Shelby Jean Smith

Shelby Hodge Smith, 83, of Salem Virginia died Tuesday September 21, 2021, after a long illness. Family will receive friends at John M. Oakey and Son in Salem on Thursday September 23 from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm. A memorial service will be held on Friday September 24 at 2:00 at First United Methodist Church in Salem, Virginia, followed by interment at Sherwood Memorial Park. Shelby was born on May 4, 1938, in Hinton, West Virginia, the daughter of Ernest W. Hodge, and Wanda Hartwell Hodge. She attended and was a cheerleader at Talcott High School in Talcott, West Virginia. Shelby soon moved to Salem and worked for several local businesses including Newberrys, ITT, Poly Scientific, Powell Pharmacy and General Electric before joining her husband at their family business Smith and Company Accounting. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Salem where she volunteered regularly and served on the Board of Trustees. Raised in West Virginia, Shelby grew up without indoor plumbing or electricity. She earned a GED after getting married before she completed high school. These early struggles made her extremely proud of her later successes in life, including the accounting business she built with her husband and sending all of her children to college and on to successful careers of their own. She was most proud of the family she built and doted on her grandchildren who were her greatest joy. In addition to her parents, Shelby was predeceased by husbands Robert Bob F. Smith and Steve Galanes, sisters Janie Jeffries of Salem, JoAnne Hopkins of Clifton Forge, Jackie Dooley of Roanoke, and her brother Robert Hodge of Ironto, Virginia. Shelby is survived by her devoted children: daughter Kay Mook and soninlaw Rex Mook of Salem, son Richard Smith and friend Danielle Whitmire of Salem, daughter Jennifer Shail and soninlaw Todd Shail of Dalton, Georgia, and daughter Robyn Ellis and soninlaw David Ellis of Salem. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren Alisa Burns and her husband Chris Burns, Emily Mook, Madison Smith and his wife Casey Smith, Devon Smith and his wife Sierra Smith, Audrey Lewis, Rose Ellis, Charlie Lewis, Henry Ellis, and Jack Ellis, and greatgrandchildren Camden Burns, Violet Burns, and Emmaline Smith. She is survived by her brother Jerry Hodge and sisterinlaw Sandra Hodge of Forest, and brotherinlaw Ronnie Dooley, of Roanoke. Shelby also had many special nieces and nephews and played a significant role in bringing joy to their lives. Shelbys family is grateful for the care and attention of the staff at Hermitage Roanoke, and several caregivers who tended her in the last year of her life, including Lisa Conner, Karen Dowell, Melissa Hatcher, and Kim Shears. Service Details. Visitation When Thursday, September 23rd, 2021 6:00pm - 8:00pm Location John M. Oakey & Son Chapel Address 305 Roanoke Boulevard Salem, Virginia 24153 Service When Friday, September 24th, 2021 2:00pm Location First United Methodist Church Address 125 West Main Street Salem, Virginia 24153 Interment When Friday, September 24th, 2021 Location Sherwood Memorial Park Address 1250 East Main Street Salem, Virginia 24153