Betty Frances Smith Polk

Betty Frances Smith Polk, longtime resident of Hampton, SC, died at Ridgeland Nursing Center on August 3, 2018 at the age of 85 after an extended illness.

Betty, or Frances to those who knew her in her youth, is survived by her husband, George Tillman "Dick" Polk, Sr.; her children, George Tillman "Dickie" Polk, Jr. and wife Sandra, Sherri Elizabeth Polk Brown and husband George, and James Louis "Jimmie" Polk, Sr. and wife April; her 9 grandchildren, Michael, Kevin, Mandy, Wendy, Jamie, Jeffrey, Courtney, Jessica and Carson, together with 11 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild, one sister-in law, Ruby Chassereau Smith Avant, and numerous nieces and nephews.  She is preceded in death by her parents and eight siblings.

Betty Frances was born on October 28, 1932 in Furman, SC, the youngest child of Walter Kenneth Smith and Eula Irene Bishop.  After graduating from Furman High School in 1949, she worked in various jobs as a secretary until she started working in the payroll department at the Savannah River Site, commonly known then as "the bomb plant".  She met her husband to be, Dick, on the bus to work, where he spotted her and moved up one seat each day until he convinced her brother-in law, Holbrook Crapse, to switch seats with him so he could ride next to her.

Betty Frances worked for many years for Hampton County, retiring as the Disaster Preparedness Director.  After her children grew up and left the home, she traveled the country by bus as the treasurer and member of the Hampton County FCL Club.  She was also a member of the Woodmen of the World life insurance society and served as the Family Historian for the Thomas Hamilton Smith and Amanda Hogarth Smith Family Reunion Committee for many years.  She was also a member of Hampton First Baptist Church.

Visitation will be Tuesday morning beginning at 10:00 am prior to services at the Funeral Home Chapel in Hampton.

Funeral services will be 11:30 am Tuesday in the Chapel of Peeples-Rhoden Funeral Home located at 300 Mulberry Street West in Hampton with burial in the Hampton Cemetery.

The family suggests that those who wish may send memorials to the Thomas Hamilton Smith and Amanda Hogarth Smith Reunion Committee, care of Susan Edwards, Treasurer, 10615 Pocotaligo Road, Varnville, SC 29944.

The family would like to thank all of her caregivers for their work, care and dedication.