Ann Smith Curtis, 93, of Tryon, N.C., passed away Jan. 12, 2015, at the
Hospice House of Landrum, S.C.
A native of Johnston, S.C., Mrs. Curtis was the daughter of the late Earle Herbert and
Catherine Garlington Smith. After graduating from Winthrop College as a business
major, she became executive secretary to the commanding general of Fort Jackson, S.C.
during World War II. She later became secretary and treasurer of Curtis Lumber
Company, a wholesale lumber business her husband owned for 45 years.
In 1988, she and her husband, the late Mr. Douglas Wilde Curtis, retired to
Hunting Country Trails in Tryon. Her retirement was short lived as she
immediately became the treasurer for the homeowner’s association, a position
she held for 21 years.
Mrs. Curtis was also well known as quite the avid Clemson fan. For 44
consecutive years, she was both an IPTAY member and a contributor to the
Clemson Fund. The locals recognized her as the “lady with the tiger paw on
her glasses.”
She and her husband joined the Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross in Tryon
where she became very involved in the church and the diocese of Western
North Carolina. She was recognized as being a Daughter of the King for over
60 years and was also awarded the title of Episcopal Church Woman of the
Year in 2006. She had served as Junior and Senior Warden, Altar Guild
Chair, ECW Diocesan President, United Thanks Offering Chairman, Chalice
Bearer, Lay Reader, Lay Eucharist Minister, and five-time delegate to
General Convention for the Episcopal Church.
Another passion for Mrs. Curtis was the Hospice of the Carolina Foothills.
She gave hours of her time as a volunteer at the Hospice Thrift Barn in
Landrum and also gave generously by purchasing vital computer equipment and
lovely furniture for the Landrum Hospice House.
She had a tremendous zest for life and was always looking for ways to help
others. No matter the circumstances or location, Mrs. Curtis never met a
stranger. She touched more lives than can be counted.
Mrs. Curtis was predeceased by her husband, Doug; three brothers, Earle,
William, and Harry; and one sister, Harriett. Surviving are her four
children, Douglas Wilde Curtis, Jr. (Viki) of Albany, Ga., Philip Creswell
Curtis (Rita) of Evans, Ga., Catherine Garlington Curtis of Columbia, S.C., and
Donald Smith Curtis (Kasey) of Lawrenceville, Ga. She is also survived by
seven grandchildren; Sally (Rob), Jeff (Ashley), Andrew (Leigh), Creswell,
Edward, Laura, and Philip (Katie); and four great-grandchildren; Carter, Caroline, Deaton, and Rabun.
A memorial service for Mrs. Curtis will be held on Saturday, Jan. 17,
at 1 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross, 150 Melrose Avenue,
Tryon, N.C.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Episcopal Church of the
Holy Cross, P.O. Box 279, Tryon, N.C., 28782, or to Hospice of the Carolina
Foothills, 130 Forest Glen Drive, Columbus, N.C., 28722.
Condolences may be left for the family at www.pettyfuneralhome.com.
Petty Funeral Home & Crematory
Landrum, S.C.