Mary Ann Smith, who was 74 years old and lived in Columbia, South Carolina, passed away without any discomfort on the evening of March 29. Her absence will be keenly felt because she was a beloved wife, sister, aunt, and friend. Her passing will be deeply mourned. She was born in Buckenhof, Germany, and her parents are Ava S. Hudson and William C. Hudson. Mary Ann Hudson was born in Germany.
As a result of their mother’s marriage to William A. Miller in 1962, Mary and her two siblings, Gloria and Michael, were welcomed into the family by their mother. As a result of her father’s employment at the United States Agency for International Development, Mary Ann was able to become acquainted with a wide variety of cultures during her formative years.
She lived in a number of different countries, including India, Pakistan, and the Philippines, among others. While Mary Ann was living in India, she went to the Lahore International (High) School. It was there that she ended up meeting John Randolph Smith, who would later become her first husband. In the years that followed their wedding in 1968, the couple made the decision to make Columbia, South Carolina their permanent residence. Mary Ann would spend the rest of her life in this city. Over the course of her entire career, Mary worked for South Carolina Electric & Gas, beginning her tenure there in 1972 as a programmer and eventually rising through the ranks to become a supervisor before finally retiring in 2016.
Spending quality time with her loved ones, participating in the exhilarating sport of skiing, pursuing her artistic talents through painting, and going on adventures to different parts of the world were all activities that brought her a great deal of pleasure outside of the workplace. Not only did her genuine passion for art and her insatiable curiosity enrich her own life, but they also enriched the lives of those who were in her immediate vicinity. Following the death of her husband of 35 years, Bruce Yeske, in the year 2020, Mary Ann discovered comfort in reuniting with her first husband, John Randolph Smith (AIS Class of 1966), who had also experienced the loss of his spouse. During her final moments, Mary Ann was able to experience his compassionate expression.
Mary’s brothers Michael Lewis Miller and Jerry Miller, her sister-in-law Sharon Miller, her nieces Lauren Miller and Sandy Callesto, her nephews James Callesto and Taylor Miller, and her grand nieces Haley Jones, Kylee Callesto, and Daniel Callesto are among those who are able to carry on her legacy. It was her mother, Ava S. Miller, her husband, Bruce Douglas Yeske, and her sister, Gloria Hellen Mitchell, who passed away before she reached the end of her life. The influence that Mary had on the people with whom she developed emotional connections will be treasured for all time. She had a lively personality, a delightful sense of humor, and an unwavering independence, all of which contributed to the fact that her love knew no bounds. Mary Ann’s family and friends will always treasure the genuine affection and priceless memories that she shared with them, which will ensure that her legacy will live on for generations to come.
There will be a memorial service held on May 7, 2024, to celebrate the life of Mary. The celebration will take place in St. Mark’s Cathedral, where he was a devoted member for more than four decades. Beginning at five o’clock in the morning, the service will be followed by a procession to Evergreen Memorial Gardens, where the burial ceremony will take place. An invitation is extended to Mary Smith’s friends, family, and members of the community to attend and offer their respects as well as celebrate the extraordinary life she led.
On May 8, 2024, from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM, relatives and friends are invited to pay their respects at the Smith & Sons Funeral Home. As a result, those who knew Mary will have the chance to talk about their memories of her, express their condolences, and find comfort in the companionship of one another at this trying time. Those who wish to participate in the remembering and meditation are cordially invited to join the Smith family.
