Ayako Smith

Sumter, SC… Ayako Takami Smith, age 77, beloved wife of 49 years to Thomas M. Smith, died on Monday, January 15, 2024, at Sumter East Health and Rehab.

Born in Iwate, Japan, she was the daughter of the late Kaiju Takami and Miya Miyamoto Takami.  Ayako was very proud of her Japanese heritage and loved Japanese food and socializing with a local group of other Japanese born ladies.  She worked as the domestics manager for both Kmart and Walmart.  Ayako was a very supportive military wife and loved their current retirement house.  Family was most important to Ayako and her true joy in life came from spending time with them, especially her numerous nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and great grand nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by three brothers, Akira Takami, Hiro Takami, and Satoru Takami, all of Tokyo, Japan: numerous nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and great grand nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, January 21, 2024, from 3:00 – 5:00 pm at Bullock Funeral Home.

A graveside service will be held on Monday, January 22, 2024, at 12:00 pm at Ft. Jackson National Cemetery.

You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family’s guest book.

The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ayako Smith, please visit our floral store.