Doris Smoak Bales, 92, lifelong resident of Walterboro, South Carolina, and widow of Grady Marvin Bales Sr., returned to her heavenly home on April 19, 2024. She was under hospice care, when she went peacefully with family and her granddog, Bella, by her side.
Doris was born in Colleton County, SC on July 16, 1931, daughter of the late Robert Patrick Smoak and Edna Crosby Smoak. Doris attended Hendersonville High School, where she would meet her late husband, Grady Marvin Bales Sr. The pair married in 1948 and would have four children while building their life in Walterboro.
Doris was a loving friend, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Throughout her life, she spent her time taking care of her family and was a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Walterboro. Doris loved going to her Sunday School class and she was a proud founder of the WMU Prayer Group, where she served as president for over 40 years.
Doris is preceded in death by her beloved husband, parents, brother Kenneth Patrick Smoak, grandson Jeremy Ethan Tompkins, as well as two sons-in-law, Doug Tanner and Jim Tompkins.
Doris is survived by her four children: Dianne Drawdy and husband Martin of Florence, Cynthia Tanner of Gainesville, GA, Bonnie Tompkins of Cooper City, FL, and G. Marvin Bales Jr. and wife Robin of Roswell, GA and Spartanburg. She deeply loved her surviving grandchildren: Tina D. Cloer (Thad), Christopher Drawdy (Melissa), Laura D. Temples (Chris), Michael Tanner (Mary), Scott Tanner, Greg Tanner (Molly), Kelly T. Austin (Josh), Jody Tanner (Briana), Casey Tanner, Matthew Tompkins, Megan Tompkins, Caroline Bales, and Melissa Bales. In addition, Doris was blessed with 14 great-grandchildren: Zoe, Nathan, Erin, Aiden, Alyssa, Marilla, Michaela, Miles, Eli, Jaxon, Carter, Lydia, George, and Dean. Doris is survived by many beloved family members, including some grand-dogs, but will be greeted by many in heaven.
Funeral services will be held Saturday April 27th at 2:00pm, in the chapel of Parker-Rhoden Funeral Home, with burial following at the Black Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held prior to the service, beginning at 1:00pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to First Baptist Church of Walterboro, 124 Memorial Avenue Walterboro, SC 29488.
