Mary Louise Smith Barrow

Mary Louise Smith Barrow, 92, of Florence, passed away on Friday, March 24, 2023. Mrs. Barrow was born in Florence County, SC a daughter of the late Cader Smith and Louise Hudson Smith. She was former national president of the AMVETS Auxiliary and was instrumental, along with Strom Thurmond, getting the Carillon Bell installed at Florence National Cemetery in 1987. Mary was also past president of the VFW and state matron advisor of the VFW. She put in 50 years of service with the William Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Hospital and worked with South Carolina physically handicapped. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lloyd Barrow; sons, Tommy Chavis and Teddy Chavis; brother, Ben Smith; sisters, Shelby Ford and Vonnie Mae Jenkins. Surviving are her sons, A. Wallace (Lisa) Chavis and Ernest B. (Debbie) Chavis; daughter, Wanda Gail Allen; special niece, Iras (Norman) Jones; special nephews, Dale Parker Ford and Richard (Ruby) Jenkins; a number of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and extended family members. Memorials may be made to Jayne Boswell Animal Shelter, PO Box 4808, Florence, SC 29502, or to the House of Hope, www.hofh.org. The family will receive friends from 2:00 – 3:00 pm Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home with the service to be held at 3:00 pm in the funeral home chapel. Burial will follow in Mount Hope Cemetery.