Edith Esther Hellard passed away on Friday November 30, 2012. She was born to Hilry and Esther Smith on November 3, 1921 in New Orleans, La. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her brother Hilry Smith, of Decatur. Edith is survived by generations of nieces, nephews and cousins, that all knew her as Aunt Edith.

Edith enlisted in the Navy during World War 2, and served as a corpsman, and was honorably discharged at the end of the war. When the Korean War broke, she re-enlisted, and was discharged at the end of her service there. She spent the majority of her life working for the phone company in New Orleans, and retired there.

Hurricane Katrina moved Edith to Decatur in 2005, to be near family, where she lived at Riverside Senior Living. There she enjoyed her last retirement years, developing friendships, while maintaining contact with her New Orleans friends and family.