Augusta Evalee Vella

PORT ROYAL, SOUTH CAROLINA - Augusta Evalee Vella, 88, of Port Royal, died March 2, 2013 at Beaufort Memorial Hospital. Augusta was born in Chesterfield County, SC, the daughter of the late John Benjamin Gaddy Johnson and the late Blanche Letha Alexander Johnson. She graduated from McBee High School, McBee, SC, attended the University of South Carolina, and had nurses training in Baltimore, MD. Augusta worked at Byerly Hospital in Hartsville, SC, Homestead Air Force Base Hospital, Beaufort Memorial Hospital, and retired from the US Naval Hospital, Beaufort, SC. She worked in genealogy and music. Augusta was an active member of the Port Royal Baptist Church for over 50 years. She was an active member of Young Hearts, VFW Auxiliary, AMVETS Auxiliary, Beaufort Genealogical Society, National Association of Retired Federal Employees, and organizations of Port Royal Baptist Church. Augusta played the piano frequently for the Kazooettes band during her 80s. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husbands, William Thomas Smith, Joseph Vella, Sr., Charles Willard Riley and her son, Rodney Lowell Smith. She is survived by three sons, Wendell Myron Smith (Jane) of Chesterfield, MO, William Michael Smith (Connie) of Stuart, FL and John Cameron Smith, Port Royal; daughter-in-law, Sharon Smith, of Homestead, FL; seven grandchildren, Carrie Marie Smith Thompson, Janelle Amanda Smith, William Michael Smith Jr., Matthew Trevor Smith, Ian Lowell Smith, Carole Anne Smith, and Cameron Austin Smith, and three great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 o'clock Monday, March 11, 2013 at Copeland Funeral Service - One Copeland Drive. The funeral service will be held at 10:30 o'clock Tuesday morning, March 12, 2013 in Port Royal Baptist Church. The interment will be at 12:00 o'clock in Beaufort National Cemetery.