Rebecca "Becky" Hills Smith

Rebecca “Becky” Hills Smith, 78, of West Columbia, SC, formerly of Orangeburg, SC, died Sunday, November 1, 2026, at Lexington Medical Center after a brief illness.

Born March 18, 1948, in McClellanville, SC, she was the daughter of the late William Beckett and Marie Shaw Hills. She was predeceased by her former husband, Arnold L. “Arnie” Smith of St. Louis, MO, with whom she remained friends; a son, Matthew Johnson Owens; and her nephew, William Magill “Will” Owens.

Becky graduated from Baptist College (now Charleston Southern University) and the Medical University of South Carolina with a degree in nursing. She continued her education at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD, and at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, where she was studying to be a nurse practitioner. She was a few months from graduating when she was in an accident that prevented her from completing her degree.

She worked as a nurse in the fields of psychiatry, labor and delivery, and obstetrics and gynecology. She was a phone nurse and manager for the offices of Drs. Williamson and Gillespie in Orangeburg, where she became a trusted confidante for her patients. She retained a remarkable memory for medical terminology and practices throughout her life.

Determined, intelligent, witty, beautiful, opinionated, classy, and forthright, she had an abiding Christian faith. She mentored local schoolchildren, volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, and took part in mission trips to Iquitos, Peru where she helped build churches and encourage local children toward Christ. She was active in First Presbyterian Church of Orangeburg where she was a member of the John Knox Sunday School class and served as an elder.

After her retirement she and Arnie greatly enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren. They also traveled widely.

Becky is survived by her son, David J. Owens of West Columbia, SC; her son, J. Boyd (Leah) Owens of St. George; granddaughters, Alexandra Owens of Columbia, SC; Lyla and Emma Owens of St. George, SC; and a grandson, Hudson Owens of St. George; a sister, Sue Shaw Hills Rogers of McClellanville, SC; a sister Marie (Richard) Behling of St. George; and a brother, William Beckett “Bill”(Whitney) Hills, of Murrells Inlet, SC; several nieces and nephews; and her former daughter-in-law, Angelia Smith Owens, with whom she maintained a close relationship.

A memorial service will be held at 12:00 noon on Friday, November 6, 2026, at New Wappetaw Presbyterian Church, 635 Pinckney Street, McClellanville, SC 29458. Guests are invited to join the family for a luncheon in the church fellowship hall following the service. Her cousin, Rev. Sanders Read of Union, SC will officiate.

Honorary pallbearers will be John Shuler, Dr. David Gillespie, Woody Keitt, and Earl Hume, all of Orangeburg.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to New Wappetaw Presbyterian Church, PO Box 460, McClellanville, SC 29458.

The Maryville Chapel of Mayer-Ethridge Funeral Home of Georgetown is in charge of arrangements.