Joan Gail Smith

Joan Gail Smith, 69, of Brunswick, Maryland, passed away on October 29, 2026, at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, surrounded by her family after a hard battle with an illness.

Born January 17, 1957, Joan graduated from Brunswick High School in 1975. After such, she spent a lot of time at the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance and Rescue Company and became an EMT as soon as she was old enough. It was in EMT class that she met her future husband, Nelson Smith. After serving as an EMT for several years, she stepped back to care for her children, before returning to the company as a volunteer within the Auxiliary, where she, most recently, served as President.

Her love for helping others also led her to work as a Medical Assistant for numerous Medical Practices, until she could no longer work due to medical reasons.

Joan loved the water and spent many happy hours out on the boat with Nelson. Thanksgiving was a favorite because she loved having her family gather at her home. She also enjoyed Halloween and Christmas. She especially enjoyed watching Hallmark and Lifetime Christmas movies, baseball, and reading. Above all, she loved spending time with her family.

She fiercely loved her family and those she considered family. Strong-willed and always trying to take care of everyone, Joan would do anything she could for the people she loved. She was also known for her tough love and often reminded people that they could “figure it out.”

Joan was preceded in death by her parents Arthur “Bernard” and Audrey Williams, and her husband of over 48 years, Nelson Smith.

She is survived by her daughter, Brandy Greenawalt, and her husband Jason, of Charles Town, West Virginia; her son, Scott Smith, of Hagerstown, Maryland; her sister, Cynthia Sauter, and her husband John, of Brunswick, Maryland; her niece, Kelli Dick, and her husband William, of Brunswick, Maryland; and her great-nieces, Jenna and Megan.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, November 9 at Stauffer Funeral Home, 1100 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 10 from the funeral home chapel.

Interment to follow at Park Heights Cemetery.

The repass will be held at the Brunswick Volunteer Fire Company, 1500 Volunteer Dr, Brunswick, MD 21716.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance and Rescue Company, 200 West Potomac Street, Brunswick, MD 21716 or to the Brunswick Volunteer Fire Company, 1500 Volunteer Dr, Brunswick, MD 21716.