Ms. Marie Smarr, 88, of 504 Hunter Street, York, SC transitioned from this life on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at her daughter's home in Charlotte, NC.
Funeral services will be 1:30 pm, Sunday, February 7, 2021 at Lakeview Memory Gardens in York, SC. Burial will immediately follow the service. Please bring your own chair if you cannot stand for longer than 10 minutes. Services will be broadcast on Facebook Live for Wright Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm, Sunday at the funeral home prior to the service.
Marie Smarr, a humble and dedicated servant of God departed this earthy life, on Tuesday, February 2nd, peacefully at the home of her daughter, Debra Alexander, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Marie lived her life to this mantra, “Two things in life you should get, Salvation and Education. Once you have them, no one can take them away.” Born to sharecropper parents, Walter and Ella Nichols Smarr, Marie was the last of eight siblings.
Growing up in the segregated south, she experienced lots of things she wanted to improve. She loved and appreciated her community of East End and worked tirelessly for its betterment. She advocated for her community and for racial equality at City Hall meetings and made sure her children were in the first group to integrate the segregated York Schools. Her backyard (aka “the pasture”) was where neighborhood kids created their own playground, drank out of one dipper, and were subject to getting a whippin’ when one was being doled out. On any given Sunday afternoon, someone who once played in that yard was subject to stop by
just to say hello.
Her church, Fishing Creek Baptist Church, was one of her many loves. She loved the Lord and wanted to be an instrument of His service. She served in the capacities of Sunday School teacher (her favorite), superintendent, usher board, usher board chairperson, and building committee. She provided and cared for the live plants in the church, and beautified the grounds by planting various shrubs.
Her immediate family extended to more than just her children. She took in and reared as her own several nieces and nephews. She tolerated no nonsense, but you could always feel the love. Her home was the center for lots of family gatherings, good food and great times. She inherited her love for gardening and beautiful flowers from her mother and her yard was arrayed with azaleas, roses, Bradford pear trees, and other beautiful flowers and shrubs, for which she received many compliments. Her garden provided ample food to share with family and friends.
Marie attended Jefferson High School, and later obtained her GED and a degree from York Technical School. She also obtained a license in cosmetology in New York. She was employed in various capacities in her life, however her true passion was sewing. It was her God-given talent, and she used it to serve her community by making tailored-to-fit clothing for many.
In addition to her parents, Walter and Ella Nichols Smarr, Marie is preceded in death by one son, John Alexander Smarr; and siblings: James Smarr, Mildred Curry, Jettie Lou Curry, Ozella Gilmore, Ozafee Smarr, Virleen Littlejohn and Walter “Brother” Smarr.
To cherish her life and carry on her legacy, she leaves three daughters, Phyllis Worthy (Randy) of Charlotte, NC, Ella Smith of Miami, FL and Debra Alexander of Charlotte, NC; 11 beloved grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren and three great great-grandchildren; a special niece, Cozetta Smarr; special nephews: Otis Littlejohn and Marvin Smarr; her dedicated caregiver, Sabrina Kennedy; and a host of other special nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
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