Dolly May Smith

Dolly May Smith, a resident of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, MS passed away on July 9th, 2018 at the age of ninety-seven. Dolly, born in 1921, was the seventh of ten children born to Myrtle and Ed Campfield of Oakwood, MO. As the Great Depression began they were living in Hannibal, MO, where her father ran a small grocery store. But times were hard and her family traded the store for a farm and relocated outside the city. There they were able to raise animals and grow vegetables, which provided most of what they ate. Her story was like many of those raised during those tough economic times, but the family supported and loved one another. The lessons she learned through those experiences gave Dolly a firm foundation and an independent spirit, which she subsequently imparted on all those she met throughout her life. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Dolly wanted to go to California to work in the defense industry, however her mother discouraged that idea. So, she volunteered to serve our nation by enlisting in the U. S. Army, which she did in September 1943. In the fall of 1945 she met Edgar “Ed” Benjamin Smith of Charleston, MS whom she married after a courtship lasting but a few weeks. As the war had ended, Ed was soon discharged from the army. And, shortly thereafter, Dolly was as well. Dolly and Ed returned to his hometown in Charleston, MS where he began to farm. Within three years, their two daughters, Linda and then Karen, were born. A move from the hills of Charleston to the flat lands of the Mississippi Delta came next as Ed purchased land and remodeled a home near the small town of Sumner. As their daughters grew, Dolly kept the home fires burning but also worked as the Dietician for the West Tallahatchie High School, where she used her considerable cooking skills and knowledge to prepare meals for hundreds of hungry students each day. Dolly and Ed encouraged their daughters to pursue a higher education, and she continued to work to help them complete their college degrees at Delta State University. Later, as their daughters moved to the Mississippi coast to begin their careers and then their own families, Dolly felt the urge to continue helping others. Thus, she arranged for the care of several foster children in their home over the next several years. In the mid-1970’s, Dolly and Ed relocated to a new home they built in Horseshoe Bend, AR and lived in the mountains for several years. This was one of the highlights of Dolly’s life as she so enjoyed hearing the birds singing, especially the whip-o-wills, and watching the wildlife that was abundant in the woods nearby. It brought her such fond memories of her childhood in the hills of Missouri. But, family bonds were stronger than the hills and hollows of Arkansas, thus she and Ed moved once again in the early 1980’s to Ocean Springs, MS to live near their youngest daughter, Karen, and her family. However, unexpectedly in 1985, Ed passed away. Dolly relocated to Gulfport, MS for the next year, but when her older sister needed help back in her Missouri hometown, she decided to once again move to do what she had learned so many years before…love and help your family. Dolly remained in Missouri for ten years, but in 1997 she returned to the coast of Mississippi. Over the next few years she lived and worked at the Villa Maria Apartment complex in Ocean Springs. She also found time to do volunteer work as a Pink Lady in the Ocean Springs Hospital, which led to a newfound pleasure of assisting customers visiting the hospital’s gift shop. In 2002, Dolly moved to the Armed Forces Retirement Home for what she thought would be her last move. However, Hurricane Katrina changed all of that as its tidal surge essentially destroyed the facility in 2005. Thus, at the age of 84, she moved with most of the residents of the AFRH to another AFRH facility located in Washington, DC. Even in Washington, she found joy in helping others and volunteered her time to assist “old folks” by pushing their wheelchairs when they traveled to shopping malls or during local tours; and, she continued to fill each day with work in the retirement home’s large library. In October 2010 the completely rebuilt AFRH in Gulfport reopened and Dolly returned to enjoy its splendor. There she resided until her passing. Dolly was pre-deceased by her husband, Edgar Benjamin Smith and her youngest daughter, Karen Rae Lowery (Coy Cecil Lowery) of Gulfport. She leaves her daughter, Linda Cheryl Treadway (Major Andrew Treadway, II) of Huntsville, AL; her son-in-law, Coy Benjamin Lowery of Gulfport, MS; five grandchildren: Shannon Lynn Miller (John) of Ellicott City, MD, Amanda Lee Chapman (Brett) of Charleston, SC, Laura Ann Densford (Jonathan) of Madison, AL, and Benjamin Todd Lowery (Stephanie) and Bryan Cecil Lowery (Melissa) of Gulfport, MS; and ten great-grandchildren: Carson and Cade Miller; Luke, Ansley Kate and Sophie Chapman; Caleb and Aubrie Densford; and Peyton, Parker (Todd and Stephanie) and Ashley Lowery (Bryan and Melissa). Dolly’s family wishes to thank the wonderful and dedicated staff of the Armed Forces Retirement Home, and in particular those who work with the veterans who live on Loyalty Hall. Their dedication, professionalism and love for our nation’s veterans were apparent throughout Dolly’s time as a resident in their care. Internment will take place on July 12th at Crestlawn Memorial Gardens in Ocean Springs, MS prior to her memorial service, which will be held at 11:15 AM at the Armed Forces Retirement Home Chapel. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, Howard Avenue in Biloxi, is in charge of arrangements.