Betsy Smith

SALISBURY — Betsy Smith, 83, of Salisbury died of a sudden heart attack at home on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021. 

Betsy was born in Omaha, Neb., on July 29, 1937, the daughter of William S. and Elizabeth C. Covington. 

She grew up in Lake Forest, Ill.,  and graduated Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, Conn., and Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 

Before moving to Sharon in 1986, Betsy and her late husband, Carter Smith, lived in New York City. 

She wrote a number of books for young adults, including “Breakthrough: Women in Religion,” named a Notable Book of the Year by New York  Public Library; “Breakthrough: Women in Law”; “Breakthrough: Women in Television”; “Jimmy Carter, President.” She also published a family history, “FAMILY BUSINESS — A History of Fairbanks Morse and the Charles Hosmer Morse Family” in 2011. 

Betsy was an advocate for mentally ill people and served on the board of Prime Time House;  the board of Housatonic Center for Mental Health; as Sharon’s representative to the NW CT Mental Health Catchment Council and Chair of that council; a Governor’s appointee to the state Board of Mental Health; President of NAMI CT (National Alliance on Mental Illness) from 1997-1999; and a national board member of NAMI from 2000 to 2006. 

Betsy is survived by three children, Adair Smith of Salisbury, Carter Smith of Yonkers, N.Y., and Adam Smith of St. Petersburg, Fla.; and four grandchildren. 

The family requests that any donations in her name be made to NAMI (www.NAMI.org). 

Arrangements are under the care of the Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon.