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It is with deep sorrow that Mrs. Angela Smith Edwards announces the death of her beloved mother, Mrs. Virginia Kay Bullard Smith, 69. Mrs. Smith entered into rest on Wednesday, December 21, 2022. The Directors of Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home & Crematory are caring for the family. A funeral service to honor her life will be held at 4 o'clock on Tuesday, December 27, 2022, in The Chapel of Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home. The Rev. Brad Griese will officiate, and the family will receive friends immediately following the service. Memorials may be made in her honor to Pee Dee Coalition, PO Box 1351 Florence, SC 29503. Born in Big Spring, TX, she was the daughter of the late James Odell Bullard and Norma Jean Wright Bullard. To everyone, Virginia Kay was just Kay. That was the name her family and friends have called her since birth. Kay suited her. She was never pretentious, but she was earnest, straightforward, and smart. School and book learning was always very easy for her. She had a gift for language that eluded the rest of her extended family, and a mind for esoteric facts and trivia that bordered on genius. She loved to read, and to her, grammar was the order in the universe. There was never a word in a sentence that did not get spelled out correctly. And that was a good thing, because four and half years ago, due to the side effects of radiation for cancer, her larynx had to be removed. She lost her voice, but not her ability to communicate and communicate well with her iPad. She embodied the rock-solid stoic Spartan. She lived simply but went through such extraordinary lengths to try to heal her body and become as well and strong as she could. She once said of her health challenges that it was not the life she wanted, planned for, or felt suited for. Yet she bore her challenges and significant setbacks with humble dignity, honor, grace, and stoic humor. She was a force to be reckoned with, and a person to be admired for her strength and love of life. All throughout her life, Kay was never one to stand on ceremony or allow anyone to define her role and place. She always chose, not the easiest path, but the path of greatest challenge and the one most likely to offer boundary-breaking possibilities. The traditional women’s jobs never appealed to her. She was an adept car mechanic and worked at Duke Power as a locksmith for many years. She was determined to have a life she could enjoy despite her health challenges. To sit quietly and read with her mother, to play bridge with friends, and to visit with family. She crocheted caps to give to hospitals and was generous with both her time and resources. She loved the beach. She loved shopping. And she loved her family and friends with a quiet passion and went to extraordinary lengths to keep in touch. Preceded in death by parents James and Norma Bullard, Kay leaves behind her daughter and primary caretaker Angela Edwards (Chad), her grandchildren Patrick (Alyce), Michael, and Griffin, and seven great-grandchildren, and she recently reconnected estranged daughter Katrice and two additional grandchildren. Always close with her brothers and sisters, she leaves behind families of Deborah Eittreim (Joel), James Bullard (Dianne), Randall Bullard (Debbie), Kenneth Bullard (Sharon), and Catherine Herold (Steve) and nine nephews and nieces, and three great-nephews and nieces. "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." -- Psalm 73:26 She is survived by her loving daughters, Angela (Chad) Edwards of Hartsville, SC, Katrice (Ahmyn Masci) Shuler of Rice Lake, WI; brothers, Jimmy (Diane) Bullard of Houston, TX, Randy (Debbie) Bullard Charlotte, NC, Kenny (Sharon) Bullard of Charlotte Hall, MD; sisters, Debby (Joel) Eittreim of Show Low, AZ, Cathy (Steve) Herold of New Bern, NC; grandchildren, Patrick (Alyse) Bailey, Mike Bailey III, Griffin (Jordan) Tyner, Kylie (Cameron) Edwards, Seryahna Shuler Masci, Djanko Shuler Masci; great-grandchildren, Teagan, Stella, Norah, Charlie, Ellie, Elliott, Spencer, and Ari.

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Mrs. Virginia Kay Bullard Smith

February 27, 1953 - December 21, 2022