Doris Jean Smith Swope

Doris Jean Smith Swope, 82 of Pinellas Park passed away Sunday, February 24, 2013. A native of St. Petersburg, she was born at Mound Park Hospital, now Bayfront Medical Center, on October 24, 1930 to the late James Maurice Smith, Sr. and Doris Clemons Smith. She attended local schools and was a 1948 graduate of St. Petersburg High School where she was voted most representative of St. Petersburg High�s Class of 1948. While at St. Pete High she was Service Club President, managing editor of the St. Pete High newspaper, the Palmetto and Pine, she was a student delegate to Corpus Christi for the Southeastern Association of Student Government Convention and was a member or officer in numerous other organizations. She was a 1950 St. Petersburg Debutant. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Florida State University. While at Florida State University she was active in Pi Beta Phi Sorority and was president in her senior year. She was a member of Sophomore Council, the University Government Association and was chosen to be in Garnet Key, which recognizes women students for their outstanding contributions in leadership, service and spirit and was chosen to be a Mortar Board, a national organization for service, scholarship and leadership. She was a teacher at Lealman Junior High, a consultant with the Pinellas County Schools to teachers and students at Parkland School (now Richard L. Sanders Exceptional Education Center). She was married to Carlton Lamar Swope, Sr. on December 22, 1961 until his death on August 31, 2006. She was secretary in his construction firm, Florida Classics, Inc. and worked with her husband at Rent-A-Closet, where he was a managing partner until he sold it in 2004. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of St. Petersburg, the Junior League of St. Petersburg and the St. Petersburg Pi Beta P:hi Alumna Club. In addition to being preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Carlton Lamar Swope, Sr., and her parents she was also preceded in death by her brother, James Maurice Smith, Jr. Mrs. Swope is survived by her loving son, Carlton Lamar Swope, Jr.