IN CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE & LEGACY OF BETTY LOUISE SMITH Born Into Time Born Into Eternity February 5, 1942 March 6, 2018 CHATHAM AVALON CHURCH OF CHRIST 8601 South State Street Chicago, Illinois, 60619 Dr. Daniel Harrison, Minister Saturday, March 17, 2018 Wake Home Going 10:00AM 11:00AM Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. Proverbs 31:10
What is a Mom? A mom is one of life s best gifts, Someone to treasure all life through, She s caring and loving, Thoughtful and true, Someone who is always a special part of your life, Someone who holds a prime place in your heart, She s a mentor, a confident and also a friend, Someone on whose love you can depend. A mom always has your best interests at heart, She s someone so dear and so good, She s a blessing, she s a gift, She s a treasure like no other, She s someone that is truly wonderful. Wherever you go, and whatever you do, A mom s love will always see you through, A mom is truly invaluable, Indispensable and unforgettable. I wouldn t want anyone but you, And that s why I m so grateful, that life picked you for me. 1
BIG Mama Unknown Author Big Mama, your life was full of loving deeds, forever thoughtful of our special needs. Today and tomorrow, my whole life through, I will always love and cherish you. There was magic in Big Mama s touch, and sunshine in her smile. There was love in everything she did to make our lives worthwhile. We found both hope and courage just by looking in her eyes. Her laughter was a source of joy, her words warm and wise. There was a kindness and compassion found in her embrace, And I will always remember the glow of Big Mama s face. Betty with Greatgrandchildren Ariss and Aaron Smith Jr. 2
Life s Reflections Betty Louise Smith was born on February 5, 1942 in Sandhill, Mississippi to the late Dolly Mae Young and Sam Stewart. Betty s parents helped her embrace the value of education by enrolling her in Piney Wood s Junior College, an all-black, no-nonsense, boarding school which is also considered to be an academic oasis in rural Mississippi. Upon graduation, Betty relocated to Chicago where she continued her education and earned a certification as respiratory technician/therapist and also went on to earn a certification in non-profit management from Roosevelt University. While in Chicago, Betty also met and in 1963 married the man of her dreams, her loving husband, Vannish E. Smith. They remained a devoted married couple, active in both social and civic engagement, world travel and dedicated community service for 47 years until he departed this life in 2010. Together, Betty and Vannish nurtured and raised their two daughters Vanessa and Valerie. Betty guided the lives of her daughters educationally and in service to God and humankind and they both ultimately, grew a passion for serving the community. As a respiratory therapist, Betty worked at various hospitals including Presbyterian-St. Luke (now Rush) Hospital. In 1987, while working at Ingalls s hospital, Betty noticed that not only were many Black men dying of HIV, but they were being shunned by family, friends and even pastors. It was then that she founded, South Side Help Center (SSHC), with the goal of educating the African- American religious community so it could be sensitive to the needs of people impacted by HIV/AIDS. Over the years, her husband Vannish and other family members and friends worked with her to build the success and sustainability of SSHC. Her daughter Vanessa went on to become a youth HIV program leader and subsequently Chief Operating Officer, while her daughter Valerie went on to marry and worked with youth development programs until she passed in 1998 of breast cancer after a long, courageous fight. Throughout her twenty-one years as executive director of SSHC, Betty was bestowed numerous prestigious accolades and awards, including news articles from major newspapers, like the Sun-times, Tribune, Defender, Washington Post and a featured article in Essence 3
Magazine. Betty retired in 2008 and passed the torch to her daughter Vanessa. Even though she was battling Alzheimer s disease, she continued to do television interviews and make appearances in support of South Side Help Center, including being present in September 2017, for the celebration of its 30th Anniversary at the historical Parkway Ballroom. Betty has a reputation of strength, professionalism, diplomacy and uncompromising advocacy and is known as a woman who laughed heartily, but took her coffee black. no sugar, no cream. She is also known as an adept storyteller, who could draw in a person s attention and support, with her sharp wit and mellow voice. Today, Betty s Legacy, South Side Help Center is the oldest African-American-led community based organization addressing HIV/AIDS in the Black community both in the city of Chicago, and State of Illinois. Beyond being a dedicated Wife, Mother, Grandmother, and consummate Civic Leader and Businesswoman, Betty was a sincere Giver. She gave of her time, essence and money in establishing the