Margaret Patricia Register-Smith

Margaret Patricia Register-Smith, 62, of Charleston, South Carolina, passed peacefully on Thursday, July 9, 2026. Per her wishes, cremation followed and a celebration of life will be held in her honor where her family will receive friends and loved ones.

Margaret was born on June 18, 1964, in Frankfurt, Germany, to the late Patrick G. Buckley and Elizabeth M. Buckley (Roberts). She was raised in Columbus, Georgia, where she began working at an early age to help support her loved ones. Shortly after graduating high school, she married and later welcomed her two daughters.

In 1989, she moved to Charleston, South Carolina, and immediately fell in love with the city’s beautiful beaches, breathtaking views, and friendly smiles as she felt right at home. In 1996, Jeff joined Margaret and along with her girls, became a family.

Throughout her life, Margaret worked and excelled in many different professions, including special education, food and beverage, clothing, sales, and the family business. Even after semi-retirement, she continued to help co-manage the business from behind the scenes, creating custom apparel for tourists and local businesses. But the roles she cherished most were being the Best Mom Ever to her two girls, who were grown but would always be her babies; the World’s Most Amazing Grandma to her three grandchildren, who were just as much her babies; and the devoted wife to Jeff, her soulmate, best friend and love of her life, whom she found so much joy with.

Margaret was one of the most intelligent women many had ever known: resilient, gracious, compassionate, resourceful, and a friend to everyone she knew or met as no one was a stranger in her book. Margaret made friends wherever she went, in part because of her infectious, bright smile that was impossible to miss.

Over the years, Margaret traveled to theme parks, mountains, caves, aquariums, mountains and many beaches, drawn to nature even when it did not always agree with her. She enjoyed gardening in her yard, puzzles, movies, and music, but her true passion was in her words. She was the author of her family’s lives. Whether she was writing a thank-you card, a poem, or a letter, she always had a way with words.

Margaret is survived by her loyal and loving husband, Jeffrey W. Smith, with whom she shared nearly 21 years of marriage and 30 years together as a family with their girls. To Margaret, Ohana meant family, a saying she loved and lived by. She is also survived by her loving daughters, Samantha B. Roberts (Danny) and Elizabeth Mercedes Register (Brian); three cherished grandchildren, Kaliyah D. West, Hadley B. Roberts, and Hunter B. Roberts; beloved fur grandbabies; family and friends.

Margaret captured the hearts of everyone she met and was deeply loved by so many. She will be dearly missed and forever cherished by all whose lives she touched. Though her family must now say “see you later,” Margaret’s love, laughter, strength, and kindness will remain with them always. To her family, she was and always will be the best friend any of them ever had.

In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made in her honor to Sharing Hope SC. Margaret was lucky enough to be able to help others get a second chance at living a happier, healthier life with her own donation. https://www.sharinghopesc.org/give/

Sharing Hope Donation