Archer, Sheila Day Smith

Sheila Day Smith Archer, age 89 of Draper, died Saturday evening, December 7, 2013 at Wheatland Hills in Hillsville. Jesus answered her prayers and sent his angels to peacefully take her home. One friend commented, ”the angels are dancing in Heaven now.” She lived most of her life in Draper’s Valley of Wythe County. She will always be that special and dear “Mama“ and “Meemaw” to us all. Even though she couldn’t remember us in these last few years, we will always remember her with a smile and pay tribute to her greatest qualities as a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Meemaw has been a strong influence in her grandchildren’s lives with her prominent legacy being her love of gardening, canning, and food in general. Meemaw’s table was always set with lots of homegrown goodies come dinner time. Her strawberry rhubarb jam, homegrown sweet corn, sweet potato casserole, green beans, pickled beets, and potato salad to name a few were always savored by family members during visits. Homemade butterscotch fudge, and carrot, applesauce, and coconut cakes and lemon pies were her specialty for desserts and her daughters’ birthdays. During the past few years Sheila let her fun side shine through having a wonderful time flat footing, singing and clapping to any blue grass or other catchy tune she heard. She was a talented seamstress, money manager, wife and homemaker. She made a special impact on the lives of the caregivers at Wheatland Hillsville with her love of music, dancing, pretty clothes, jewelry, and the color purple. She was preceded in death by her parents, Blanche Richard Crockett Smith and Christmas Joe Smith, husband Garland Cecil Archer, Jr., a son Randolph Jerome Archer, and a sister Cleo Smith. She is survived by four daughters, Anita Kirby of Max Meadows, Diane Archer Gannaway and her husband Bill of Winston-Salem, Amy Charlene Archer of Hillsville, and Marcia Archer Tyler and her husband Mark of Shawsville; a brother Lloyd Mason Smith of Roanoke, and two sisters Hope Smith Palmer and her husband Peyton of Draper, and Treva Smith Tolley of Annandale. She is also survived by five grandchildren Jenna Davidson, Georgia Gannaway Livolsi, Sarah Jazmine Fugate, Ezekiel Jackson Fugate, and Emma Kate Gannaway-Hosey, along with seven great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at 2:30 p.m. at Seagle Funeral Home, with the Rev. Wilfred Overton officiating. Interment will follow in the Archer Family Cemetery on Rome Road in Wythe County. The family will receive friends Wednesday at the funeral home from 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. The family wishes to thank all of the memory care direct care employees of Wheatland- Commonwealth Assisted Living Hillsville, VA and Cathy Bobbitt for their loving care. Memorials to honor Sheila may be made to Draper Valley Baptist Church or the Alzheimer’s Association. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.seaglefuneralhome.com Arrangements by Seagle Funeral Home, Pulaski. 540-980-1700