Lillian Smith

Lillian Smith was born in Beech Grove, Arkansas on September 5, 1923 and died peacefully in her sleep after a long, courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease on Saturday July 12, 2008 in Portland, Texas. Lillian was a schoolteacher in Arkansas before moving to Corpus Christi in 1956 where she taught school for many years before retiring in the early 1980’s. She was a lifelong member of Windsor Park Church of Christ (now King’s Crossing) where she served as an elder’s wife for many years. She was preceded in death by her first husband, David Smith and by her second husband, Kirby Barker, Sr. She was also preceded in death by her parents, John and Ella Hots, her brother Ellis Hots and three sisters, Clara Swafford, Edna Wallis and Eula Arnhart. She is survived by her two sisters, Freda Matheny of Monette and Aletta Hantke of Paragould and one brother, Kenneth Hots of Paragould. Also surviving are three children and their spouses, Wayne & Marjorie Smith of Edinburg, Texas, Barbara and Bruce Matthews of Portland, Texas, and Kaye and Dean Johnson of White Hall, Arkansas, nine grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at Heath Funeral Home. Her life will be celebrated at a graveside service at Morrow Cemetery, 10:00 AM Thursday, July 17, 2008, with L.R. Smith officiating.