Valerie Smith-Reid Scholarship Fund (named in tribute to her daughter), which provided thousands of dollars in scholarships to high school seniors to help them with first year college expenses. Students from high schools all across the city of Chicago benefitted from the VSR Scholarship Fund. Betty enjoyed reading their entries where youth expressed their past accomplishments and hopes and dreams for the future. Betty organized many fundraisers over the course of more than a decade to benefit youth who wanted to continue their education beyond high school. Betty also loved her church! She enjoyed hearing the pastor teach and the choir sing, and even further, she loved serving people in need. After her retirement, she spent many hours during the week volunteering in the Chicago Food Depository/Food Bank program at Chatham Avalon Church of Christ. There was no judgement, only the joy of serving as she would mingle with co-laborers at the church and happily bag and give away groceries. Betty is survived by her daughter Vanessa, her very special grandson Aaron Smith, two god-grandchildren Santoerie and Santoeneisha; two great-grandchildren Aaron Jr. and Ariss; siblings, Elex (Lileann), Willie Stewart, Pearl Stewart, Margie (Charles) Ross, Brenda Campbell (Walter) Jenkins; Jackson, MS; Hattie McGinty, Glen Burnie, MD; Linda (Lloyd) Robinson, Morgan City, LA; and Maryland Thompson, Baton Rouge, LA. and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other family members and friends. She also leaves the cherished legacy of community service which she embodied and a challenge for others to-- Live Your Mission, Serve People and Strengthen Communities. 4
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Order of Service Processional...The Family Master of Ceremony... Robert Turner Congregational Selection... Robert Turner Scripture... Ello Banks Invocation... Reginald Halbert Musical Selection... Angelic Singers Acknowledgments/Resolutions... Lynette O'Neal Obituary Reading... Darine Ayers Tributes... Alderman Carrie Austin, 34th Ward, City of Chicago..................... Steven Haamid, VSR Scholarship Fund Recipient Salutations and Remarks...Friends and Family................................................ (2 minutes please) Music Selection... Angelic Singers Spiritual Message/Eulogy... Dr. Daniel Harrison, Evangelist Benediction... Harold Armstead Recessional Interment Repast 1:30PM 2:30 P.M. 3:30 P.M. Cedar Park Cemetery Chatham Avalon Church of Christ 12540 South Halsted Street 8601 South State Street Calumet Park, Illinois 60827 Chicago, IL 60619 Please make donations to South Side Help Center in lieu of flowers. Thank you. 6
What Do You Know About Alzheimer s? Alzheimer s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. Alzheimer s is not a normal part of aging. For most people with Alzheimer s, symptoms first appear in their mid-60s. Alzheimer s is a disease that robs people of their memory. At first, people have a hard time remembering recent events, though they might easily recall things that happened years ago. People with Alzheimer s might forget their loved ones. They might forget how to dress themselves, feed themselves, and use the toilet. Estimates vary, but experts suggest that more than 5 million Americans may have Alzheimer s. Alzheimer s disease is currently ranked as the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, but recent estimates indicate that the disorder may rank third, just behind heart disease and cancer, as a cause of death for older people. Alzheimer s has no current cure, but treatments for symptoms are available and research continues. Although current Alzheimer s treatments cannot stop Alzheimer s from progressing, they can temporarily slow the worsening of dementia symptoms and improve quality of life for those with Alzheimer s and their caregivers. Today, there is a worldwide effort under way to find better ways to treat the disease, delay its onset, and prevent it from developing. To find out more information, visit www.alz.org 9
Family Acknowledgment We, the Family of Betty L. Smith are touched and grateful for the outpouring of kindness and acts of love that have been extended to us. While it is difficult to let her go, we are thankful to God for the time that we were allowed to have her. We believe and trust God for His gift of wisdom, patience, courage, understanding and love to withstand this present time. May God s blessings be with each of you today and always. The Repast The family is requesting that everyone come back for the repast which will be from 2:30-3:30PM, after the burial at Chatham Avalon Church of Christ. 10
Santoeri Davis Harold Cherry Keith Parks Pall Bearers Aaron Smith Arthur Dunn Marcus Flenaugh Charles Nelson Flower Bearers South Side Help Center Staff Interment 1:30PM Cedar Park Cemetery 12540 South Halsted Street Calumet Park, Illinois 60827 Arrangements Entrusted To Cage Memorial Chapel 7651 South Jeffrey Blvd. Chicago, IL 60649 773.721.8900 www.cagememorialchapel.com Download PDF Program www.southsidehelp.org/betty.pdf