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It is with deep sorrow that the Truesdale family announces the death of their beloved mother, Mrs. Willene Bullock Smothers Truesdale, 86. Mrs. Truesdale entered into rest on Thursday, November 3, 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 3 o'clock on Sunday, November 6, 2022, in The Chapel of Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home. The Rev. Jimmy Beck will officiate with burial to follow in Tabernacle United Methodist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service and other times at the residence. Memorials may be made to the Darlington County Humane Society, Box 1655, Hartsville, SC 29550. Mrs. Truesdale, the widow of J. W. Smothers, was born in Kershaw, SC. she was the daughter of George Bullock and Maggie Barnes Bullock. Willene was the baby of thirteen children and grew up working on their family farm. She met her first true love, J. W. “Shack” Smothers in 1953, and together they had five children. She lost her husband in 1964 due to drowning while saving a child. She did the best she knew how to provide for her children as a single mother. Willene was a hard worker that included working various manufacturing jobs. In 1986 she married Robert “Bobby” Truesdale. Shortly after their marriage, Bobby had a work accident that left him paralyzed. She faithfully cared for him for seventeen years. Willene was tough and faced many challenges in her life, but she conquered them all. She lost her oldest son, William, in 1999 and kept his memory alive and talked about him all the time. Willene was a believer in Jesus Christ and gave Him all the credit for her endurance. She was not afraid of death and looked forward to seeing her loved ones again. She loved her family and friends, her furry best friend, “Bear,” cooking, family gatherings, decorating the house and yards for every holiday, westerns, receiving and mailing cards, and spreading cheer to everyone. In her last days on earth, she was surrounded by her family, that mourned, laughed, prayed, and reminisced together. That is everything she wanted. She is survived by her daughters, Jewel Smothers of Murrells Inlet, SC, Theresa Tolson Weinberg of Cheraw, SC; sons, Danny Smothers of Hartsville, SC, Michael (Janis) Smothers of Hartsville, SC; daughter-in-law, Angie Smothers of Hartsville, SC; grandchildren, Daniel Smothers, Gene Tolson, Adam Tolson, Danielle Engelbert, Brendt Jones, Sherry Gainey, Sandy Rodgers, Dylan Smothers, Jennie Lynn Joplin, Jimmy Smith; nineteen great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and her first husband, she was preceded in death by her second husband, Robert Truesdale; son, William Smothers; her twelve brothers and sisters; grandson, Michael Thomas; daughter-in-law, Annie Marie Smothers. Serving as pallbearers will be Daniel Smothers, Gene Tolson, Adam Tolson, Dylan Smothers, Brendt Jones, Devin Tolson, D. J. Smothers, Mat Tolson, Easton Rodgers, and Conner Engelbert.

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Mrs. Willene Smothers Truesdale

April 17, 1936 - November 3, 2022