Rachel Bigger Smith

Rachel Smith

YORK - Ms. Rachel, Grandma, was a lifelong resident of York. She spoke fondly of having been born and raised on the “Mill Hill” at Cannon Mills with her six brothers and sisters. And then for many years she resided on Fairhope Rd.
Rachel’s greatest joy was taking care of family, first her children, then her mother in her later years, and then her grandchildren whom she adored, and, of course, her husband, Henry, for almost 70 years. Always fierce in the defense of her family, she taught the importance of loved ones and the need for self-respect. If you doubted yourself she would say, “Remember, you are just as good as anybody else.” And you could tell she meant it.
She always said she couldn’t cook as well as her mother, but in fact was a very good cook. Nothing delighted her more than big family meals and for many years she cooked for her family, her children’s friends, teammates, bandmates, and her neighbors and friends.
She also loved fishing, canning vegetables, reading, church, the Boston Red Sox, John Wayne and the Tar Heels, although she couldn’t abide close ball games. “I like for them to be way ahead,” she would say.
She was predeceased by her husband, Thomas Henry Smith, Sr. She is survived by her son, Thomas Henry Smith, Jr. (Vicki), daughter, Susan Smith Blair, grandchildren Jillian Smith Dodson, Thomas Jordan Smith (Lindzee), Eli Andrew Smith, Casey Shane Smith, Shannon Smith Blair, John Thomas Blair and great granddaughter Ansley Rose Dodson.
The family would like to extend special thanks to the staff at White Oak Manor in York for wonderful care during the last year of Rachel’s life.
The family will receive friends from 1-2 PM in the Trinity United Methodist Church Parlor on Wednesday, August 29. The funeral service will follow the visitation at 2 PM with the Reverend Josh Blackwelder officiating. Burial will be at Philadelphia United Methodist Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church at 22 East Liberty St., York, SC, 29745, or Regency Hospice at 420 S. Herlong Ave., Rock Hill, SC 29732.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.brattonfuneralhome.com.
Bratton Funeral Home in York is serving the Smith family.