Mildred Patricia Smith

Mildred P. Smith, 92, a 52-year resident of Crofton, died of heart failure on Thursday, May 28.

Mrs. Smith was born in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 20, 1927. She grew up on Chester Street in the city’s southeastern neighborhood of Anacostia in the loving home of her parents, Thelma and Dana Estep; with her sisters Doris (her best friend) and Lotus, and twin brother, Milton; her grandparents lived across Chester Street.

After attending Anacostia High School, Mrs. Smith took a job in the administrative offices of The Hecht Co. (when it was on F Street) where she met her co-worker and future husband, Gordon Smith. They were married in 1950, as Mr. Smith, who was attending Georgetown University Law Center. He later opted to pursue a career as a writer and Mrs. Smith settled in as a homemaker.

The couple had their first of their two sons, Kristen, in 1952, and lived in an apartment complex in Southeast Washington. In 1955, they moved across the city line to a new suburban community in Maryland, Forestville, in District Heights.

In 1961, their son, Mark, was born. By 1968, Mr. Smith had switched careers and was immersed in the public relations field as the family moved to another new neighborhood, Crofton, where Mrs. Smith lived the rest of her life.

Mrs. Smith ― who lived by the credo, “Be Careful” ― enjoyed family events and, despite her natural shyness, was often enjoyable company for whoever she encountered. That may have been the ladies at The Total Look hair salon, in Crofton; a waiter at a local restaurant or a clerk at the drug store. She also loved animals, shopping with Doris and was an avid television viewer, especially of Hallmark Channel (because it airs The Golden Girls and those great “original” movies that all have the same plot); Maryland Public Television and PBS; and WRC-TV’s NBC4 News.

And unlike many elderly citizens, she enjoyed Facebook. She was puzzled as to why anyone wouldn’t enjoy social media as a way to keep in touch with friends and family, and learn stuff.

Mrs. Smith was predeceased by her husband, who passed in 2007, her siblings and niece Michelle Heuber-White; as well as family pets Mitzi, Mac, Buddy, Ginger, Mittens, Roly, Dusty and Rocky.

She is survived by Kristen (Gini), formerly of Odenton and now of Lady Lake, Fla.; their children Brianna (David Miles), of Fort Collins, Colo., and Derek (Elisabeth), of Annapolis; four great-grandchildren (Chloe and Nathan, and Laura and Daniel, respectively); Mark, of Odenton, who delighted in calling his sweet-natured mother “Millie Dearest” and is always careful when he’s out ’n about in their beloved Washington; as well as nephews John Levy (Glynn), of Alexandria, Va.; Steven Heuber (Nancy), of Burtonsville, Md.; Kenny White, of Beltsville; and niece Colleen Heuber-Bowen (Andy), of Highland, Md.

Due to current restrictions, the funeral at Donaldson Funeral Home, Odenton, will be private. Family and friends are invited to attend the graveside service (with masks and appropriate distancing) on Thursday, June 11, at approximately 11:30 a.m. at Cedar Hill Cemetery, 4111 Pennsylvania Avenue (Route 4), Suitland, Md.

In lieu of flowers, Mrs. Smith would have loved to have had donations made in her name to the SPCA of Anne Arundel County, 1815 Bay Ridge Avenue, Annapolis, Md., 21403. 

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