Lucille Ann Papa Smith

Lucille Ann (Papa) Smith, age 88, of Florence, South Carolina, went to be with our Lord and Savior on Sunday night, January 6, 2019 at McLeod Hospice House in Florence, South Carolina.  She was the daughter of the late Pasquale Papa and Josephine (Capp) Papa.

Lucille was a pioneer in the State of West Virginia as one of the first women pharmacists to graduate from West Virginia University in the Class of 1952. She worked in hospital pharmacy in West Virginia and Ohio at Ohio Valley Medical Center in Wheeling, West Virginia, St. Johns Hospital and East Liverpool Hospital in Steubenville and East Liverpool, Ohio, respectively, Weirton General Hospital and Weirton Medical Center in Weirton, West Virginia. She also worked as a retail pharmacist as the co-owner with her husband of the original Medicine Shoppe in Florence, South Carolina, and worked in more recent years at CareSouth Carolina Inc. in Hartsville, South Carolina and for CVS throughout the PeeDee region of South Carolina and in the Myrtle Beach area. Not only was she known for her commitment to providing accurate dispensing of medicines to patients, but also excellent customer service with her warm personality and friendly smile with customers and patients. She genuinely loved people and was loved in return by all who came to know her. Lucille also served with distinction for two years on the South Carolina Silver-Haired Legislature representing the interests of senior citizens in the state. She was a member of Highland Park United Methodist Church in Florence, South Carolina.

Lucille was born on May 3, 1930, and grew up in Beech Bottom, WV as the second of three children to her parents who immigrated to the United States from Italy. She attended Wellsburg High School, where she graduated in 1947.  She married her college sweetheart in 1950 and lived and worked in Morgantown, West Virginia while she and her husband completed their education. After graduation from West Virginia University Pharmacy School, they settled in Wellsburg. Lucille and Galen eventually moved to Florence, South Carolina, then to Carolina Shores, North Carolina, then back to Wellsburg, before finally moving back to Florence where they settled to be near their children.

She was preceded in death by her father, Pasquale Papa, mother, Josephine (Capp) Papa, brothers Robert (Bob) Papa and Fredrick (Freddie) Papa.

She is survived by her loving husband of 69 years, Galen Hartman Smith, Jr. who she lived with at The Manor in Florence, South Carolina, sons, Galen Hartman Smith, III (wife Martha) of Charlotte, North Carolina, Gary Lee “Mark” Smith of Florence, South Carolina, and Greg Lynn Smith (wife Susan) of Greenville, North Carolina; granddaughters Amanda Jo Smith of New York City, New York, and Emily Camille (Smith) Hurst (husband Will) of Greensboro, North Carolina. She also leaves behind a large extended family living here in the United States and in Italy, as well as many friends. The family wishes to thank a special caregiver, Brenda Southern, of Florence, South Carolina, and McLeod Hospice House of Florence, South Carolina.

Arrangements are being made by Cain Calcutt Funeral Home in Florence, South Carolina. A memorial service will be announced in the future. Memorial donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place Memphis, TN 38105 or to the Parkinson's Foundation, 200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131.

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