Ms. Betty W. Smith

Betty was the second of four children born to the late Mr. Fletcher and the late Mrs. Johnnie Mae Williams in the Florence, Mississippi on July 19th of 1949. As a child she was baptized at Enoch Grove Baptist Church. She grew up in the Star Community. Betty enjoyed making her own money by helping where she could and by picking cotton in the fields. She also enjoyed playing outdoors with all of her first cousins. Betty attended McLaurin High School in the class of 1967 where she was well loved by all her classmates. While attending high school she married the late Samuel Smith in 1965. A son and a daughter were born to this union, which she adored. In 1969, the family relocated to New Orleans, LA. She joined the Pentecost Baptist Church family where she was active in her fellowship. Betty worked at Mercy Baptist Hospital as a unit secretary for 32 years; during her employment at Mercy, she made two incredibly special friendships that turned into a sisterhood with Ms. Ilean Toussant and the late Ms. Jean Smith. They had a special bond and had many good times in and outside of work. In 2002, at the age of 53 Betty left Baptist Hospital and attended Camron College earning her degree as a nurse in 2004. She loved working as a nurse at Ochsner Hospital until Hurricane Katrina when she relocated back home to Mississippi. While in Mississippi, she worked at Briar Hill Nursing and Wisteria Gardens Nursing Home, she was loved by all her coworkers young and old. Betty rejoined Enoch Grove Baptist Church and was a faithful member until her health began to fail and she moved to Spring, Texas with her daughter. Betty was a very humble woman; she loved serving the Lord, reading books, playing bingo, going to casinos, playing spades and spending quality time with her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. Her biggest joy was keeping her grandkids during summer breaks and taking them to the movies, on bus rides, to get snowballs, to museums, theme parks, water parks and shopping in the outlets. She spoiled her grandkids with her whole heart and quality time. Although she did not make a lot of money as a unit secretary, she provided a rich life for her grandkids, and they never wanted for anything. Her favorite bible verse was Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". She appreciated everything in life; never took anything for granted. Betty loved her jewelry, hats, sunglasses and she loved to travel; she continued to travel as her health deteriorated. On Sunday, July 18th at 5:30 p.m. in HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest Hospital, Betty Jewel received her wings after a long battle with congestive heart failure, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Left to cherish her legacy are: her son, Ronald Smith and her daughter, Renee Washington; three grandsons, Ronald (Keasha) Egana, Ronnie Scipio and Rondre Smith; seven granddaughters, Ashley Smith, Angie (Nathaniel) Alexander, Ronechia Dawkins, Ariel Smith, Raven Miguel, Lorrelle Smith and Layla Smith; one brother, Clyde "Sonny" (Yvonne) Williams; two nieces, Ariel Johnson and Skylar McCall; one sister/friend, Ilean Toussant; twelve great-granddaughters and eight great-grandsons, one great-great-grandson, Ayden Smith, and a host of other family members and friends. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. Fletcher and Mrs. Johnnie Williams; her older sister, Mildred Mae Johnson; her baby brother, Charles "Nunu" Williams and her grandson, Rondale Scipio.

Ms. Betty W. Smith

July 19, 1949 - July 18, 2021