Charlotte Stoker Smiley: A Lifetime of Leadership, Service & Girl Scout Spirit
Charlotte Stoker Smiley’s life was one filled with service, curiosity, and deep commitment to her family and community. A proud Girl Scout in her youth and later a dedicated troop leader, Charlotte shaped countless experiences for girls across Miami. Today, we share her story in celebration of the lasting impact she had on the Girl Scout movement and the generations she influenced.
Born in Detroit and raised partly in Miami after her father established a residential construction business, Charlotte Stoker Smiley grew up with a spirit of adventure and service. She graduated from Coral Gables Senior High and earned the Girl Scout Gold Star Award—a precursor to today’s Gold Award.
She later attended Florida State University, joined Sigma Kappa sorority, and went on to earn a master's degree in psychology with honors from the University of Miami. Her pursuit of knowledge was lifelong and deeply tied to her desire to help others.
A Life Rooted in Service
Charlotte married Karl Smiley in 1960, and together they lived in cities across the country—Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Seattle—before returning home to Miami. She worked for the Centers for Disease Control and later NASA, yet no matter where life took her, Charlotte stayed committed to serving children and families.
She raised four children and poured herself into their worlds, volunteering as:
A Girl Scout troop leader, guiding her daughter Laura’s troop
A Cub Scout den mother, proudly donning her uniform year after year for her sons Tom, Scott, and Mark
A dedicated school volunteer and later
A counselor for at‑risk youth in the Dade County School System
And a pre‑marital counselor at her church
Her leadership was always hands-on, heart-first, and rooted in community.
Legendary Girl Scout Memories
Charlotte’s Girl Scout legacy lives on not only in her own Gold Award achievement, but in the girls she led—including her daughter Laura, who also earned her Gold Award. According to Charlotte’s sister, Lois, several girls in Charlotte’s troop achieved the highest award under her leadership.
And the stories from those days are unforgettable:
The Camp Mahachee “snake incident”
While riding in an open-air construction truck to camp (driven by Charlotte’s father), a little green snake dropped into the truck bed—setting off a chorus of shrieks. Her father safely removed it, and the camping adventure continued.
Camp showers, 1950s‑style
With no formal facilities, the troop ingeniously wrapped canvas around trees and used a simple overhead drip for showers—early outdoor STEM at its finest!
Cooking over coals
The girls dug a pit, filled it with hot coals, and cooked foil‑wrapped beef, potatoes, and carrots—meals Lois still remembers as “delicious.”
The Swahili Coast Sing‑Along
During one troop meeting, Charlotte was introducing the girls to the culture and music of the Swahili Coast. When she discovered that the cassette tape had been accidentally recorded over, she didn’t miss a beat—she simply started singing the rest of the song herself. She wasn’t exactly known for her pitch, which sent the whole troop into laughter, including Charlotte.
Camping Through the Storm in the Keys
On another adventure, Charlotte took her troop camping in the Florida Keys, only to be met with torrential rain that drenched tents, sleeping bags, and everything in between. Instead of packing up, Charlotte—who was already in her 60s—stayed with the girls, weathered the storm, and turned the soggy weekend into a memory they still talk about.
These stories speak to the heart of Girl Scouting: resourcefulness, friendship, courage, and joy. More recently, Charlotte invited girls from Troop 2212 to her home to learn about native plants and then donated dozens of wild coffee plants from her backyard to the girls to plant at Camp Mahachee. As a member of Coral Gables Garden Club, Charlotte was also instrumental in the front entrance restoration of Camp Mahachee.
A Life Filled With Curiosity and Connection
Charlotte loved boating, skiing, botany, and exploring the natural world—passions that aligned beautifully with the Girl Scout spirit. She cherished summers hosting “Camp Gramsy” for her grandchildren, instilling in them the same sense of adventure she shared with her troop.
She was an active member of First United Methodist Church of Coral Gables and involved in many organizations, including P.E.O. International, Coral Gables Garden Club, Montgomery Botanical Center, Biscayne Bay Yacht Club, and Riviera Country Club.
A Legacy That Lives On
Charlotte passed away peacefully on December 7, 2025, at the age of 87, surrounded by family at her home in Tallahassee. Her life’s story is a remarkable reflection of what it means to lead with courage, character, and a love of community.
Charlotte is survived by her children—Tom, Scott, Mark, and Laura—and five grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Karl, and her grandson Christian.
Her legacy lives on in every girl she mentored, every troop she guided, and every act of service she offered her community. She embodied what we hope every Girl Scout will feel: that their courage, compassion, and curiosity can shape the world around them.
We are grateful for Charlotte’s lifelong dedication to Girl Scouting and the lasting impact she had on our council and community.
If you have memories of Charlotte or photos from her Girl Scout years, we welcome you to share them with us so we can continue honoring her remarkable life.
The family has asked for donations to be made in Charlotte's name to Camp Mahachee through the Plant It Forward campaign.
