Mrs. Veda Jester Smith

January 8, 1943 - January 23, 2022

Mrs. Veda Jester Smith, 79, of Columbia, passed away Sunday, January 23, 2022. Born in Greenwood, South Carolina, she was the daughter of the late Robert Benjamin and Nellie Farmer Jester. Veda was the loving wife of 56 years to Leon O’Neil Smith. A graduate from the Columbia Hospital School of Nursing in 1964, Veda served as a nurse for over 40 years, 25 of which she served at Richland Memorial Hospital. She was a lifelong Christian who worshipped at First Baptist Church in Joanna and Shandon Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina. She enjoyed her travels to the beach, she loved to read, and she loved her two dogs, Rocky and Boomer. Veda will forever be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and close friend. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Kathryn and Woody Sharpe of Columbia and Susan and Tom Kaufman of Blythewood; her son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Suzy Smith of Camden; her grandchildren, DJ and Elizabeth Creed, Caroline Sharpe, Garrett and Abigail Kaufman, and Banks Smith. She was preceded in death by her parents. The Smith family would like to thank their devoted family members and cherished friends for their prayers and remembrances during this time. A service will be held at 2 o’clock on Thursday, January 27th, at Shandon Baptist Church, 5250 Forest Drive, Columbia, SC 29206, with Rev. Dennis Banks officiating. The family will receive friends an hour prior at visitation. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family. Memorials may be given to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or we ask that you perform a random act of kindness in honor of Veda and her dear friend’s grandson, Liam Bruzatori (ThisLittleLightOfLiam). Memories and condolences may be shared at ShivesFuneralHome.com. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” Romans 8:18