Nellie Lovelace Hankins Schmidt, age 102, of Gwynn, died peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, April 3, 2018, in the loving presence of her adult children and their spouses.

Mrs. Schmidt, a longtime resident of Savannah, Georgia, was born on March 16, 1916 in Fordwick, Virginia. After graduating from Mary Baldwin College, she became an X-ray technician, and served her country in the United States Navy as a Lt. JG in the WAVES. During the World War II, she met and married Louis W. (“Ray”) Schmidt, who predeceased her in 2003. After the war, the Schmidts moved to Panama, where their two children were born, subsequently lived in Honduras and eventually made their way to Savannah, where both had careers in education: she at Armstrong Junior College, Jenkins High School, and finally, at Savannah Country Day School, where she taught Latin; and her husband taught Spanish, coached football, and served as Upper School Principal.

Mrs. Schmidt is survived by her sister, Mrs. J. Thomas Vernon of Sanford, North Carolina; her daughter and son-in-law, Susan and John Bonner of Gwynn’s Island; her son and daughter-in-law, Peter and Rencie Schmidt of Charlottesville; four grandchildren, Brendan Bonner, Woody Schmidt, Katie Schmidt, and Hank Schmidt; and one great-grandchild, Reid Watson Schmidt.

Mrs. Schmidt was a communicant of St. John’s Church, where she served on the Vestry, was a member of the Chancel Society, and a docent at the Green-Meldrim House.

Her funeral service will be held at St. John’s Church in Savannah.

 Memorial gifts should be directed to the Louis W. and Nellie H. Schmidt Endowment Fund at the Savannah Country Day School, 824 Stillwood Drive, Savannah, Georgia 31419, or to the Mathews Rescue Squad.