Evelyn Vann Smith of Titusville, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia died on Thursday, January 22, 2009 in Atlanta. She fought a good fight against Alzheimer’s disease for the past several years. Born in Dothan, Alabama on November 6, 1929, she was the daughter of the late Irvin and Stella Vann. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Clyde Smith in 1983. Evelyn visited in Atlanta frequently over the last 20 years, relocating here permanently in 2004, where she resided with her niece, Madge E. Watson, until her death.
Evelyn was a dedicated and respected teacher and principal in Alabama and Florida for forty-seven years. Evelyn’s love of children was unsurpassed. During her battle with Alzheimer’s, her love for children never waivered. She smiled brightly when seeing young children in the church halls and would stop them to comment on their outfit or hair. Those of us who witnessed this devotion could only smile as we witnessed her affection. She read constantly to all of her young family members during their growing years.
Survivors include her sister, Wynelle Vann Layton, of Canton, Georgia and nephews, Mark Irvin Layton of Cumming, Georgia and John Michael Layton of St. Cloud, Florida. Her surviving Smith relatives include her sister-in-law Sarah Smith Hart of Dothan, Alabama; and nieces and nephews, Madge E. Watson of Atlanta, Georgia; Virginia Weatherford Watson of Americus, Georgia; Charles C. Latham of Huntsville, Alabama; Nell Wood McAnelly, James Hardin Wood, and Jean Wood Comeaux of Baton Rouge; Sarah Hart Cofield of Oneonta, Alabama and John Andrew Hart and Thomas William Hart of Dothan, Alabama; sixteen surviving great nieces and nephews and nine great-great nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, January 31, 2009 at Oak Grove United Methodist Church. The service will be followed by a family visitation and celebration in the church parlor.
A memorial service will also be held in Titusville, Florida in late February.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her honor to Oak Grove United Methodist Church, 1722 Oak Grove Road, Decatur, Georgia 30033; Indian River City United Methodist Church, 1355 Cheney Highway, Titusville, Florida 32780; Plymouth Harbor, Central Congregational Church, 2676 Clairmont Road, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30329 (Evelyn’s Alzheimer’s daycare in Atlanta); or the charity of your choice.
