Mrs. Nell Smith Lutz shown here with her husband of almost 66 years, Frank Lutz was honored at the Alabama Veterans Museum on March 26th, for Women's History Month.

Despite the pouring rain and stormy conditions, Mrs. Lutz was welcomed by approximately 160 of her friends and family as her life  story was told and shown in a photo video starting with her life in the military. Mrs. Peggy Farlow spoke to the guest of how she has known Mrs. Nell for most of her life, her mother and Nell were very close friends. She told of how the two ladies loved to take off to go yard selling out in the county only to get lost countless times and how Frank put a compass on the car dashboard in attempts to help them find their way home... with little success.

Mrs. Nell's pastor, Jaina Anderson, spoke about how her family refers to Nell as the 'special mayonnaise lady'. She also recalled how she would receive a phone call about one of the congregation being sick and before she could get by to visit, Nell had already been there and gone, but would always leave food, for which 90% of the people attending had also received food from Mrs. Lutz.

Museum Director Sandy Thompson said, "It was an honor to pay tribute to these awesome women, they are truly American heroes!" Other special guests who attended the "Women in History Celebration" were Mrs. Carmen Montgomery a WWII Army Nurse from 1944-1946 and Mrs. Alice Rogers a Cadet Corps Nurse of WWII 1943-1944.

Director Thompson also would like to thank all who helped pull this event together to make it happen, a special thanks to Ruth Whitten, Cherry Ann & Billy Ward, Ann Crutcher, Publix grocery for the incredible cake, Charlette Jones for her Mary Kay donation, and all others too numerous to mention.

Teresa Todd
AthensPlus.com
March 26th, 2011

ABOUT NELL:

Nell Stapleton Smith—born Nov. 29, 1921 in Dothan, AL.  She grew up in Marianna, Florida and graduated from Jackson County High School in 1939.  She attended and graduated from FSCW, now Florida State University, in 1943.

She was sworn into the Naval Reserve on July 12, 1943 in Jacksonville, FL. and reported for duty on July 31, 1943 at the U.S. Naval Reserve Midshipman School, Northampton, MA.  She served as an apprentice seaman until August 27, 1943, when she was sworn in as a midshipman.  She became an ensign on September 21, 1943 and was appointed assistant paymaster with the rank of ensign.  Ensign Smith reported for duty at Supply and Accounts School at Cambridge, MA on October 1, 1943.

Upon completion of Supply School, she was sent to Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth VA. reporting there on Jan 21, 1944.  She was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant (jg) SC (W) on January 9, 1945.  She served as assistant disbursing officer at the Navy Yard until April 15, 1945, when she received orders to report to the U.S. Naval Air Station at Glynco, Georgia.  There she served as disbursing officer until November 29, 1945 when she was released from active duty.  During her tenure in the WAVES she also met and married Frank Brobson Lutz on August 29, 1945. 

Nell and Frank lived in Millville, NJ until 1952 when they moved to Athens, AL to raise their 3 children Brobson, Tom, and Ruth.  Frank worked at Chemstrand Corp. in Decatur and Nell immediately became involved in community, church, and school activities.  When not tending to children, she spent her time cooking, fishing, sewing, and substitute teaching.  She was also involved in several clubs—bridge, circles, and study club and enjoyed some other hobbies.  After Frank retired, they enjoyed doing some traveling, spending time with their grandchildren, and they spent a lot of time at their camp on the Elk River.

Nell received the DAR Community Service Award for her community service and in 2009, she participated in the Honor Flight.  She and Frank participated in the Veterans Parade in Nov. 2010 when she served as the Honorary Grand Marshal and was honored as being the oldest living WWII Veteran in Limestone County.

Nell continues to enjoy cooking, fishing, reading, attending Bible Study and church activities.  She keeps up with her many friends all over the world via email.  She received her first computer as a 50th anniversary gift in 1995 and now keeps two operating at all times.