Norma Christine Howard Smith

Norma Christine Howard Smith, 78, of Flowery Branch, passed away Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

Born April 13, 1946, to C.C. and Norma Crawley Howard in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Christie was the big sister to 3 siblings. In 1950, her family moved south to Gainesville, Georgia, where her father managed McLellan’s on the corner of Washington and Main on the square.

Throughout her life Christie lived in towns across the South but always considered Gainesville home. Growing up on Green Street Place, Christie attended Candler Street Elementary and enjoyed Girl Scouts and dance lessons with her sister. She went on to graduate with honors from Gainesville High School in 1964 and Brenau College in 1968. She was a member of First Baptist Gainesville, and upon returning to town later in life she joined Blackshear Place, now Christ Place Church.

An avid gardener, Christie loved the outdoors. There was not a flower she could not coax to bloom. She enjoyed camping, where over a fire she taught her young sons how to prepare Girl Scout Stew and make s’mores. She fished, hiked, and camped in sites from Texas to the Carolinas and down to Florida, but Boggs Creek remained her favorite.

Anyone who knew Christie enjoyed her cooking. Her homemade pimento cheese and potato salad were unrivalled, and her banana pudding legendary. Each holiday required at least two meats and three desserts with ample vegetables in between. She lavished her family and friends with sumptuous meals as a show of love.

In the 1980s and 90s Christie rarely missed a Fox 97 Ultimate Oldies concert or a chance to dance to the Swinging Medallions. Yet, throughout her life, most cherished was her time with family—whether it be fun at the lake with her siblings, on the sidelines cheering on grandkids, or reunions with extended family in North Carolina. She also held dear her Sunday Bible Fellowship class whom she considered closest friends.

Professionally Christie began her career in Social Work for the Georgia Department of Family and Children’s Services. Over time she became an accomplished businesswoman. She worked for Marconi Avionics, Siemens Energy and Automation, and Scientific Atlanta/Cisco Systems. She became expert in industrial export documentation and international quote administration. Christie travelled with her career to places as far as Slovenia and Indonesia. She retired from Cisco in 2009.

Christie is preceded in death by her parents, her former husband Rick Smith, her sisters-in-law Laura Howard and Rebecca Howard, and her dog Mindy. She is survived by her 3 siblings, Laurie (Pat) Stamsen, Sonnie Howard, and Kit Howard; her two sons Ben (Esther) and Matt (Shana); and her five grandchildren, Mary Alice, Jeffery, Jackson, Watson, and Amelia, all of whom are now in college following in their grandmother’s academic footsteps. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and cousins whom she loved dearly.

Funeral Services will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 8, 2025, in the Chapel of Memorial Park South Funeral Home. Rev. Dave Channell will officiate. The family will receive friends 12:00–2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Memorial Park South Funeral Home preceding the funeral. Inurnment will be at Pine Lawn Memorial Park in Kinston, North Carolina, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Samaritan’s Purse for whom Christie enjoyed making Christmas boxes with her Bible Fellowship. https://www.samaritanspurse.org/.

Memorial Park South Funeral Home, 4121 Falcon Parkway, Flowery Branch, Georgia 30542, is in charge of arrangements.  Send on-line condolences to www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.