Obituary for Margaret Swilling Smith
Proverbs 31:10-31
Margaret Swilling Smith, age 97, of Centre, Alabama passed away peacefully at her home at Cherokee Village Assisted Living Facility, on August 2, 2025, with her family at her side.
Margaret was born on March 29th, 1928, in Greensboro, North Carolina and was the daughter of Chester Gant Swilling and Lillian Ford Swilling. She was their only child.
She graduated from Auburn University in 1948 with a degree in Home Economics. She taught school for just one year. She then married Arlie Genoma Smith of Albertville, Alabama in May of 1949 and settled into being a homemaker, which was the desire of her heart.
Margaret’s mission in life was to maintain a Christian home and be the best wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, homemaker and friend she could be. Her family all heartily agree her life exemplified this mission as fully accomplished.
She loved to bake, especially cookies and was an excellent cook. Her house was always ready to receive guests and she could put a meal on the table at the drop of a hat, usually with food fresh from the garden or that she had canned or frozen herself. Friends and neighbors always looked forward to packages of cookies at Christmas time and enjoyed gifts of fresh apple cake brought for no special reason. At church pot luck suppers, folks watched to see which dish she brought to be sure to get some of her home cooking.
Margaret loved flowers and always had beautiful flower gardens. She tended them carefully and kept cut flowers in her home from her gardens. When she could no longer grow her own flowers, her grandchildren made sure she had fresh flowers to enjoy. And she loved receiving those.
Margaret also loved to sew and was an excellent seamstress. She made many wedding dresses including her daughter Lynda’s dress, her daughter-in-law Karen’s dress and many for friends and loved ones.
Bible study was her daily practice. At the breakfast table, the Bible and a devotion were read and a prayer of blessing was offered every day. Anyone who spent the night, no matter who, was expected to join them for breakfast and participate in their daily devotions. She taught Sunday School at First Baptist Church, Centre for over 50 years, and her class loved her. They honored her by naming the class The Margaret Smith Class.
She is survived by her children, Lynda Smith Wilson (Bobby) and Lynn Russell Smith (Karen), grandchildren Wade Wilson (Karla), Wes Wilson (Merrick), Lauren Smith and Sarah Cole (Ryan). Her great grandchildren are Taylor Abbott, Kamryn Abbott, Joshua Abbott, Carson Wilson, Brynlee Wilson, Colten Wilson, Riley Wilson, Gillian Cassady, Woods Cassady, Clara Cole and Olivia Cole.
Margaret was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 64 years, Arlie Genoma Smith and her great grandson, Corey Curtis Wilson.
The family wishes to thank all the staff of Cherokee Village Assisted Living Facility for the tremendous care and love they showed to Margaret in the time she lived there. They could not be more grateful for all the staff did for her. They also wish to thank Dr. Sheri Frickey for her outstanding care and support of Margaret as her Primary Care Physician. Dr. Frickey’s love, attentive guidance and outstanding compassion, as well as her expertise as a physician is unmatched. The family is forever grateful for all she did for her. They also are grateful to SouthernCare Hospice for the gentle support they provided.
Arrangements include visitation on Wednesday, August 6th at First Baptist Church (300 East Bypass, Center, Alabama 35960) at 12:30 followed immediately by a service of celebration of Margaret’s life at 2:00. There will be a brief graveside gathering at Cherokee Memory Gardens following the service.
In lieu of flowers the family request memorials be given to the Center First Baptist building fund.
