EVERYONE IS WAITING TO WELCOME HER
Self-described as “a tough, old broad”, Alice Smith, daughter of the late Bertha and Lucian Tibbs, was born on November 21, 1925, in Washington, DC. She was the eldest of nine siblings. Alice departed this life suddenly on October 26, 2018. Alice was predeceased by her siblings: Roseanna, Georgiana, Mary, Elizabeth, John Herbert and Hunter.
She was blessed with one daughter, Mary Brock, who predeceased her in death. Alice was also predeceased by the love of her life, Lee. Through this union, she gained a step-daughter, Brenda Johnson.
As an adult, Alice lived and worked in several cities in the southeastern and midwestern regions of the nation. She finally settled in the southwest, Tucson, Arizona specifically. She called Tucson home for more than sixty years. Upon retiring, she devoted her time to volunteering at the American Legion Auxiliary of Arizona and the Tucson VA Hospital. At the American Legion Auxiliary, she held the position of Historian. She was well-known for her arts and crafts, knit socks and scarves, canvas work, and other memorabilia.
Alice was resilient and had a zest for living. She loved traveling, especially by train. She enjoyed many train adventures with her beloved daughter Mary, as well her devoted friends. Biannually, she would travel to the east coast to visit her family and friends. While there, she particularly enjoyed her luncheons with her daughters’ friends, whom she called her surrogate children.
Sharing, kind, and generous to a fault, she will be best remembered for her words of wisdom, which she shared with all who would listen! Three of her favorites were: “Mr. Use-To-Be been dead”; “Whatever is not a conversation piece”; and most importantly, “Always look forward and have no regrets.” And, let’s not forget the “love packages” , cards and hand-written letters that usually arrived for every birthday, anniversary or just because. She loved the big band sound (Count Basie and Duke Ellington) and jazz (Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn) and her occasional small medicinal glass of wine.
She leaves to mourn her loss a devoted step-daughter, Brenda Johnson (Jarvis), her grandsons, Reginald Brock (Lori) and William Lee Jarvis Johnson, one granddaughter, Elysse Johnson; great grandsons, Nicholas and Aaron Brock; a loving brother and sister, Lucian Franklin Tibbs and Dorothy Jackson (John), respectively; a truly supportive friend, Yolanda Parfrey; and a host of cherished nieces, nephews, other relatives and dear friends.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.9.5