Geraldine Sue Smith

Geraldine Sue Smith (Orrison), passed peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior on July 1, 2023. She was the daughter of Elsie Lee Orrison (Barden) and Charles Franklin Orrison.  She was born on November 16, 1935, in Frederick, Maryland. She is survived by her three children, Gerald Smith of Roanoke, Virginia, Gina Thomas of Falls Church, Virginia, and Garry Smith and his wife Karyn of Fredericksburg, Virginia.  She is also survived by her three grandchildren Troy Thomas and fiancé Maria Sarmiento of Haymarket, Virginia, Hayley Thomas of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Corey Thomas of Falls Church, Virginia. She was grateful that her first great grandson Noah Alexander Thomas was born on June 30, 2023. She additionally is survived by her nephews Keith Orrison and wife Jean, Scott Orrison and wife Tracy, and their children and grandchildren of the Austin, Texas area.  She was preceded in death by her parents, mentioned above, her husband of 54 years Gerald Lamar Smith (Jerry), and her brother Stan Orrison and his wife Diane of Lago Vista, Texas.

Sue grew up in Point of Rocks, Maryland where she was a prominent member of the Lutheran Church, teaching Sunday School, actively singing in the choir, and regularly volunteering wherever she was able. She was elected President of the Luther League at age 17. She graduated from Frederick High School in 1954. She went to a Secretarial School in Frederick, Maryland, and later married Gerald Smith (Jerry) in 1958 at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Point of Rocks, Maryland, which was the church her great grandfather helped build. Her husband Jerry was in the Army, so she traveled both overseas and domestically while raising their children. She held offices in the Officer’s Wives’ Clubs and the Red Cross Supervisor of Volunteers, all while continuing to teach Sunday School.  As Jerry fought in the Viet Nam war, Sue cared for her children while he was away for a year, continuing her volunteer efforts. She did the same as he was assigned to Turkey for a year.  Later the family moved to Nokesville, Virginia, where they lived for about 35 years. She continued serving and attending at Bethel Lutheran Church in Manassas, Virginia.  She served on alter guild at her various church memberships for over 50 years. She volunteered at Prince William Hospital also for many years and was a member of Eastern Star for decades. Her exceptional skills in baking pies in 4H as a child helped her to become a renowned pie baker and aficionado. Baking pies and cooking for others for any occasion brought her immense joy. She felt most at home in the kitchen, at her sewing machine, gardening, or spending time with her loving family.

She held various administrative positions in Virginia to support her family and her community. Upon retirement, Jerry and Sue moved to Hagerstown, Maryland and became active members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Smithsburg, Maryland. She continued caring for her mother as Elsie entered the National Lutheran Home in Rockville Maryland, visiting a few times a week and assisting as needed on the volunteer board.  She and Jerry also loved cheering on their grandchildren at countless sporting events and celebrations.

She spent her last few years of life living with her daughter Gina, visiting with, and reminiscing on fond memories with family, actively participating in Trinity Church services each week virtually, and bird watching with her grandchildren.

Services will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 14 North Main St. Smithsburg, Md. 21783 on July 14, 2023, 11:00AM, followed by a luncheon at church. Interment will be at 2:00PM at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 515 South Market St. Frederick, Maryland 21701.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Trinity Lutheran Church mentioned above, the National Lutheran Home, 9701 Viers Mill Dr. Rockville Maryland 20850, or the Susan G. Komen Cancer Foundation. Sue was a breast cancer and melanoma survivor. She had surgery and treatment over 23 years ago.  Cancer research and support was an important cause to Sue and her family alongside her wholehearted devotion to the Lutheran Church.