Mary Smoak Obituary

SMOAK, Mary COLUMBIA - Mary McMillan Smoak, 80, beloved wife, mother, sister and Granny passed into heaven Thursday, July 4, 2008. She was born in the Colston Community of Bamberg County to Elgin W. and Eleanor Goodwin McMillan. Mrs. Smoak retired from Irmo School District 5, where she worked with Special Needs children on Campus I. She dearly loved her students and her students loved her. She was a long time member of St. Andrews Baptist Church where, before her illness, she was actively involved in The Mary Martha Sunday School class and Saints Alive. She was also a charter member of the Tanglefoots Square Dance Club where she squared up with her husband and friends for many years. Her passion in life was her family. She was always the first to help family and friends in need. She will be dearly missed by many. She leaves behind her devoted husband, David H. Smoak; her daughters and sons-in-law, Marybeth and Bill Crews of Houston, Texas and Tina and Tom Clark of Columbia; her son, Michael Smoak and his wife Tammy of Irmo. She is also survived by her sisters, Shirley Kirkland of Colston and Imogene Priester of North Charleston. She was the beloved grandmother of Dana and Jamie Crews of Houston, Texas and Austin and Kara Smoak of Irmo. She is predeceased by her brothers E.W. McMillan of Colston, Ellis McMillan from North Charleston, Cecil McMillan and Jimmy McMillan both from Bamberg. She also leaves behind brothers and sisters-in-law, many nieces and nephews, and Esther Schmale, her friend and caregiver of the last two years. Family will receive friends at CAUGHMAN HARMAN FUNERAL HOME, IRMO/ST. ANDREWS CHAPEL on Saturday from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Services will officiated by Dr. Fred Miller and will be held at St. Andrews Baptist Church on Bush River Road on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. with burial to follow at Bush River Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to St. Andrews Baptist Church, 230 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC 29210 or the South Carolina Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, 4124 Clemson Blvd., Suite L, Anderson, SC 29621. www.caughmanharmanfuneralhome.com Visit our guestbook at www.charleston.net/deaths.