June Burns Smith

June Louise Burns Smith, 76, wife of Colonel Malcolm Everett Smith, Jr. passed away on Wednesday, November 16, 2011. The relatives and friends of June Burns Smith are invited to attend a Celebration of Her Life to be held on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 in Rodenberg Chapel at Franke at Seaside at 10:30 am. Burial will be in Beaufort National Cemetery, Beaufort, S.C. on Friday, November 25, 2011 at 1:00 pm. Arrangements by J. HENRY STUHR MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL. The family will greet friends at the Mount Pleasant Chapel on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 from 5:00 until 7:00 pm.

Mrs. Smith was born on November 7, 1935 in Birmingham, Alabama. She is the daughter of the late Edna Mae Russell Burns and Mitchell Harvey Burns. She was a graduate of Auburn University and a member of the Delta Zeta Sorority, and a former Physical Education and History teacher. As a teacher, Mrs. Smith touched the lives of many people. Places she taught include McAdory High School in McCalla, AL where she taught Physical Education and was Cheerleader Sponsor. From 1960-1961, Mrs. Smith taught at George Deway School at the U.S. Naval Station, Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, where she met her husband. In the Philippines, she taught Physical Education and History. Later she taught at Holabird Junior High School in Baltimore, MD, Camp Lejeune Dependents' Schools at the Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, NC. Mrs. Smith also substitute taught at Marine Corps Schools in Quantico, VA.

After Col. and Mrs. Smith settled with their girls in Charleston, Mrs. Smith started a new career. She went to work for Johnson & Wales University where she became a Resource Director and Librarian from 1986-1997. Mrs. Smith was a member of Grace Church and a member of the Grace Episcopal Church Alter Guild. She was also a member of The Citadel Officer's Wives Club and former Secretary. She started painting in 1965 and became an accomplished artist. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother and she will be greatly missed by her entire family.

She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Col. Malcolm E. Smith, Jr. of James Island, SC; three daughters, Leslie Sommerdyke and her husband, Stephen, of Mount Pleasant, SC, Deanna Schweickhardt and her husband, Al, of Mount Pleasant, SC and Melissa Atwater and her husband, Chad, of James Island, SC and six grandchildren; Luke, Lilly, Abby, Molly, Katie and Ashley. She was preceded in death by her sister Rebecca Burns Waide of Atlanta, GA.

In her continuing effort to help others, Mrs. Smith has donated her brain to the Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. Neuropathology Laboratory for Research on Alzheimer's Disease. The family has requested in lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Alzheimer's Association, 2090 Executive Hall Road, Suite 130, Charleston, SC 29407 or Lutheran Hospice @ Lutheran Homes of South Carolina Foundation, 300 Ministry Drive, Irmo, SC 29063.