burlington Mills Christmas party for a childless couple, Lawrence Charles and Ann Byerly, which led to a lasting relationship with the family. Bonnie’s gratitude led the Byerly’s to eventually bring her to live with them in Hickory, NC for her senior year of high school. After graduating from Hickory High School in 1957, Bonnie, using money from her trust fund, entered the Presbyterian School of Nursing in Charlotte, NC. She was proud to be inducted into the Southern Early Childhood Association (SECA) Honor Society. While at the Presbyterian School of Nursing, she met her husband-to-be, Wayne Paysour Smith, from Troutman, NC, on a blind date. Wayne was a proud graduate of North Caroline State University (NCSU), with a degree in Agriculture Education, and had recently returned from the army where he had been assigned to the CIA. Bonnie graduated from Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing in 1961. She began her nursing career in the newly opened ICU at Presbyterian Hospital.

Bonnie and Wayne were married on November 4, 1962, at Mulberry Presbyterian, her grandparents’ church, in West Mecklenburg Charlotte, NC. Their first home was in Salisbury, NC, where Wayne was employed as the Rowan County 4-H agent and Bonnie a nurse at the Rowan County Hospital. Six months later, she began working at an office of internal medicine. She spoke of remembering going to the office waiting room and hearing the announcement that President Kennedy had been shot.

Wayne and Bonnie were active in the Presbyterian Church, with Milton Carruthers from Tallahassee, being their minister. Wayne was Superintendent of Sunday school and Bonnie taught. Bonnie sang in the choir and was active in the church circle meetings. Over time, they became Senior High School fellowship leaders. Wayne became a Deacon and an Elder.

John, their first child, was born on February 17, 1964, and Bonnie became a stay-at-home mom. In 1966, Wayne, using the GI bill and a Kellogg’s scholarship, was accepted to the Adult Education graduate program at NCSU. Bonnie, Wayne, and John moved to Raleigh, NC and Bonnie began working at the Wake Memorial Hospital. Bonnie and Wayne joined West Raleigh Presbyterian Church. Again, Wayne served as Superintendent of Sunday school and Bonnie taught Sunday school. She was active in women's circle and assisted in putting together a Lent Devotional booklet. Over time, Wayne served as Deacon and Elder. Wayne continued in the graduate program at NCSU and obtained a Doctorate in Adult Education. Bonnie and Wayne had three more children. Scott was born in 1967, Lynne in 1969, and Carrie in 1971. During this time, their first home was built in Raleigh, NC.

In 1972, Wayne accepted a position as a Fairfax County Agent with the Virginia Tech Extension Service, and they moved to Annandale, VA. As Wayne worked with young people, he was often sought out wherever they were, so again he was asked to serve as Superintendent of Sunday schools. Bonnie taught Sunday School again, co-chaired Bible School, and was active in her women’s circle. Wayne would become a Deacon and Elder. Bonnie and Wayne served as co-chair Presidents of the Pine Ridge Elementary PTA and actively supported their children’s little league. Bonnie volunteered in the school clinic and was hired as the school clinic nurse for the Pine Ridge Elementary School.

In 1979, Wayne became District Director of Extension for the Florida Panhandle, part of the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). This brought Bonnie and Wayne to Tallahassee, FL. When they joined Faith Presbyterian Church there was a strong Sunday School program and children's choir already present, so they looked for other ways to serve God. Both eventually became Stephen Ministers. Bonnie and Wayne co-chaired the Leon High School Basketball Boosters and actively supported their children's little league teams. Bonnie volunteered at the Maclay school clinic.

Bonnie returned to nursing full-time in 1980 at Tallahassee Community Hospital and became the charge nurse on the surgical floor. In 1987, Bonnie was awarded the Doctor’s First Humanitarian Award at Tallahassee Community Hospital. Her most coveted award came from her third-floor coworkers in 1993, a statue with the inscription, “To Bonnie who has cared for and nurtures us all with love and admiration.” Feeling a need for change, Bonnie became the night supervisor at the Health South Rehabilitation Center. Bonnie would return to Tallahassee Community Hospital for three years. In 2001, Bonnie received the Tallahassee Community Hospital Nurse of Excellence Award. Bonnie was last employed as post-op supervisor at Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic, where she worked for 26 years.

In 1998, Wayne was diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas and was told he had two weeks to live. John, Scott, Lynne, and Carrie bonded together to help the family learn the best way to proceed with Wayne’s care. Neighbors came together to support the family’s participation in Relay for Life in honor of Wayne’s diagnosis. Bonnie was eternally grateful Wayne won his battle with cancer.

Over the following 14 years, Bonnie and her children witnessed Alzheimer's slow goodbye through Wayne. Bonnie hired a caretaker to assist her with Wayne's care while she worked. He passed in August 2014. During this time, Bonnie’s work became her social life. Bonnie loved being a nurse and she was grateful for the support to manage Wayne's care. She was acutely aware of her own need to take care of herself -- physically, mentally, and spiritually -- during this period which created isolation from the church and others. Bonnie would retire from nursing and was diagnosed with cancer in December 2022.

Bonnie is eternally grateful for all the prayers, cards, and support she received during her illness. A neighbor once said “Bonnie and Wayne were a model to the entire neighborhood for family devotion, commitment, integrity, humor, and joy. When the going gets tough, the Smiths draw each other close, tie a knot, and hang on tight. No one preaches, but you live what you believe -- a testament of love, compassion, and charity.”

Friends and family are invited to attend a visitation on Thursday, July 16, 2026, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home and Memorial Park, located at 700 Timberlane Road, Tallahassee, FL 32312.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 17, 2026, at 11:00 am at Faith Presbyterian Church, located at 2200 N. Meridian Road, Tallahassee, FL 32303. Rev. Linda Pitts will be officiating.