Dorothy Jane (Varney) Smith

Charlotte, North Carolina

July 18, 1943~ September 13, 2026

Dorothy “Dot” Jane Smith-Montagriff passed away on Sunday, September 13, in Charlotte, NC, at the age of 83. She was also affectionately known as Mawmaw and Chicken Little by her family.

Dot was born in Jerry Bottom, Pike Co, Kentucky on July 18, 1943. She was the daughter of Estil and Mae Varney, a coal mine employee and a poet, respectively. She was also the little sister of Eddie Wayne. She grew up helping run her parents' little store, twirling her baton for the high school, and going to Sunday School. Dot was very proud of the fact that she graduated at the top of her class from Belfry High School. Despite having lived the majority of her life in Charlotte, Huddy, Kentucky was her home. She made a point to celebrate Memorial (Decoration) Day every year. She was also incredibly honored to be “neighbors” with Loretta Lynn.

Dot was fortunate to have two loves in her life: K. Jack Smith, her loving husband of more than 50 years, until his death in 2017. And Neville Montagriff, her life partner for the past 8 years, whom she recently married in July.

Dot and Jack have two children, Tim Smith and Becki Smith Turner. Both of them have embodied their parents' love of caring for others and have lived out their example.

Mawmaw has three biological grandchildren: McKenna Jane, TJ, and Jake “Booty”. However many more claimed her as their own, and she would not have had it any other way. Every young person who came into her home learned how to cook, learned how to love Jesus, and was taught at least a few hymns. She also made sure that they loved dogs, especially dachshunds.

Dot worked many jobs over the years. She spent a significant amount of time at WBTV, Crown Carpet, and Walmart on Sardis Rd. When she finally retired (just over a year ago), she could not walk into any Wally in the Charlotte area without running into one of her beloved customers or coworkers. Neville would joke that he’d have to budget an extra half an hour to do anything because she was like a local celebrity.

Dot was brought up in a Christian household and had a special relationship with Jesus. She loved His people and did everything she could to make others feel His love. She opened her home to people in times of bad weather, hard seasons of life, and was a motherly figure to her entire community.

Dot was greeted in heaven by her parents; Estil & Mae Varney; her first love, Jack Smith; her best friend, Carolyn Holt; numerous family members, including her niece Luann Varney South (daughter of Eddie & Faye), Kenny & Shirley Davidson (in-laws), Pepper Blackburn (cousin), many friends, and her dogs.

Those left to grieve her memory include her husband, Neville Montagriff, her children Tim (Jennifer) Smith & Rebekah “Becki” (Clyde) Smith Turner, her daughter in law, Jackie Smith, her grandchildren: McKenna & TJ Smith, Jacob Merrill, and Gaby Riveros-Parades (her unofficially adopted Paraguayan granddaughter); her North Carolina family, including her brother, Eddie Wayne (Faye) Varney and their children: Margo (Jeff) Sellers, Kurt Varney, Wayne (Jan) Varney; Melody & Elizabeth “Treasure Girl” Blackburn; her Kentucky family: Kim (Jeff) Milleman, Kenneth Davidson, Amy Bevins; and her beloved dog, Benny.

Her family invites you to share in celebrating her life on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at Blair Rd United Methodist. The viewing will begin at 12pm and the service will start at 1pm. A small reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, please support the Alzheimer's Association, the Humane Society of Charlotte, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, or by buying a meal for a stranger.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” Matthew 13:31 (NKJV)

The Smith Family have entrusted arrangements to Roseboro's Mortuary & Crematory.

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