WOODVILLE — Services for Debra Ann Smith, 48, of Woodville, who died Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, at West Valley Hospital in Goodyear, Ariz., will be at noon today at Hope Well African Methodist Episcopal Church with the Rev. Lloyd Bailey officiating.
Burial will follow at Rual Cemetery under the direction of Spencer Funeral Home in Fayette.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until service time today at the church.
Mrs. Smith was born July 12, 1961, the daughter of Willie B. Russel and Morris Hawkins. She was adopted at an early age by Durant and Dora Glasper.
Debra, affectionately known as “Deb,” accepted Christ at an early age and became a member of Hope Well African Methodist Episcopal Church under the leadership of the Rev. Bell. In 2003, she became a member of New Life Community Baptist Church under the leadership of the Rev. James Hardy. In 2006, she moved to Buckeye, Ariz., where she attended New Jerusalem Outreach Ministries under the leadership of the Rev. Ellen Berry where she served faithfully under Christian experience until her death.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Venson “Snake” Smith; and her adopted parents; and her biological father.
Survivors include two children, Venson Smith and wife, Ashley, and Noravalla Smith and Jeffery Martin; one grandchild, Melanie Da’Shay Smith; her biological mother and husband, Samuel; a special friend, the Rev. Lonnie Culbert of Fayette; seven sisters, Jessie Dunbar, Dellaree Hawkins, Debra Jackson, Jeardean “Cookie” Fredrick, all of Woodville, Mary Webber and Gloria Smith and husband, Randy, all of New Orleans, and Clara Singleton of Baton Rouge; three brothers, Woodrow Lindsay and wife, Thelma, of Woodville, Freddie Singleton of Los Angles and Tyrone Russel of New Orleans; two special aunts, Johnnie Woodfork and Maggie Porter, both of Woodville; two special uncles, Gene Oliver McDonald of Natchez and Sterling Trask of Detroit; a special cousin and friend, Lori Hawkins Roby of Baton Rouge; a best friend, the Rev. Ellen Berry of Buckeye; three godchildren, Simonica Selmon of Dallas, Natoya Bolden and Miguel Madrigal, both of Buckeye; and a number of uncles, aunts-in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.