Eula Smith

Eula B. Williams Smith began her legend as a caregiver on July 27, 1924. She lived threescore years and ten that were promised and by God’s grace was blessed with fourscore years plus13 years of the 5th score – 93 years.

Eula’s parents, Scott Lee and Addie Bradley Williams had seven sons, James Lee “Son”, Willie, John D., Harvie, Bennie, Moss Allen, R.T. “T Pooh”; and four daughters, Eula, Lizzie Louise, Annie Mae, and Ida. Eula cooked for and nourished them all; they all respected and loved her for her caring ways and good food.

Eula was the caregiver for all her siblings, and her mother. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.

“Bell” as her husband, R. D. Smith, lovingly called her, married on September 22, 1943. Their union continued for 52 years, until R.D. transitioned and produced 3 offspring, Addie “Add”, Xanthene “Xant” and David Reginald “Red”. (deceased).

Eula was overjoyed to have someone else to care for. Eula cared for and raised her family, but was also blessed with a career at the former Greenville General Hospital for over 34 years, as a nurses’ assistant, of course her love and care for patients and co-workers earned her several commendations and awards, until she retired after being jealous of R.D., her husband when he retired.

Eula Bell is anointed with the love of God. She was the oldest member of Macedonia Baptist Church, which had given her 75 years of longevity. She was a deaconess, member of the Senior Choir, Missionary Society, Sick Committee and Pastor’s Aide. She and some of the Deacons and Deacons’ wives would administer communion to the sick and shut-in. Eula was always there to assist with any task that would better the church’s wellbeing.

Eula Bell loved Macedonia Baptist Church and the Active Seniors Community Center, traveling to the nursing homes and reading poems. She collected poems for this occasion.

Eula’s passion was the wearing of hats. She would always say, “I had my hat cocked to the side and I had my bible in my hand and I just strutted to my seat”. She was acknowledged and honored at Macedonia and her Pastor, Reverend James A. Dowell, Sr., often teased her about her “bad” hats.

Eula Bell’s picture was in the paper at Macedonia’s mortgage burning ceremony held September 19, 2015.

Eula loved to travel world-wide and would say, “I haven’t done bad”. Who would think that a country girl from Wilkes County, Washington, Georgia would have done all of that. Traveling to all these places, she had the experience of going to the Holy Land (Israel) in 2000, on 5 cruises, and also traveled to Hawaii, Bermuda, Las Vegas and a host of other places.

Eula Bell has cared for her children, grandchildren, great-grands and great- great-grands. Eula’s loving care was spread all over the states, caring for nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, co-workers and during her final months, Patewood Community Rehab friends.

Eula leaves her legend to her daughters, Addie S. Wilson of Piedmont, South Carolina and Xanthene S. Carey of Decatur, Georgia; fifteen grandchildren, Tracie, Aronne, Kimberly, Robert, Jr., Rodney, Tasha, Anita, Kelvin, Cheryl, Felicia, Craig, Mark, Marcus, Michael, and Nathan; six biological great-grandchildren, Monica, Rokell, Jamal, Blake, Saporia and Jackie; twenty-nine adopted great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren, Zymirah, Zacchaeus and Major; and a host of other relatives and friends.