Falmouth – Carol Lee Smith, 98, died on January 18th, 2025. Born in Newton Massachusetts on October 6, 1926, she was the daughter of her late parents Laurence C. Jones, Sr., and Jennie E. (Evens) Jones.
Carol graduated with honors from Newton High School, in Newton, Massachusetts in 1944 and from the Boston Dispensary as a Lab Technician in 1946. She was employed as a lab technician at a doctor’s office in Boston for five years.
She was married to Attorney Allen C. Smith for 29 years until his death in 1978. Together they raised their three children in Stoughton, Massachusetts and in the faith community of the First United Methodist Church. After Carol helped raise her children, she worked as a church secretary, receptionist, and staff member in the Bishop’s office of the Southern New England Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in Boston.
In 2012, Carol received the Lifetime of Discipleship Award from the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church for years of work in mission and justice ministries. A member of the Northeast Board for Heifer International, she participated in their study tour to Guatemala, Honduras, and Belize, and served as a mission interpreter throughout New England. Carol was a member of a team building dorms for a school for Mapuche Indians in Chile, and classrooms for a Methodist Mission in Dominica. A passion for justice led her to travel to Washington, D.C. to participate in the Pentecost to Soweto protest against apartheid in South Africa, to volunteer at a shelter in Harlem, to serve as a board member for Cooper Community Center in Roxbury, MA., and volunteer for a grass roots organization to assist the rural poor H.O.M.E. (Homeworkers Organized for More Employment) in Orland, Maine.
A lifelong learner, Carol enjoyed traveling to England for a Methodist Heritage Tour, trips to Israel for Bible Study Tours, and travel all over the country to join with United Methodist Women.
Carol is survived by her daughter, the Reverend Janet Smith-Rushton of Waquoit, MA, and her sons the Reverend Richard Whitefleet-Smith and his wife JoAnn of Worcester, MA, and David Smith and his wife Julie of West Bridgewater, MA.
She also leaves grandchildren Jenny Lee Dixon and husband Matthew of Latrobe, PA, Jason Rushton and wife Kathryn of Middletown, RI, Jamie Menard and husband Daniel of Madison, WI, Laura Whitefleet-Smith and husband Stephen Glancy of Yorktown, VA, Rebecca DelTorchio and husband John of Gloucester, MA, Daniel Smith of New Bedford, MA, and Joshua Smith of West Bridgewater, MA.
Carol’s beloved great grandchildren include Jack and Noah Dixon, Aidan and Benjamin Rushton, Bennett and Rosie Menard, Logan Smith, and Callum Glancy.
She also leaves her sister-in-law Louise Smith Kuzmich of Billerica, a cousin, nieces, nephews, and a wide circle of friends.
In addition to her parents and husband, Carol was predeceased by her brother, Laurence C. Jones, Jr., and son-in-law Robert Rushton.
Carol’s life will be celebrated at a service of worship held at the Waquoit Congregational Church, 15 Parsons Lane, Waquoit, MA (Falmouth) on Sunday, February 9th at 3 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to H.O.M.E. Inc, Box 10, Orland, Maine 04472.