Carole Smith. Carole died on December 8, 2015.Her obituary: Carol Elaine Smith, 1959 – 2015. On December 8, 2015, Carole Elaine Smith transitioned from a body limited in form to the loving and joyful eternal being she has always been. Carole was born on December 13, 1959 in Rome, Georgia to Betty and Lamar Smith. She graduated from Sprayberry High School in Marietta and received her undergraduate degree from Mercer University in Atlanta. In spite of her diagnosis of FSH muscular dystrophy at age 14, Carole's resiliency, courage, grace and sense of spiritual calling remained strong even as her disease progressed. After receiving graduate degrees at Princeton Theological Seminary and Georgia State, Carole spent the next 30+ years as a deeply respected therapist and spiritual director. Her work as a therapist began at the Atlanta Counseling Center and she was ordained as a minister in 1999. She was the founder and director of the Epiphany Center, a non-profit counseling center, where she was treasured for her compassion, gentle presence, wisdom, truthfulness, and wonderful sense of humor. While living the last few decades with chronic pain and limited mobility, she lived fully - counseling, teaching, writing, partnering, traveling, creating, and treasuring time with friends and family. She was generous and open-hearted, vulnerable, stubborn and courageous. She also never forgot how to laugh and enjoy life. Carole inspired those who met her; she knew how to draw out the best in us all, and helped us forgive and find healing from the worst. She modeled how to be honest, accepting and gentle with ourselves. She journeyed alongside many, helping each one listen to and honor their own unique voice and place in Creation. Carole was predeceased by her father, David Lamar Smith, Sr. She leaves behind: Mother, Martha (Betty) Smith, Brother, David Smith (Ann); Sisters, Marlene Hooks (Rick), Terri Rutherford (Bob), Tracy Schmidt (Eric); Nieces and Nephews - Sierra, Katherine, Brandon, Steven, Philip & Andrew; Beloved cats Jesse and Hannah and a wide community of friends. (The family would also like to give a special thanks to the nurses and staff of Bristol Hospice who worked tirelessly in the final weeks of Carole's life to manage her pain and bring her peace and comfort.) What a gift it has been to love and be loved by Carole, and to discover none of us is ever truly alone on our journey. Together we shout toward the heavens: Dance on, dear Carole! Dance on! A memorial service is planned for January.
[Atlanta Journal-Constitution, December 19, 2015]
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