Lillie M. Smith, 99, poll helper

Lillie M. Smith, 99, of Stratford, a longtime Democratic Party volunteer in Camden County, died last Friday at the Vitas Inpatient Hospice Unit in Stratford.

For several decades, Mrs. Smith helped every Democratic candidate who walked into party headquarters, her son, John R. Jr., said. She helped set up campaigns, canvassed door to door, and drove elderly voters to polls.

"She loved what she did," her son said.

Mrs. Smith lived in Collingswood for more than 70 years and was known as a "feisty Irish lady," he said. She enjoyed mingling with friends at the Democratic Party offices and being part of the excitement leading to Election Day.

About a year after her husband, John R. Sr., died of cancer in 1968, Mrs. Smith became a secretary for the Camden County Board of Elections. She worked there until 1981, her son said.

Mrs. Smith was a big fan of Jim Florio, and when he made his first run for governor in 1977, she was thrilled to join his campaign.

"He was polite and friendly to her . . . and that just won her over," her son said.

Her son's wife, Olive, said Mrs. Smith had persuaded her to work at the polls and give rides to voters.

Mrs. Smith moved to an assisted-living residence in Pine Hill in the 1980s and to the Stratford Nursing & Convalescent Center in the 1990s.

Mrs. Smith, who attended Zane Elementary School in Collingswood, cherished her memories of living through the Depression and World War II, granddaughter Melanie Shaw said. She would tell stories of the days when families had almost all of their household products - milk, coal, ice - delivered by horse-drawn wagon.

The Smiths married in 1925 and bought a rowhouse on Stile Avenue in 1933. Mrs. Smith lived there until her move to Pine Hill.

A lifelong Phillies fan, Mrs. Smith would ask her son and grandchildren any time of the year how the team was doing. She recently began talking about the Whiz Kids, the Phillies' nickname in 1950, when they won the National League pennant. She thought they were the best, her son said.

Mrs. Smith enjoyed big family celebrations. Last year, her family bought a huge birthday cake and threw her a party in the nursing home, her son said.

In addition to her son and granddaughter, Mrs. Smith is survived by four other grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. Daughter Alvera Holmes died in 2008.

A graveside tribute will be held privately tomorrow at Harleigh Cemetery, Camden.