In 1929, when Eleanor was twenty years old, she and her mother, Isadora Dix moved to Atlanta, GA where they lived for several years.  During this time, Eleanor went to work at U.S. Rubber Company where she met Walter Reginald (Reggie) Smith.  They were married on July 25, 1931, Eleanor quit work at U.S. Rubber Co., and they continued to live in Atlanta.  They were married almost ten years before giving birth to their only child, Lynnette (Lyn) Dix Smith, who was born on January 17, 1941.  Eleanor had always told Lyn that she was sick the whole summer when she was nine, and doctor's orders were that she stay in bed all summer.  To make sure she stayed in bed and had plenty to do to keep her there, her older sister, Issalee, tutored her all summer, and she skipped the fourth grade because of it!  She said it was at that time that the doctors diagnosed her heart condition.  This heart condition probably prevented her from having other children.

When Lyn was five years old, Bert and Bill Dix (Eleanor's brother, Francis (Buddy's) boys) came to live with Eleanor and her family on Christmas Eve of 1946, about a month after their father had died, and it was at that time that Frances, their sister, went to live with Etta Brundage and her family.  Lois, their mother had died the year before.  Bert was ten at this time, and Bill was seven.  Lyn was no longer an only child, and so proud to have two older brothers!

Reggie Smith was eventually made Assistant Credit Manager of U.S. Rubber Co. in Atlanta.  Eleanor worked for War Housing (in the office, as a secretary) during World War II from 1943 to 1945 when the war was over.  After the war she was no longer employed, but she did work for a while as the receptionist at a dentist's office in Atlanta.

Reggie was promoted to Credit Manager and transferred to the Charlotte, N.C. branch of U.S. Rubber in the summer of 1951.  Lyn was ten years old, Bert was fourteen, and Bill was twelve.  Eleanor and Reg had been married 25 years when she died of a heart attack on November 24, 1956, at the age of 47.  She was buried at First Baptist Church of Forest Park, GA cemetery in the plot with her brother, Buddy, his wife, Lois, and later, their son, Bert Dix.  Lyn was fifteen and a junior in high school.  Bill was seventeen and a senior.  Bert was serving his second year in the U.S. Navy and had just turned twenty.  A year later, in December, 1957, Reginald married another woman whom he'd met while working at U.S. Rubber Co. in Charlotte - Elizabeth Yandle. 

In January, 1960, Reg was transferred back to the Atlanta branch of U.S. Rubber, returning as Assistant Credit Manager due to the closing of the Credit Department at the Charlotte branch.  At this time, Lyn was attending Erskine College in Due West, S.C.  They had lived in Atlanta only two years when Reg had to retire due to his health at the age of 55.  He had worked for U.S. Rubber for 32 years.  After his retirement they moved back to Charlotte where he picked up small bookkeeping jobs for extra income.  Reg and Lib had been married 24 years when he died of leukemia on March 5, 1982 in Charlotte, at the age of 75.  He is buried at the Sharon Amity Memorial Park in Charlotte.

Eleanor and Reggie had a common background as they were both children of Baptist ministers.  Eleanor had been born in Macon and Reggie had attended Mercer University in Macon.  While Eleanor had been the youngest of seven siblings, Reggie had been the oldest of eight.  Eleanor had lost her father when he was only 47 years old.  Reggie had lost his mother when she was only 36.