Constance Cook Smart

Constance Roberta Cook Smart, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, educator, and friend, passed away peacefully at her home on March 5, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. Born on May 9, 1929, in Detroit, Michigan, she was the cherished daughter of B. Roberta Hayden Cook and James Romulus Cook.

Connie, as she was affectionately known, was a woman of profound love, endless kindness, and steadfast devotion to her faith. Her passion for education touched countless lives, shaping the futures of many with her guidance and care. She is survived by her daughter, Elaine Culvyhouse, and her three sons, Derald Smart, Jr. & Eva, Donald Smart & Linda of Waverly, TN, and Curtis Smart & Joanne of Melbourne, FL. She was a beloved grandmother to Kristin Parish, Fred Culvyhouse III & Kristin Justavino, Derald (Trey) Smart III & Jesse, Ashley Smart Young & Austin, Dawn Wright & Aaron, Cristos Brayman, and Justin Tudino & Meagan, as well as a proud great-grandmother of three and great-great-grandmother of two. She is also survived by her brother Byron Walker & Ann, and her sister Darlene Garmus & David.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 69 years, Derald Smart, Sr., her sisters Jacque Holmes and Nadine Youngblood, and her brothers Charles Walker, George Walker, and Jan Walker.

Connie’s life was defined by her deep love for her family, her faith, and her passion for education. A graduate of the University of North Florida, she earned a degree in Early Childhood Education, dedicating her life to shaping young minds. She found immense joy in teaching and spent her career nurturing the growth of countless students.

She made a lasting impact as an educator, teaching at the Preschool at FSCJ’s North Campus, the Little People’s School at Jacksonville University, and in Migrant Education Programs in Brevard and Manatee Counties. She later retired from Duval County Public Schools, where she taught childcare classes at A. Philip Randolph High School. Connie was a dedicated and influential member of the North Florida Chapter of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, serving on its board for many years—even after retiring from the classroom—continuing her lifelong commitment to early childhood development.

Beyond her dedication to education, Connie had a deep love for travel and family history. She visited every U.S. state except Hawaii, and in her later years, she and her husband, Derald Sr., spent time researching their family genealogy, traveling the country to uncover their roots.

A Celebration of Connie’s Life will be held on March 11, 2025, at San Jose Baptist Church, 6140 San Jose Blvd., with a viewing at 10:00 a.m. and service at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to San Jose Baptist Church at sjbcjax.com/give, honoring Connie’s lifelong dedication to faith and community.

Connie’s legacy of love, kindness, and dedication to education will live on in the hearts of those she touched. She will be deeply missed but forever cherished.