Catherine Smith Obituary

SMITH, Catherine CLEMSON, SC - Catherine Hampton Jordan Smith, 90, died January 7, 2006 in Clemson, South Carolina, Mrs. Smith, widow of Robert William Smith Sr. a former Clemson University football coach, lived in Clemson for 60 years. She was born in Dillon, South Carolina to the late Arthur Buist Jordan and Hortense Hampton O'Connor Jordan. She was graduated from Furman University. Catherine raised three children, and was a very active participant in political, social and business affairs of the Clemson community. As a young wife and mother, she volunteered in PTA, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, the University Woman's Club, and initiated the first Welcome Wagon service in Clemson. Her involvement in municipal government began as the City's Clerk-Treasurer. She first ran for a city council seat in 1967 (the first elected woman official in Pickens County) and served as Mayor Pro-tem through 1974. In 1975, she was elected mayor of Clemson as a write-in candidate in a campaign organized five days before the election. She was Clemson's first woman mayor. Catherine was a two-term mayor who believed in term limits. After serving as mayor, she missed city government and ran successfully for two more terms as a city council member. Upon retiring from service in the political forum, Catherine was asked to serve as the Executive Director of the Clemson Chamber of Commerce. Under her leadership, the membership and budget quadrupled. She was an effective liaison between the city and University promoting both to everyone she met. Catherine was instrumental in the creation of the Joint University/City Advisory Committee. Catherine's prolific service to her community included her involvement on the board of directors of the following organizations: First Citizens Bank, South Carolina Municipal Association, Pickens County Municipal Association, Greater Clemson Incorporated, Clemson Downtown Revitalization, Appalachian Council of Governments, Clemson Area Arts Council, Clemson Meals on Wheels, and Junior Achievement of Oconee and Pickens County. She was very proud to serve as Vice Chair of the SC Governor's Highway Safety Committee during the time the Child Safety Seat Restraint Law was developed and implemented. She served her church, Clemson United Methodist, as Administrative Council Chair, Treasurer, Sunday school and adult discussion leader. A partial listing of her honors includes: the first recipient of the "Woman of Distinction Award "from the Association of Women Professionals (AWP); establishment of the "Catherine J. Smith Award" by the Clemson Chamber of Commerce for outstanding service to the greater Clemson Chamber and community; receipt of the Rotary Community Service Award from the Clemson Rotary Club; and naming the boardroom in the Clemson branch of First Citizens Bank in her honor. In recognition of her contributions to the Clemson community, the City of Clemson is developing in downtown Clemson its first water park, to be named the Catherine J. Smith Plaza. Current Clemson Mayor, Larry Abernathy, characterized her statesmanship as follows, "The service she has given this community is literally incalculable." Mrs. Smith was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Robert W.(Bob) Smith, Sr., and brothers, Arthur Buist Jordan, Jord Hampton Jordan, Harvey David Jordan and John David Jordan. She is survived by a sister, Hortense O'Connor of Raleigh, North Carolina; her son, Robert W. Smith, Jr. and his wife Susan of York, South Carolina; her daughters, Sandra Catherine Smith of Clemson and Becky Smith Conover of Charlotte, North Carolina; her three grandchildren, Katherine Leigh Conover of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Kathleen Hampton Smith and Robert William Smith, III of York, South Carolina as well as nieces and nephews. A private family internment will be held at Woodland Cemetery on Cemetery Hill, Clemson University. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made in Mrs. Smith's memory to the Catherine J. Smith Plaza, P.O. Box 1566, Clemson, South Carolina 29633 or contact Chip Boyles, Assistant City Administrator at 864-653-2081 or [email protected]. Alternately, contributions to a charity of one's choice would honor her memory. The family would like to offer heartfelt thanks to the staff of Clemson Downs Health Care for the quality, compassionate care they provided Mrs. Smith and her family as well as to caregivers Allison and Betty Gamble of Seneca, SC, Sonya Cantrell of Pickens, SC and Nancy Lindsay of Charlotte, NC. The family is at the residence, 1002 Keystone Lane, Clemson, South Carolina. DUCKETT-ROBINSON FUNERAL HOME, CENTRAL-CLEMSON COMMONS, is assisting the family with the arrangements. Visit our guestbook at www.charleston.net/deaths.