Barbara Hahn Smith

Barbara Hahn Smith, 95, of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, died at her home on Monday, May 19, 2025.

Barbara was born on June 28, 1929, in Birmingham, Alabama, daughter of Herbert L. Hahn and Elizabeth Ransom Hahn.

She attended Sweet Briar College and graduated from the University of Alabama in 1951. She married the Rev. Benjamin Bosworth Smith in 1954 and accompanied him as he served as curate at St. Luke’s Church, Birmingham, Alabama; vicar then rector at St. Andrew’s Church in Mobile, Alabama; chaplain at UAB Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama; and rector of Grace Church in Charleston, South Carolina.

In the mid-1970s, she started graduate school in history at Samford University in Birmingham. She worked with Wayne Flynt, a noted historian in Alabama. In 1977, when Ben was called to serve as rector of Grace Church in Charleston, Barbara put her graduate studies to good use as an historian at Middleton Place Foundation starting in 1979. In 1982, she went to work for Historic Charleston Foundation as house manager at the Edmonston Alston House.

After they retired, Barbara and Ben combined their love of history with travel, with trips to England, Ireland, Italy, Egypt, Israel, Russia and other destinations.

Her family will remember her warmth, wit, and wisdom.

She is survived by her brother, Herbert R. Hahn of Banner Elk, North Carolina; her son, Benjamin Bosworth Smith (Kimberly Mixon Smith) of Folly Beach, South Carolina; three daughters, Elizabeth Ransom Smith of Pittsboro, North Carolina; Middleton Smith Jones (William T. Jones, Jr.) of Yonges Island, South Carolina; and Barbara Beene Smith (David B. Rice) of Durham, North Carolina; and eight grandchildren, Kelly Smith Hewitt (Logan Hewitt), Emily Smith Khoury (George Khoury), Reese Smith (Neely Smith), Elizabeth Riitters, William Jones, Benjamin Jones, Byron Rice and Samuel Rice; and four great-granddaughters, Annie Grey Hewitt, Alice Hewitt, Margot Hewitt and Lettie Smith.

The family will have a private service and inurnment at Grace Church Cathedral at a later date.

Memorials may be made to Grace Church Cathedral, 98 Wentworth Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29401.

A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com