Teresa Smith

Teresa Smith, age 97, was born December 19, 1926, in Goodwater, Coosa County, Alabama to Glynnie Pollard Strong and Rufus Strong. She was one of 14 siblings, 6 sisters and 7 brothers. She attended school in Goodwater, Alabama.

As a young child, Teresa confessed Christ as her Savior at Marietta Baptist Church where her brother Thurston Strong was a founding member. The family moved to Springfield, Ohio in 1957, she continued as a housewife and later began working at Wittenberg University.

She met and married the love of her life, James Smith in 1948. To this union, were born 4 children: Sherbie Frank Smith, Wali Shamsi-deen (Arthur Gene), Maxine Smith, and Clemetine Bray. She joined Mount Carmel Baptist Church in the late 1960s and was an active member of the choir and mother’s ministry. She was a member of the Inflammatus Choir (Directed by Billy Moore). She was Mother T. of the Debbie Tough Steppers (DTS) Drill Team. She loved singing, dancing, exercising, and listening to her favorite music (R&B and Gospel). Most of all she loved talking on the phone, whether it was a cell phone or landline, and believe it or not, she knew how to work both at the same time. As a caring member, she performed her job at Wittenberg University until she quit in 1979 and became a babysitter for her grandchildren.

In 2023 she celebrated 75 years of marriage to James Smith.

Leaves to Cherish Her Memory:
Daughters: Maxine Smith – Patuxent River, MD, and Clemetine Bray – Springfield, OH. Grandchildren: Shawn Smith Patton and Dawn Smith – Dayton, OH; Brandon Smith – Clinton, MD; Wali McLeod, and Shelly Browning – Columbus, OH; Tyrone Smith, Shantel Woods, Wanda (Vincent) Roberts, Brittney Welbaum, Alan Duncan, and God-daughter Dottie McNeil – Springfield, OH.
Bonus Sons: Claude Castleberry, Jr. – Springfield, OH, and Bishop Steve Houpe, Kansas City, MO. 17 great-grandchildren: Josh Woods, Jr. – Columbia, MD; Jayce and Lennox Woods, Jaylen Smith, Keenan Duncan, Lashay, Vachaie, Voshna’, Venniz, Vada, and Vincent Roberts, Jr., Marquise Brown – Springfield, OH; Taylor Daniels, Kyle Siders, Salia, Sydnie, and Madison McLeod – Columbus, OH.

Preceded in death by her parents, Husband James F. Smith, two sons, Sherbie Frank Smith, and Wali Shamsid-deen (Arthur Gene), son-in-law Alan Bray, grandson Torrance Smith, 6 sisters, and 7 brothers.

The Departure:
Teresa Smith received her wings at 12:30 pm on Thursday, February 8, 2024, at the glorious age of 97.
Good night, Queen, the battle is over, and the victory is yours. See you in that getting up morning!!