Lucile Wright Smith, 99

Lucile Wright Smith, 99, of Hendersonville passed away Wednesday, March 19, 2014, at Spring Arbor.

Mrs. Smith was a native of Holly Springs, Miss., the daughter of E. Clyde and Laura Elise Holmes Wright. She attended Mississippi State College for Women and earned a bachelor's degree in English from Ole Miss. She was a retired English teacher of Ponca City, Okla.

She and her daughter, Elise Pratt, moved to Hendersonville in 2006 from St. Simon's Island, Ga., and have been members of Cummings Memorial United Methodist Church. Mrs. Smith has been a member of the United Methodist Women, Daughters of the American Revolution, Tri Delta, Delta Kappa Gamma, and A.A.U.W. She served as a Red Cross volunteer, a Boy Scout den mother and a Brownie Scout leader. She loved to dance, was a supporter of Big Band Music, played bridge and loved children. She handled life as a true southern belle and was sitting on "ready" for the next thing life has in store.

Mrs. Smith was preceded in death by her second husband, Jodie Smith, her first husband and father of her children, Pleasant Eugene Irby, son-in-law, Robert Gibb Pratt, brothers-in-law; Pratt, Craft and Bud Irby, and sister-in-law, Leola Rice.

Mrs. Smith is survived by her son, Michael E. Irby and wife, Constance of Edmond, Okla.; daughter, Elise Irby Pratt of Hendersonville; step-son, Robert Smith and wife, Sharon of Villa Rica, Ga.; step-daughter, Anna Morey and husband, George of Shelburne Falls, Mass.; 5 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Cummings Memorial United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 759, Horse Shoe, NC 28742.

An online register book is available for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors and Cremation Memorial Center is in charge of arrangements.