Alberta Vause Smith, 94, wife of the late Claude Boyde Smith, died in Florence on April 6, 2026.

She was born in Florence, SC, the daughter of the late Wilbur A. Vause and Janie Olivia Weaver.

As a girl, Alberta was raised to love her Lord, to respect everyone she met, and to greet strangers with a smile. Growing up, Alberta spent a great deal of time on her grandparents’ farm, learning to gather, cook and enjoy all the food grown right outside their door. She even married an agronomist, so it is a wonder that her children declined to eat any number of vegetables.

Entering her teen years during WWII, the sound of bombers training at the Florence Army Airfield was a constant reminder of the conflict. Little did she dream that after the war she would fall in love with Claude Boyd Smith, recently returned from overseas service in the Army Air Force. When Alberta met Claude, he was recently discharged from service in WW2 and riding a motorcycle, but he somehow talked her into going with him for a ride to the park. He realized he would have to up his game, so when he asked her on a proper date, he was no longer on the motorcycle and showed up in a Ford coupe. They married and moved to Clemson SC where he completed his education and they began their family. They then spent twelve years in Asheville, N.C., before returning to Florence.

An immaculate homemaker, Alberta had an innate sense of color, balance and style decades before anyone around here had even heard of “feng shui.” She loved her yard and her flowers and watching the birds that her daughter Donna kept well fed. But as long as she was able, Alberta was fighting a forever war against pine cones….

Alberta could really cook, now. Her children may not have liked leafy green vegetables, but they swore by her spaghetti and her brownie cake. For his birthday dinner, her husband asked for another Thanksgiving. As for Adam, he just wanted his grandma to cook him up “another breakfast.” Alberta was in her 90’s before she admitted that she “didn’t really care for Brussel sprouts” herself!

Working into her 80’s, primarily in retail apparel sales, Alberta was blessed to meet many lovely people and make dear, dear friends.

In addition to her parents and her husband of 60 years, she was predeceased by her brother Wilber “Billy” and her sisters Jacqulyn “Jackie” White and Jewel “Judy” Hanna; and by her son Phillip Gregory.

Surviving are her son Barry (and Lynn) Smith of Hickory, N.C.; daughter Donna (and Joe) Sallenger of Florence; daughter-in-law Ann Smith of Florence; four grandchildren: Adam (and Liz) Smith of Asheville, N.C., Melanie (and Doug) Yengel of Hartsville, Natalie (and Sean) Royall of Boone, N.C., and Brian (and Katie) Smith of Lexington; and 9 great-grandchildren.

Alberta leaves behind a life well lived, and a refrigerator covered with photographs of those she has loved.

The family will receive friends from 2:00 – 3:00 pm Saturday, April 11, 2026 at the Florence Memorial Gardens Mausoleum with the service to be held at 3:00 pm in the mausoleum chapel.  Entombment will follow directed by Calcutt-Dowling Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the St. Jude Hospital for Children.