Lona Belle Smith

Visitation will be 10:00am, Thursday 1st of June at Newhall Eternal Valley Memorial Park Mortuary.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 am Thursday June 1st at Newhall Eternal Valley Memorial Park Mortuary with the Bishop Hearns of Living Stone Cathedral of Worship in Lancaster, CA, officiating. Burial will follow at Newhall Eternal Valley Memorial Park Mortuary. Arrangements are by Newhall Eternal Valley Memorial Park Mortuary.

Mrs. Lona Bell Smith was born in Waycross, GA to Simm Poole Sr. and Mandy Ann Thomas-Poole on January 4, 1932. After January 4, 1932, the family moved to Millard, Mississippi. Lona attended Todd Memorial School. During this time, Lona accepted the Lord Jesus Christ at an early age and was also baptized by Reverend A.W. Parker at Green Grove Baptist Church. She was the fourth of ten children.

Lona met and married Julius Thigpen on July of 1948 in Millard, Mississippi and from that marriage she had Johnny Lee Thigpen, Christine A. Thigpen and Trudy D. Thigpen. Julius Thigpen and Lona Bell Thigpen moved to Slidell, Louisiana in 1949 where she became a faithful member of the Tabernacle Baptist Church. She remained an active member of her church until she peacefully passed away. Lona Bell Thigpen worked as a housewife for most of her life. On December 31, 1954, Julius Thigpen accidently died in a boating accident. Five years later in 1959, she met and married Joseph Smith and had no children with him but he had daughter by a previous marriage (step-daughter of Lona Smith name Rochelle Smith). Lona Bell Smith was married to Joseph Smith who was also a member of the Tabernacle Baptist Church until 1999 where he passed away. Joseph Smith was a veteran of World War II and served in the US Army.

Lona Bell Smith is preceded in death by Essie Poole, Carrie Lee Robertson, Roosevelt Poole, NeNe Thomas, Thelma Poole, Wilma Poole, Simm Poole Jr., Rosie Lee Poole-Magee, (surviving sister) Estella Poole. Lona Bell Smith is survived by her two children: Johnny Lee Thigpen and Christine A. Thigpen, Trudy D. Ramsey (deceased). Lona Bell Smith is survived by three grandchildren: Shondra Thigpen, Julie Thigpen, Geno Ramsey. Lona Bell Smith is survived by three great grandchildren: Jayla Scott, Arianna Ramsey, Jace Ramsey.

The family of Mrs. Lona Bell Smith wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Bishop Hearns, Paster Rivers and the members of the Living Stone Cathedral of Worship in Littlerock, CA.