Obituary of Nadine Marshall French

Nadine Marshall French of West Columbia, South Carolina passed away January 24, 2015 at National Healthcare in West Columbia, South Carolina. Nadine was loved and admired by many at NHC and made many friends while there. Born in Mount Airy, North Carolina to the late Walter Marshall and Lola Marshall Collins, Nadine graduated from Mt. Airy High School and earned her business degree from Drayton Business College in Winston-Salem N.C. Nadine also pursued a successful modeling career prior to marrying Billy Smith. They met while Billy was playing for the St. Louis Cardinals Professional Baseball Organization and Nadine was employed in the administrative offices of the Cardinals. In later years, Nadine's banking career spanned 35 years and she retired from Bank of America. Nadine was a fun-loving and intelligent lady. She was always young at heart, possessed a wonderful sense of humor and was quick with a clever remark. Nadine was accepting of all people. She found the good in everyone and had the ability to see people for who they were from the inside out. She enjoyed traveling and reading and had an extensive home library. She was business savvy, well organized and extremely health conscious. Nadine exercised every day, taking aerobics classes several times per week, and was knowledgeable about fitness and nutrition. She was also engaged in community service and in politics. She was an active member of the Democratic Women's Council of South Carolina and The National Organization for Women ("NOW"). Nadine was an avid and skillful golfer, and formerly won numerous women's club championships. She previously served as President of the South Carolina Ladies' Professional Golf Association (LPGA). She was active in her church, Cayce United Methodist Church in Cayce, S.C. She also greatly enjoyed being a member of the Blue Ridge Terrace Community Club along with many of her dear friends. Nadine immensely enjoyed home horticulture and loved landscaping and working in her gardens and yards. She took great pride and pleasure in giving cuttings of her many beautiful flowers and plants to friends and family. Nadine also loved animals, especially dogs, and was an advocate for them. Nadine's closest and constant companion was her precious fur child, Ginger, a happy and spirited Jack Russell Terrier. Nadine also deeply loved her family. She was a supportive Mother with a true and caring heart and she greatly loved her daughters. Nadine enjoyed and always looked forward to hosting family gatherings in her home, especially at Christmastime. The joy of giving and sharing with others was evident throughout the entire family. Nadine is survived by her two daughters, Sharon Lythia Smith of Lexington, S.C., and Kathryn Nadine Welch of Atlanta, GA; her sisters-in-law and many cherished nieces and nephews. Nadine was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Lola; five brothers, Verlon Marshall and Claude Marshall of Mt. Airy, N.C., Woody Marshall of Winston-Salem, N.C., Avon Marshall of Chicago, IL, and Russell Marshall of Lafayette, MS; and one sister, Gaynelle Marshall of Chicago, IL. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 28, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. at Thompson Funeral Home Lexington, 4720 Augusta Road, Lexington, South Carolina 29073, Telephone: (803) 996-1023. Interment will take place at Nadine's family plot in Mt. Airy, North Carolina. Memorials may be made to Nadine's favorite charities, Pets Inc. Adopt-A-Pal and the American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Research. The family wishes to thank you for your prayers and support. You may also visit the online guest book at: http://www.thompsonsfuneral.com/