Velma Lee Smith

Velma Lee Smith

“The Matriarch”

NaNa

Faith…Family…Freedom

Grandparents Day

The Smith’s lived and built their home in 2001 on 20 acres nestled in the Oak trees and surrounded with wildlife and flowers where she raised her three boys, Danny, Randy and Rodney with her husband Silas and all and any grandchildren were welcome for the day, week, and summer to visit or reside.

A traditional home nestled in rolling flower gardens inhabited by wild birds coming to feeders viewed through the kitchen window and tended by Velma.  A waterfall and tall, towering bell, antique farm equipment offset by heads of black and white cattle welcome you as you drive up to the house on a hill on a road, she named Smithfield Lane in 2001. Driving by a church she donated to the perish and as you approach you know this is a place you want to sit and visit for a while.

No TV’s, radio’s or music the only sound you hear are laughter and voices discussing everything from family to politics to religion from the kitchen table overlooking a covered porch and a whimsical view of the garden. Photos of family, scriptures framed by flowers and crosses of every shape and color showcased her home. Living each day in faith jotted in her journal prayers for those in need and prayed for guidance to help her in her daily routine of wake, pray and journal. Then off to work each day to a business she began a building she purchased in downtown Searcy, Farmers Insurance-Velma Smith and became a part of a town and community.

When you visited you might go to KJ’s for breakfast for biscuits with chocolate gravy that her mother made as well. Possibly stop by the old country store,……, where she opened a charge account for her husband, Silas, kids and grandkids to go have a cup of coffee, biscuit and sausage, or sneak a candy bar and coke.

No matter where you encountered Velma Smith you would see a grand smile, a strong determined physique and a reassurance that God would provide. She was a true matriarch in every sense of the word.

We laughed and said she had the keys to the church and opened and closed the doors to the church, Sunday school, fundraiser’s, ladies' prayer group with her good friends.

A woman with determination and grit raised and provided for her family alone when she lost her husband Silas in 2001.

Each year on the second weekend in December her family and friends arrived for a Christmas tradition from Texas to Arkansas.  The house decorated in heirlooms repeated each year, there was a feeling of warmth and love imbedded in strength and tradition. Within the décor frames, signs and sayings:

“I Love My Nana”

“The Best Mothers are promoted to Grandmothers”

“Grandmothers are Heaven on Earth”

Books of Devotion:

“Unshaken Rivers”

“Experiencing God Day by Day”

“More than Ordinary-Enjoying Life with Mature Living- Turn to God”

If you Google Velma Smith, the first thing that comes up is Famers Insurance-Velma Smith where she has served the community for 50 years.

At the age of 88 each day she would take her grandson Tyler to daycare on her way to her business Farmers Insurance, did income tax preparation for the families of White County while representing her faith and church until the Lord called her home on September 4th on a Sunday.

I believe I can say with certainty that there was never another woman that loved her sons, grandchildren or family more. If you called her Mom, Nana, or Velma Smith you were truly blessed.

Velma Lee Smith, of Judsonia entered rest on September 4, 2022. She was born in the Dogwood township of White County on July 23, 1934. She was preceded in death by her husband Aaron Silas Smith, whom she married in Little Rock in 1954. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ester Lee Caldwell and Orville Scritchfield, and her siblings, O.D. and Johnny Scritchfield.

She is survived by her sons, Danny Smith and his wife Cathy, Silas “Randy” Smith and his wife Mary Jo, and Rodney Smith and his wife Rhoda; siblings, Ruby Stewart, Judy Thomason and her husband Dwayne, Vicky Crittenden and her husband William, Mary Dooley, and James Scritchfield. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Sunne Dickey, Jeff Smith, Austen Smith, Zachary Smith, Callie Smith, and Randall Smith; great-grandchildren, Cydney Dickey, Paige Dickey, Autumn Dickey, Sophia Smith, Theo Smith, Tyler Smith, Leia Flores, Payton Smith, and Noah Smith, and 25 nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 10, 2022, at First Baptist Church in Judsonia, 611 Van Buren Street followed by fellowship at the hall at noon.

Arrangements by Sullivan Funeral Care (501) 742-3621.