One of the sweetest memories of Mrs. Lucille McNaghten Smith was her smile. It was always there as she served her community with vision, her friends with loyalty and her family with loving and unfailing devotion.

Mrs. Smith, who died of complications from pneumonia on Friday, June 16, 2006 at her home at the age of 99, was an unlikely celebrity. She never acted like one. Yet, she is among the most honored women in Winter Haven’s history and rightly so. Despite such recognition, she remained a quiet genteel fun-loving Southern woman who was active in her community and generous with her time.

 

A native of Portal, North Dakota, she was born on March 22, 1907 and grew up in Pleasantville, Ohio. She attended Ohio Wesleyan, was graduated cum laude from Ohio State with a degree in English Literature and went on to graduate studies at Columbia University, New York City, in Library Science.

 

In 1939 she married Sidney Inman Smith and relocated to Winter Haven in 1941. An active member of First Presbyterian Church, Mrs. Smith became involved in many other organizations and ventures that made Winter Haven the city it is today. During her lifetime this community activist was awarded every available honor for her endeavors.

 

She was a charter member of the Symphony Guild, Keep Winter Haven Clean and Beautiful, Contemporary club, Junior Service League; Lake Region Yacht and Country Club and Historic Winter Haven.

Mrs. Smith was a member of the Tri-County Health Board, colonial Dames, Friends of the Winter haven Library, Girl Scouts, American Red Cross and Main Street Winter Haven. She also served on the Winter Haven Hospital Board..

 

In 1968 Mrs. Smith recieved the city’s top honor, the coveted Bankers cup, and was the recipient of the Julie Pope Award from Girls, Inc. in 2005.

 

Mrs. Smith was predeceased by her parents, Roy and Mary McNaghten, two brothers, Malcom and Wayne McNaghten, and her husband, Sidney Inman Smith. She is survived by her daughter, Margaret S. Hutchison of Atlanta, daughter and son-in-law, Janice and Michael Barry of Jupiter, and Sydney (Cissy) P. Smith, also of Atlanta, as well as four grandchildren, Christopher Inman Hutchison of Portland, Ore.; Jay Sidney Hutchison, Atlanta; Robert Michael Barry Jr., Atlanta, and Patricia Elizabeth Barry of New Orleans.

 

Funeral services will be held at First Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, June 20, at 3:00 P.M. Interment will be at Lakeside Memorial Park. Visitation will be at Oak Ridge Funeral Care, 2425 Havendale Blvd. Winter Haven on Monday, June 19^th. From 5:00 to 7:00 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Sidney I. And Lucille M. Smith Community Foundation of Greater Winter Haven, P.O. Box 9445, Winter Haven, 33883, or the Lucille M. And Sidney Smith Scholarship at Polk Community College Foundation.

by BILLIE ELLIS, Columnist