Elsie M. Smart

ELSIE M. WHITE SMART, 95, of Temple Hills, Maryland, passed away on December 29, 2016. She is survived by her three children, William Smart, James Smart and Libby Ramsbottom , 3 grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and dear friends. She was the widow of LtC. Henry G. “Joe” Smart US Army Ret. Her life was full of laughter, love and adventures both good and bad.She was born a farmer’s daughter in rural Mississippi and was the oldest of three children. She attended Hinds Junior College in Jackson, Mississippi, where she played basketball as a means to be able to afford her education. This began her lifelong love of college basketball. It was at this time she met and married her first husband, Lt. Charles W. Maxwell, an Army Air-Corps test pilot. He was killed, one week before Pearl Harbor, in a plane crash in Oklahoma; where they were stationed.After her return to Mississippi from Oklahoma, she enrolled in Draughon’s Business College. After graduation from Draughons, she taught bookkeeping for a year. At which time, she realized that teaching was not her forte. It was during this time that she met a handsome young soldier named “Joe”, who was stationed at a nearby army camp. A romance sparked. He left to attend Officer’s Candidate School in New Jersey. Their romance continued and flourished. After WWII was over and “Joe’s” discharge from the Army, their romance continued and resulted in marriage in 1947. They lived in Jackson, Mississippi until early 1951, when after “Joe’s” Army Reserve Unit had been recalled in 1950. This began her “nomadic” life as a proud military wife. Twelve moves later including Chicago – Japan – Panama – Virginia they moved to Temple Hills, MD in 1968. During these nomadic years the family grew and flourished with the addition of her three children: Bill, Jim and Libby. Her beloved husband, Joe, died in 1971 but this did not stop the drive of Elsie. She went on to work 35 years in the real estate and settlement industry. The last 23 years as Owner/Manager of Eastern Title and Escrow, Inc. During this time she was also a very active member of the Women’s Council of Realtors, the Prince George’s County Association of Realtors and the Maryland Land Title Association. Her involvement in these organizations led to many trips, conventions and many enduring friendships. She cherished these friendships. After retiring, in August of 2000, she remained fairly active in these organizations until her health began to interfere.She was proud of a few “firsts” in her life. She was the first female member of the board of directors of her local bank, which continued for quite some time after the bank has been acquired as part of a “national bank chain”. She was also the first female deacon of Broadview Baptist Church, which had become her church family.Retirement for Elsie did not mean a slowdown. It gave her more time to garden, more time to watch college basketball, more time to travel and visit her family in Mississippi and most of all more time to enjoy with her children.Burial will be January 31st, 2017, at 11:00 AM, at Arlington National Cemetery with her beloved husband. Arrangements are under the direction of Cunningham Turch Funeral Home, Alexandria, VA 22314.