Patricia L. Smith

PLEASE NOTE SERVICES ARE OPENED TO THE PUBLIC AND WILL BE LIVE STREAMED VIA LINK UNDER PHOTOS AND VIDEOS.

Patricia L. Smith, 84, of Abbeville, peacefully stepped into the presence of her Savior and King, Jesus. She died at Anmed Medical Center in Anderson, on Thursday, November 19, 2020 surrounded by friends and family. She was born in Atlantic City, NJ to the late Alice Marie Smith.

Ms. Smith was a woman of strength with a deep love for life; she embodied grace, love, sacrifice, and diligence. She loved children dearly and her mission in life was to help every child possible; her entire life was dedicated to this cause. While yet a child herself, at the age of 14, she started caring for the other children in the boarding house where she lived. She first met Jesus at a small local church near the boarding house and she went on to attend Mt Carmel Bible School in Kentucky.

As a young woman she had a strong desire to minister to children, this led her to begin her career as a nurse’s aide at the Children’s Seashore Hospital in Atlantic City and then on the pediatric ward at Foote Memorial Hospital in Jackson, Michigan. She later went into full-time Christian service as the cook and girl’s dorm parent at Christ Academy in Friendsville, Tennessee. While at the academy, she had opportunity to visit Haiti and fell desperately in love with the children and people there; this opened the door for her to begin her life’s work. She joined Evangelical Bible Mission and became the Founder of Haiti Children’s Home. For the next 28 years she sacrificially and lovingly served the children of Haiti, providing hundreds of children with the opportunity to live and many orphans the chance to have a family.

In addition to her mother, she was preceded in death by her infant great-granddaughter, T’Alexis Smith.

Ms. Smith is survived by her four children, Timothy Gittle (Rachel) of Conway, SC, Melinda Ulysse (Massenat) of Abbeville, SC, Daniel Smith (Darline St. Jean) of Palm City, FL, Amanda Kay Bruny of Anderson, SC and her grandchildren, Thomas Smith, Julie and Timothy Gittle, Michael Bazile, and Massenda, and Manessa Ulysse and special family members Ivenie Suprilis, Thym Grandin (Rose), Valdo Simon (Shedley), Sharon Saint-Hilaire (Pierredrick), Alicia Grandin, Tasiana and Shalena St.-Hilaire, and Valerie Simon and hundreds of children she helped and loved dearly.

Those who would like to come and pay their respects to Ms. Smith may visit Harris Funeral Home, Abbeville Chapel from, 12:00PM to 5:00PM on Monday, November 23, 2020. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00AM on Tuesday, November 24, 2020 in the Harris Funeral Home Chapel with burial following in Lighthouse Community Cemetery. Services will be livestreamed via www.facebook.com/harvestchristian.livestreaming

The family may be visited at the home of Massenat and Melinda Ulysse in Abbeville.

Memorial contributions, in memory of Ms. Smith, may be sent to the Harvest Christian Ministries, 153 Hwy 201, Abbeville, SC 29620.

A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com

Harris Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Abbeville is assisting the Smith family.