Erma L. Smith

ERMA LEE SMITH was the daughter of Mary Emma Dickens and John Henry Jenkins. She was born on January 28, 1932 in Tarboro, North Carolina. The Lord took his angel home to be with him on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 in San Diego, California.

Erma graduated from Pattillo High School in Tarboro, North Carolina in 1950. Erma later married the love of her life; Marine Corps enlistee, Robert Edward Smith. In 1958, the Marine Corps moved the couple and their four children to Hawaii.

While in Hawaii for three years, Erma quickly adapted to a new environment and began to develop the skills needed to become a caring and supportive mother and wife. Often times, she held down all of the responsibilities of caring for her family while her husband was away on assignments for weeks or months at a time.

In 1961 the family was assigned to duty in California. This is where the family settled, purchased a home and encouraged their children through high school and college. Erma worked as an elementary school aide and attended San Diego City Community College (ECC) where she obtained her teacher’s aide certificate. For many years Erma was a proud member of the TOPS organization. Erma was a loving, kind and caring woman of God. God graced her with the smile of an angel. To know Erma was to love her. Her smile and warm spirit would light up the room, they will never be forgotten.

Erma was a longtime member of Mt. Erie Baptist Church in San Diego. She leaves to cherish her memory; her husband Robert E. Smith; four children; Brenda Smith, Michael Smith, Vanessa Wood and Robert L. Smith; son-in-law Dr. Lawrence Wood and daughters-in-law, Vanessa Smith and Rosalie Smith. She is also survived by twelve grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, a brother, James Henry “Duke” Dancy; her sister in spirit, Loretta Wilson and a host of relatives and friends.

Arrangements under the direction of Greenwood Memorial Park and Mortuary, 4300 Imperial Avenue San Diego, California, 92113.