1956
Charles
2025
Charles Edward Smith
May 2, 1956 — November 22, 2025
Chapin
Charles Edward Smith, “Charlie”, 69, of Chapin, SC, passed away suddenly on November 22nd, 2025 at Lexington Medical Center after a brief and brave battle for his life.
Charlie was born May 02, 1956 in Charlotte, NC, the son of Peggy Crowley Williams and William Gary Williams.
Charlie graduated from Irmo High School in 1974, where he was passionate about sports and excelled at football and basketball. Then Charlie went on to Clemson University, where he played football, and was a member of the Eta Pi chapter of the Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) Fraternity, and where Charlie earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Administrative Management. He was also a member of Clemson University Second Century Society.
After graduation from Clemson, Charlie worked for Tamper Corporation in Columbia, SC, now Harsco Rail, and travelled around North America including Canada putting railroad maintenance machines in service. Soon after, Charlie joined a company named Nilfisk, managing much of the Southeast US business development for Pharmaceutical, Federal Government, Manufacturers, Universities and more, where sales grew 330% under his tenure. He was named Man-of-the-Year 3 separate times for this firm, where he was awarded with the “order of the ax”. Charlie then joined Automated Logic Corporation in Charlotte, NC as a Sales Engineer. From 2009 until his passing, Charlie was a residential real estate professional with Coldwell Banker, where he found his most rewarding and fulfilling career. He was much respected and loved by his clients, colleagues, and friends.
Charlie was reunited with his college sweetheart, Laura Coy, 34 years after their Clemson romance, and finally married on June 01, 2019 at Timberlake Country Club in Chapin, SC, with Laura’s childhood paster, Reverend Albert Cox officiating. Then he enjoyed travelling to France and learning French to visit Laura’s children.
Back in SC, he joined the Irmo Navy Club fostering fellowship & friendship whilst defending the shores of lake Murray and enjoyed attending events with the American Legion family.
Charlie’s first thoughts were always for others, and he carried a gift for listening that made each person feel seen and understood. He never met a stranger; everyone felt they knew him for years. He had this warm special smile that was uniquely “Charlie”.
He was authentic, funny, larger than life- a Christian man (an active member of the Union United Methodist Church of Irmo, and later the Chapin Christian Community Church) and a great storyteller with many passions: motorcycles, golf, Formula One, going to the gym and ending a hard day’s work in the yard with a good cigar.
Charlie had a close circle of friends all the way back from high school that stayed tight throughout their entire lives, through all the ups and down like brothers & sisters.
Family was important to Charlie. Affectionately known as “uncle Chuck”, a pillar of strength to his beloved sister Cynthia, niece Hayley, nephew Justin, and his daughter Sofia. He made sure the family gathered for every holiday, bringing together Uncle Larry and Trisha Williams of Greenville and Michael and Star Outen of Irmo.
Surviving is his wife, Laura Coy Smith of Chapin, SC; sister, Cynthia A. Fianchino of Irmo; niece Hayley A. Fianchino of Columbia SC; nephew, Justin P. Fianchino and daughter Sofia of Irmo. Charlie was also loved and cherished by Laura’s children and grandchildren in France, James C. Pike, Alexandra N. Pike (Fabien Scrivo) and their son Jack; and Caroline Pike-Torres (Geoffrey Torres) and their son Arthur.
Preceding Charlie in death are his parents, Gary and Peggy Williams, both of Irmo, SC.
Services will be held December 04, 2025 at 4:00 PM at Chapin Christian Community Church at 415 Lexington Ave., Chapin, SC, with Pastor Jody Flowers officiating. Interment will be held at Bush River Memorial Gardens later, yet to be determined. Close friends and family who may wish to attend will be notified in advance.
Memorial donations in Charlie’s memory may be directed to “Sharing God’s Love, c/o Union United Methodist Church, Irmo, SC.
Online condolences and memories may be shared at:
https://www.templeshalloranfuneralhome.com/obituaries
Charlie was born May 02, 1956 in Charlotte, NC, the son of Peggy Crowley Williams and William Gary Williams.
Charlie graduated from Irmo High School in 1974, where he was passionate about sports and excelled at football and basketball. Then Charlie went on to Clemson University, where he played football, and was a member of the Eta Pi chapter of the Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) Fraternity, and where Charlie earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Administrative Management. He was also a member of Clemson University Second Century Society.
After graduation from Clemson, Charlie worked for Tamper Corporation in Columbia, SC, now Harsco Rail, and travelled around North America including Canada putting railroad maintenance machines in service. Soon after, Charlie joined a company named Nilfisk, managing much of the Southeast US business development for Pharmaceutical, Federal Government, Manufacturers, Universities and more, where sales grew 330% under his tenure. He was named Man-of-the-Year 3 separate times for this firm, where he was awarded with the “order of the ax”. Charlie then joined Automated Logic Corporation in Charlotte, NC as a Sales Engineer. From 2009 until his passing, Charlie was a residential real estate professional with Coldwell Banker, where he found his most rewarding and fulfilling career. He was much respected and loved by his clients, colleagues, and friends.
Charlie was reunited with his college sweetheart, Laura Coy, 34 years after their Clemson romance, and finally married on June 01, 2019 at Timberlake Country Club in Chapin, SC, with Laura’s childhood paster, Reverend Albert Cox officiating. Then he enjoyed travelling to France and learning French to visit Laura’s children.
Back in SC, he joined the Irmo Navy Club fostering fellowship & friendship whilst defending the shores of lake Murray and enjoyed attending events with the American Legion family.
Charlie’s first thoughts were always for others, and he carried a gift for listening that made each person feel seen and understood. He never met a stranger; everyone felt they knew him for years. He had this warm special smile that was uniquely “Charlie”.
He was authentic, funny, larger than life- a Christian man (an active member of the Union United Methodist Church of Irmo, and later the Chapin Christian Community Church) and a great storyteller with many passions: motorcycles, golf, Formula One, going to the gym and ending a hard day’s work in the yard with a good cigar.
Charlie had a close circle of friends all the way back from high school that stayed tight throughout their entire lives, through all the ups and down like brothers & sisters.
Family was important to Charlie. Affectionately known as “uncle Chuck”, a pillar of strength to his beloved sister Cynthia, niece Hayley, nephew Justin, and his daughter Sofia. He made sure the family gathered for every holiday, bringing together Uncle Larry and Trisha Williams of Greenville and Michael and Star Outen of Irmo.
Surviving is his wife, Laura Coy Smith of Chapin, SC; sister, Cynthia A. Fianchino of Irmo; niece Hayley A. Fianchino of Columbia SC; nephew, Justin P. Fianchino and daughter Sofia of Irmo. Charlie was also loved and cherished by Laura’s children and grandchildren in France, James C. Pike, Alexandra N. Pike (Fabien Scrivo) and their son Jack; and Caroline Pike-Torres (Geoffrey Torres) and their son Arthur.
Preceding Charlie in death are his parents, Gary and Peggy Williams, both of Irmo, SC.
Services will be held December 04, 2025 at 4:00 PM at Chapin Christian Community Church at 415 Lexington Ave., Chapin, SC, with Pastor Jody Flowers officiating. Interment will be held at Bush River Memorial Gardens later, yet to be determined. Close friends and family who may wish to attend will be notified in advance.
Memorial donations in Charlie’s memory may be directed to “Sharing God’s Love, c/o Union United Methodist Church, Irmo, SC.
Online condolences and memories may be shared at:
https://www.templeshalloranfuneralhome.com/obituaries
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Charles Edward Smith, please visit our flower store.
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