Nancy Smith Jordan

Nancy Smith Jordan, 94, of Charleston, SC, passed away on November 27, 2025 at Roper Hospital. Close by were her family and faithful husband Buddy, who loved her dearly.

Nancy held many jobs, filled many positions, and answered many callings during her rich and varied life. In the 1960's, she was a lecturer in Art History at the College of Charleston. In the 1970's, at WCIV Television, Channel 4, which was then affiliated with NBC, she initially hosted an antiques show then she went on to become the host of the daily morning talk show, and also she wrote and narrated in-depth feature documentaries about life in the Lowcountry. Later in the 1970's, she helped start her own documentary/film production company. She helped run an inn in Charleston, and she ran a bed and breakfast out of her own home as well. During the late 1970's, she helped run the Leaf 'N Petal plant store in St. Andrews Shopping Center to help put her boys through college. In the 1980's, she wrote art reviews in a regular newspaper column she provided as art critic for the News and Courier and Evening Post newspapers. Later, she took on the role of interior designer to help friends and relatives with home decoration and arrangement. And near the end of her working life she volunteered at Roper Hospital.

Nancy began her education in Louisville, Kentucky, where she was born. She graduated from The Kentucky Home School for Girls. She loved English literature and pursued advanced studies in the field. For example, she graduated from Duke University with a B.A. in English Literature. She earned her Master's Degree in English Literature from the University of Louisville. And she was doing doctoral work in English Literature at the University of Michigan when she decided to move to Charleston in 1960.

Throughout her life Nancy has always been "an Original." The phrase, "They broke the mold!" comes to mind as a descriptor of her personality. A close friend said she had a "Joie de Vivre!" Truly, Nancy had a quick and clever sense of humor. She told hilarious stories constantly and she was center stage wherever she went. It was no surprise that she loved the theatre, and in looks and wit she was a mix of Lauren Bacall and Katharine Hepburn. Most of all, she will be remembered as a marvelous wife and devoted mother.

Nancy was the daughter of Edward Ward Smith and Marguerite Schaefer Smith. She and her first husband J. Neil Marshall (deceased) had two sons Edward Owsley Marshall (Susan) and Ian Yandell Marshall (Jill), and she has grandchildren Lauren, Will and David. She married J. Graham Smith (deceased) and has stepdaughters Leigh and Kim. Later in life, she married her high school sweetheart Frank "Buddy" Jordan and has stepchildren Walter Turner Jordan (Jill) and Elizabeth "Missy" Stocks Roetter (Fred). Her brother was Yandell Smith (Betty) (both deceased), and she had a niece Melissa Smith Keith (deceased) (David) with a grand-nephew Owen, a nephew Ilam Edward Smith (deceased), and a niece Guinever Smith Mosley (David) with a grand-niece Isabel.

A service will be held to celebrate Nancy's life at Stuhr Funeral Home, Downtown Chapel, 232 Calhoun Street, Charleston, SC, on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 12:30 PM and with a visitation at 11:30 AM. Nancy will be buried next to her mother and father in the Calvary Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky.