Obituary of Betty Shephard Smith

Funeral services for Mrs. Betty Shephard Smith, age 96, are scheduled for 11 AM Friday, May 1, 2026 at Central Missionary Baptist Church with Bro. Phillip McCready officiating. Visitation will be held from 5 PM until 7 PM Thursday evening, April 30, at Golden’s. Mrs. Smith, a devoted member of Central Missionary Baptist Church for 73 years, passed away on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. She was known for her quiet strength and unwavering loyalty to those she loved, never shying away from a challenge. She taught herself to cook, crochet, and knit, and embraced life's adventures at every age. At 71, she took her first airplane trip to Germany to visit her oldest grandson, and at 94, she enjoyed her first cruise to Alaska. She found great joy in yard work and spending time outdoors tending to her flowers. She is survived by her sister, Tootsie Wallis; brothers, John Shephard, Freddie Shephard and wife Geraldine; daughter, Diane Hawkins Jagneaux and husband Tony; daughter-in-law, Janice Calhoun and husband Dennis; several grandchildren, great grandchildren and one great great grandchild; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and friends that were like extended family. Mrs. Smith is preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Dalco Gaines Smith; sons, Charles Shephard Smith; Robert Gaines Smith and Douglas Allen Smith and her mother, Ruby Shephard. Serving the family as pallbearers will be her grandsons, Mark Hawkins, C.J. Hawkins, Buddy Smith, Charles Smith, Dennis Calhoun and Tony Jagneaux. Honorary pallbearers will be, Rodney Hopkins, Leonard Farrar, David Ingram, Jimmy Straughn and Johnny Legg.