Mary Lois Smith

Mary Lois Carter Smith AKA Aunt Lois was born in Crewe, Virginia. Her parents were frank and MIllie Watson Carter. Lois was the sixth of then children. All her siblings are deceased. Lois went to school in Virginia, Maryland, and New York. She graduated from Nottaway High School in Virginia and Provident School of Nursing in Baltimore, Maryland, which was connected to Morgan State University. She then became a Registered Professional Nurse. She obtained a B.S. degree in Nursing Education and a certificate in Supervision of Nurses in public health from Columbia University in New York and a Master's Degree in Clinical Social Work from Adelphi University in New York. Lois came to New York to fulfill her dream career in Nursing. Lois specialized in hospital nursing, caring for children with communicable diseases and for both children and adults affected by polio. She was soon promoted Assistant Head Nurse. She later joined a cancer research hospital, where she served as Head Nurse of the Emergency Room. From hospital nursing, Lois went into public health nursing with the NYC Department of Health. Its focus was preventative health. She soon became a Supervisor of Public Health by competitive exam. She was proud to be #3 out of 47 on the list. Lois was nominated and accepted into an elite Nursing organization, Who's Who in American Nursing. She also belonged to Who's Who in the world of nursing by recommendation. Lois loved her profession of helping people attain and maintain good health. After Lois retired she decided to continue in the caring profession. She embarked on a new career and became a Licensed MSW and a Certified Social Worker CSW. This prepared her to practice in mental health as a Social Worker Psychotherapist. Lois married a wonderful widower Joseph C. Smith who had four wonderful children, she loved them dearly. Lois was blessed to have great loving family of sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews and a great friend who was like a sister to her, Ms. Arleatha Daste. She was also blessed to have wonderful grandchildren and great grandchildren, whom she loved very much. God was good to Lois. She had a good life. She traveled to many cities in the U.S. and traveled to the Caribbean Islands and Russia. Lois did volunteer work for Catholic Charities and later was employed by that agency as a therapist. She worked with the bereavement group at her church, Christ the King. Lois was a member of an organization named Key Women of America. Its mission was to give service to children in the community. She was also a member of a social club NYC Coney Island Hospital Retirees Club. It was composed of various city employees. Lois goals in life was to always try to help those in need.

Tributes

Mary Lois Smith

May 6, 1925 - June 5, 2026