Smith Funeral Home, 75th anniversary

2025-2026 Bill 5685: Smith Funeral Home, 75th anniversary - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 5685
STATUS INFORMATION
House Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Williams, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Grant, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, Huff, J.E. Johnson, J.L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lastinger, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, C. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, Moss, Neese, B. Newton, W. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, Rivers, Robbins, Rose, Rutherford, Sanders, Schuessler, Scott, Sessions, G.M. Smith, M.M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Waters, Weeks, Wetmore, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Willis, Wooten and Yow
Document Path: LC-0514DG-RM26.docx
Introduced in the House on May 12, 2026
Adopted by the House on May 12, 2026
Summary: Smith Funeral Home, 75th anniversary
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

5/12/2026

House

Introduced and adopted (
House Journal-page 3
)

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legislative information
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VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
05/12/2026

A
house
RESOLUTION

TO CONGRATULATE the Smith Funeral Home of Florence ON
the OCCASION OF ITS RECENT seventy-fifth anniversary AND TO WISH THIS FAMILY-OWNED
BUSINESS MUCH CONTINUED SUCCESS IN THE DAYS TO COME.

W
hereas, the South
Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that the Smith Funeral
Home of Florence recently celebrated its seventy-fifth anniversary; and

W
hereas, J.O. Smith, a
native of Bennettsville, founder of the Smith Funeral Home, and a licensed
funeral director and embalmer, began his business in Florence in October 1950.
He came to Florence after receiving encouragement from some of that worthy city's
leading citizens, who stated that a first-class business offering funeral
services was needed. Mr. Smith was assisted by his wife, Annette McCollum
Smith, who served as a secretary-receptionist for the firm and who was a
licensed funeral director; and

W
hereas, in 2025, the
business marked seventy-five years of service to the citizens of Florence and
surrounding areas. It has prospered for two reasons: services and equipment.
For example, the Smith Funeral Home was the first to have limousines for the
families they served in the area, along with the spacious chapel of convenience
for the use of these families. The firm remains a family-owned and family-operated
enterprise; and

W
hereas, the firm's building
was completely renovated in 1964. It now stands as a memorial to the many
families the business has been privileged to serve over the years; and

W
hereas, in time, the
second generation, James Lawrence Smith and his wife, Felicia R. Smith-Charles,
took over operation of the business. Today, Felicia R. Smith-Charles serves as
president and owner, and her son, J. Lawrence Smith II of the third generation,
serves as vice president; and

W
hereas, the House of
Representatives takes great pleasure in recognizing this respected and
established business and in honoring the fine service it has provided for
three-quarters of a century. Now, therefore,

B
e it resolved by the
House of Representatives
:

T
hat the members of the
South Carolina
House of Representatives
,
by this resolution, congratulate the Smith Funeral Home of Florence on the
occasion of its recent seventy-fifth anniversary and wish this family-owned
business much continued success in the days to come.

B
e it further resolved
that a copy of this resolution be presented to Felicia R. Smith-Charles and J.
Lawrence Smith II for the firm.

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This web page was last updated on May 12, 2026 at 12:35 PM