Hester E. Smith
STONY CREEK—Hester Eliza Smith died Nov. 22, 2009, at the Golden Living Center-Battlefield Park, Petersburg.
She was born in Stony Creek, Va., to the late Phillip and Annie Chambliss on July 12, 1924. She attended Sussex County Public Schools and later married James Ernest Smith Sr. on April 3, 1947. Mrs. Smith was baptized at an early age at Hunting Quarter Baptist Church in Stony Creek, where she remained a faithful and dutiful member until her health declined. During her working years, she was employed as a domestic worker for various employers.
She also worked in food service at Central State Hospital, but the majority of her time was spent as a homemaker.
She was a loving mother to all of her family and an inspiration to the many lives she touched.
She had a warm spirit, a giving and loving heart, and never asking anything in return. She also loved to joke around and have a good time with her friends and family.
Survivors inclcude her beloved husband, James Smith Sr.; six daughters, Jane Speed of Jarratt, Virginia Worthy, Reather Mason and Carolyn Smith, all of Stony Creek, Annie Caison of Chesterfield and Roma Jones of Waverly; three sons, James Smith Jr. (Camilla) and Russell Smith (Angela), both of Petersburg, and Phillip Smith (Blanche) of Stony Creek; one sister, Maggie C. Westbrook of Yale; one brother: Lewis Chambliss of Richmond; one sister-in-law, Kathleen Smith of Stony Creek; 16 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; and three stepgreat-grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
The funeral services will be at noon today at Hunting Quarter Baptist Church, Stony Creek; the Rev. Carroll Robb, pastor; Elder Melvin Taylor eulogizing.
Interment to follow in the Fields family cemetery, Stony Creek.
The family and friends are asked to assemble at the home of Mrs. Smith to proceed to church by 10 a.m.
These funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Jones-Peace Funeral Service, Stony Creek.