Staunton - Mrs. Herbert McKelden Smith, a civic leader recognized as the driving force behind the development of the Woodrow Wilson birthplace shrine here, died Thursday at the age of 89.

The widow of a former Staunton mayor and state legislator, Mrs. Smith was president of the Garden Club of Virginia from 1928 to 1930 and helped to establish Historic Garden Week. In 1963, she was named the club’s honorary president.

In 1960, Mrs. Smith received a special award from the state chamber of commerce for her leadership in civic and educational affairs.

She served on the University of Virginia’s board of visitors as well as on the board of trustees of her alma mater, Mary Baldwin College.

For eight years, Mrs. Smith was president of the board of King’s Daughter’s Hospital and was instrumental in raising $2.5 million for the hospital’s construction in 1951.

She is survived by a son, Dr. McKelden Smith of Staunton, and a sister, Mrs. Charles H. Watt [born Elizabeth Gilkeson Pancake] of Thomasville, Ga.

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in First Presbyterian Church, Staunton. Other arrangements were incomplete Thursday.

Mrs. Herbert McKelden Smith, long known for a wide range of civic accomplishments and credited especially with development of the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace, died today (March 6, 1975).

Mrs. Smith, 89, a native of Romney, W. Va., and widow of the former city councilman, mayor and state legislator, was the driving force throughout the history of the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace Foundation, and served as president from 1957 until February 1973, when its trustees named her the foundation’s first president emeritus.

Her role in the development and preservation of the historic birthplace is but a part of Mrs. Smith’s record of community and state service. She was president of the Garden Club of Virginia from 1928-30, and was instrumental in inaugurating Historic Garden Week. She was named the club’s honorary president in 1963.

For her achievement the Garden Club of America presented Mrs. Smith the Amy Angell Collier Montague Medal in 1963. The Virginia State Chamber of Commerce honored her in 1960 with a special award for outstanding service to the state, citing her leadership in civic and educational affairs.

She was appointed by Gov. William M. Tuck to fill an unexpired term on the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia, and then was appointed to two full terms ending in 1958.

A 1906 graduate of Mary Baldwin Seminary, Mrs. Smith twice served on the Board of Trustees after it became a college. She was the recipient of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Medallion in 1947 for "high character and unselfish service."

Perhaps the most unusual tribute was a testimonial dinner given her on June 5, 1968 in the Hunt Dining Hall of Mary Baldwin College. The tribute was organized by local trustees of the Birthplace who said they wanted Mrs. Smith to have an expression of thanks and appreciation from her friends in her hometown. Two former governors and other Virginia notables were among those who attended to pay tribute to Staunton’s "first lady."

For eight years, she was president of the board of King’s Daughter’s Hospital, her service starting with a public campaign to raise $2.5 million as the local share of the new hospital structure, dedicated in 1951. It was the first project in Virginia which was accorded federal aid under the Hill-Burton Act.

Mrs. Smith, one of two remaining charter members of the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace Foundation, declined the presidency for 20 years although she had assumed most of the executive burden since its organization in 1938. It was her wish that men and women of national prominence hold the high office.

For her role in preserving and maintaining the historic former manse in which President Wilson was born, Mrs. Smith was cited upon her retirement as president for her "vision, energy, and exceptional abilities" in attracting nationally prominent persons to the undertaking. She personally raised most of the funds which have been given to the foundation.

A daughter of John S. and Margaret Gilkeson Pancake, Mrs. Smith was born in Romney, W. Va. on Nov. 10, 1885. She is survived by a son, Dr. McKelden Smith of Staunton, a sister, Mrs. Charles H. Watt, Thomasville, Ga., and three grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church, of which she was a member. Conducting the service will be the Rev. John W. Cowan and the Rev. Dr. James Sprunt.

Hamrick Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Over the long years of her inspiring career of service to her community and state, it has been a privilege to render editorial homage to Mrs. Herbert McKelden Smith at the time of one or other of her many achievements.

Her recent months of ill health incident to age have been distressing to her legion of friends and her many associates in good works. Her death yesterday, the earthly climax of a notable life, was a cause for rejoicing for her life and for its extension into wider realms of service.

Mrs. Smith’s labors and leadership in community and state have been reviewed at length in the news columns. What causes and undertakings were dearest to her heart even her intimates would have difficulty saying, for she gave her enthusiasm, talent, and leadership to each of them. Her personal characteristics of sunniness, warmth, and confidence in those whose help she wanted accounted for successes fully as much as the merit of a cause or objective.

In the Staunton community, her initiation of action to make a national shrine of the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace through a foundation to achieve this and to restore the house, beautify the grounds and undertake to acquire the whole original tract commanded much of her zeal, her remarkable energy and her time, often far into the night.

Taking over the project for a new, modern plant of the King’s Daughters’ Hospital when doctors advised the late Mrs. Frank S. Black, hospital president and initiator of the move, to retire. Mrs. Smith gave it indefatigable leadership. With the aid of many others of the community’s men and women, she saw it through the difficulties of financing the achievement of the ultimate goal.

KDH has had to be expanded over the years since then, for which others took up the tasks, but the foresight and inspiration of Mary Benham Black and the application of her many talents by Emily Pancake Smith to the multi-million dollar endeavor gave the Staunton area a hospital second to none of the community type. Its excellence attracted doctors of outstanding abilities, and its spirit of dedicated service continues to be worthy of its functional equipment and the work of several hundred volunteers.

In the state, Mrs. Smith was best known for her leadership of the Garden Club ofVirginia, for which she initiated the program of restoration of historic houses and gardens. In tribute to her work for the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace, the club financed the handsome brick wall there and restoration of the garden. Later it built the patio just west of the garden and dedicated it to Mrs. Smith. The reception and administrative house (the former Gooch home, the gift of the late Mrs. Woodrow Wilson) is named for her.

Appointed to the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia, the first woman to be named to it Mrs. Smith served it with valuable perception and distinction. She served additionally in higher education for Mary Baldwin College - so valuably and effectively that it awarded her the Algernon Sidney Sullivan medallion.

Columns could be written about the work Mrs. Smith did. Much more has been told in the news columns than in this editorial tribute to a great woman, who as one public man remarked, could wisely have been chosen for governor of Virginia. Beloved not only for her unselfish public service but for the innumerable, thoughtful acts of personal friendship and appreciation, she has a large place in the affections and admiration of several generations of Virginians. Her name is engraved in their hearts as well as in bronze at the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace.