Era Mae Robbins Smith

Published 11:41 am Wednesday, August 13, 2014

BOERNE, Texas — Era Mae Robbins Smith, 92, passed away peacefully on Aug. 8, 2014, at her home in Boerne surrounded by her loving family.

She was born on March 3, 1922, in Hemphill, Texas, to Era Inez Patterson Robbins and Henry Clyde Robbins, Sr.

She is preceded in death by her parents and her older brother, Henry Clyde “Sonny” Robbins, Jr.

Era Mae was orphaned at age 2 and spent her early years in three different households, lovingly cared for by her aunts. She was nicknamed “Sister” by her cousins, with whom she was raised as a sister, and was known throughout her childhood in East Texas by that name. In 1938, at the age of 16, she married her high school sweetheart, Hugh Love Smith, and they moved to Corpus Christi where they resided until they relocated to Boerne in 2010.

Era Mae’s life was rich in activities surrounding her family, her friends, and her faith. She loved her Lord and Savior, and her every action bore witness to that love, the unselfish support for her husband, the leadership and tenacity in guiding the lives of her children as they grew, and the tender compassion she showed for others.

As a member of First Baptist Church of Corpus Christi, Texas, Era Mae participated and held leadership positions in numerous study, visitation, and outreach ministries. She served on the building committee for the church’s chapel and on the leadership development committee.

She was a licensed real estate broker and member of the Corpus Christi Board of Realtors, an award-winning photographer, a talented seamstress, cook, decorator and dancer. She spent countless hours teaching her children how to be self-sufficient, and she enthusiastically supported their activities in church, school and scouting.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 76 years, Hugh Love Smith Sr.; son, Hugh Love “Clipper” Smith Jr. (Nona) of Vicksburg; daughter, Sylvia Ann Smith Griffin (Paul) of Boerne; grandchildren, Stephen Randall Smith (Sherri) of Mathis, Texas, James Kelly Smith, Abney Gail Smith and Robin Dean Smith, all of Vicksburg, Christopher Clark Griffin (Ashleigh) of Austin, Texas, and Cynthia Griffin Carr (Brian) of Pleasanton, Texas; eight great-grandchildren upon whom she loved to dote; cousins, Charlotte King Walker of Lufkin, Texas, and Doris Jean Doiron of Pasadena, Texas; nieces, nephews and caring friends; and the loving extended family of Peggy and Ronnie Schlottman of Center Point, Texas.

A memorial service celebrating Era Mae’s life will be held Monday, Aug. 18, 2014, at 1 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Boerne.

To leave condolences, visit www.ebensberger-fisher.com and select the Obituaries tab.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to CASA of South Texas online at http://casasouthtx.org/donate/ or to Jacob’s Ladder Learning Center by mail, 1017 Harrison St. Vicksburg, MS. 39180.

Arrangements are with Ebensberger-Fisher Funeral Home of Boerne.