It is with heavy hearts and deep gratitude that we mourn the passing of Frances Smoot, a beloved member of the HIES community who devoted 33 years to teaching our young Golden Bears. From 1975 to 2005, Ms. Smoot touched the lives of countless students and colleagues, most notably as a third-grade teacher. She also founded the school’s first summer program, which she skillfully developed and led for twelve years.

Many of Ms. Smoot's former students and colleagues remember her quick, attentive spirit and her passion for education: 

"Ms. Smoot may have been the most popular teacher in the Lower School," Dorothy Sullivan, former associate headmaster and longtime colleague of Ms. Smoot, said. "She used her skills to encourage young persons to accomplish their highest dreams. No one who knew her will ever forget her!"

"My third-grade year was such a special one! She had a spunky energy that she brought to the classroom," Lauren Tucker '01, a former student of Ms. Smoot and director of leadership giving at HIES, shared. "She always got, and kept, my attention in great ways."

A memorial service for Ms. Smoot will be held on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at 10 a.m. at St. James Episcopal Cemetery in Marietta. Click here for more information and to read the full obituary for Ms. Smoot.