KILMARNOCK—Margaret Elizabeth Smith, 97, passed away March 1, 2025.
Margaret was born February 23, 1928, in Miami, Fla. She lived there for the first 10 years of her life until two hurricanes flooded where she lived. After that, her parents moved to Baltimore, Md., where they had extended family.
At the age of 14, Margaret joined the prestigious Peabody Junior Choir. She sang high soprano from 1941 to 1951. In 1942, the choir was invited to sing with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra directed by the renowned Reginald Stewart.
During World War II Margaret married Clifford William Smith. They moved to the Northern Neck in 1957. There she ran a kindergarten (before kindergartens were part of the public school system) at the Kilmarnock Baptist Church. Later, she and Clifford owned and operated the Whispering Pines Motel. After selling the motel, they owned the Kilmarnock Fabric Shop for many years.
Clifford passed away in 2010.
Margaret is survived by her children, Donna (Don) Holt and Wayne (wife, Sandy deceased) Smith; four grandchildren, Noel Ross, Hillary Castro, Christian Smith and Krista Laggini; six great-grandchildren, Santiago and Sonora Castro, Abby and Lilly Ross, and Ellie and Ethan Laggini.
The family will hold a Celebration of Life at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 5, at the White Stone Church of the Nazarene. Currie Funeral Home in Kilmarnock handled the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the White Stone Volunteer Fire Department or Kilmarnock-Lancaster volunteer Rescue Squad.
