Clara B. Smith

Clara Bea Smith, 66, was born on July 19, 1959 with an identical twin sister in Boston, Massachusetts to John Benjamin and Seleata Elizabeth (Nelson) Lampkin. She passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 with her two children at her side and her twin sister close by.

Clara grew up in Jamaica Plain, MA with her family; she’s the first girl (by just seconds) in a family of eight children. She was raised in church and as a child attended Mount Calvary Holy Church of America, under the then leadership of Bishop Nellie C. Yarborough. She was educated within the Boston Public School system and graduated from Madison Park High School in 1978.

During her young adult life, Clara’s family began attending Christ Temple Church of Personal Experience, in Roxbury, Massachusetts, where she met David O. Smith; they would later marry and have two children: David O. Smith, Jr and Shekinah A. Smith. They also worked together for J&S Catering. While working there, she developed a love for cooking and honed her skills. Both David and Clara pivoted into careers working with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). Years later the two separated but remained great friends, frequently coming together to celebrate the achievements of their growing children, holidays, ministry or work events.

Clara later joined Grace Church of All Nations, in Dorchester, Massachusetts, under the leadership of Bishop A. Livingston Foxworth, where she remained a member for the duration of her life. Clara lived a life steeped in service and impact. Her faith in God was her compass. It guided her to lead a vibrant life where her presence always left an imprint. Her essence was warm, generous, determined, steadfast and she embodied an inner-strength that she demonstrated even until her final breath.

You could always find Clara being of service. Two Wednesdays a month, Clara was ministering behind the prison walls of Massachusetts Correctional Institution (MCI) - Framingham, providing hope and faith in God to the women she said “were more than just the circumstance they found themselves in.” She devoted years of her life to City-Wide Outreach Ministries (CWOM), a ministry founded by her best friend, Reverend Clovis V. Turner. On Friday nights, Clara was in the kitchen, adding hearty ingredients to two 100 quart pots of chicken noodle soup or making sandwiches and snacks during the summer months ahead of packing up the car with blankets, clothes and her children to go serve the homeless population of Boston. Clara also began cooking and serving spaghetti dinners to the children in attendance for bible study at Grace Church of All Nations, making mid-week bible study more accessible for families. Her service extended internationally as well, through a mission trip to St. Kitts and Nevis, where she shared her compassion and faith. She always wanted to be found giving God her best.

Clara’s love of cooking and feeding people is how she expressed her love – if she loved you, she’d cook and feed you; she loved everyone, so she fed everyone! She was renowned for her macaroni and cheese, candied yams and she was the only one our family trusted to prepare the potato salad for all occasions.

While working for the MBTA, Clara was a Green Line Trolley Operator, a Fare Collector and Customer Service Agent. Her work experience reflected both her versatility and her love for people. In each role, she was known and recognized not only for her professionalism but also for her kindness, patience, and the genuine care she extended to coworkers and passengers alike. Clara retired from the MBTA in February 2013 at the young age of 52 years old, after 23 years of serving the city of Boston with pride and commitment. Upon retiring, she moved to Orlando, Florida to enjoy the sunshine and be closer to her now adult daughter. But even in her retirement, she could be found being of service. She traveled frequently to support family where needed. She became a member of Clarita’s House Outreach Ministry in Kissimmee, FL, where she again was able to feed and clothe the homeless. Clara also continued to share her nurturing spirit by working as a private nanny for new families who lived in and around Lake Nona, FL, becoming a trusted and cherished figure in the lives of the children and families she served.

Although Clara lived a full life of service, she also knew how to have fun. She was always making people laugh and smile. Clara loved to travel by cruise ship to see different places in the world. She passed her love of travel and cruising on to her daughter and helped inspire her to start her own travel business. Clara was blessed to see many beautiful places in her lifetime, such as Hawaii, the Caribbean, France, Spain, Italy, Monaco, Alaska, and Aruba, sharing her adventurous spirit and her appreciation for the richness of life with her best friends, family and children.

Clara was loved by so many throughout her life. In addition to her biological family, she was blessed to be welcomed and adopted into the Collins Family (Missouri), The Knight Family (New Hampshire) and the Clemons Family (Mississippi) These extended family connections she maintained until the end of her life. Clara leaves to cherish her memory; her two children: David O. Smith, Jr. (Roxanne and daughter, Akilah) of Winter Park, FL, Shekinah Smith Rosser of Orlando, FL; her brother: Larry L. Nelson of Boston, MA; her sisters: Lola C. Seck of Kissimmee, FL, Natalie L. Hinds (Charles) of Boston, MA and her identical twin sister, Carolyn B. Grant (Jeffrey) of Boston, MA; her childhood best friend and sister: Susan D. Burns, two uncles, an aunt, a host of nieces, nephews, bonus children, godchildren and extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her Grandmother: Clara B. Nelson; her Nana: Louise McCorkle; her Father: John B. Lampkin; her Mother: Seleata E. Emery; her Brothers: Cordell J. Lampkin and Ronald M. Nelson; her Sister: Seleata E. Lampkin and her best friend of over 40 years, Reverend Clovis V. Turner.

Her life was a blessing to many, her memory will continue to live on in our hearts and her legacy of service through her children

Visitation will be held at Baldwin-Fairchild East Altamonte, 994 E Altamonte Dr, Altamonte Springs, Florida 32701, on May 9, 2026, from 9:00 am to 10:00 am.

A Funeral Service will take place at Baldwin-Fairchild East Altamonte, 994 E Altamonte Dr, Altamonte Springs, Florida 32701, on May 9, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:30 am, with live stream available at https://www.youtube.com/live/0ItnaAEZGXo.

A Committal Service will follow at Glen Haven Memorial Park, 2300 Temple Dr, Winter Park, FL 32789, on May 9, 2026, beginning at 12:00 pm.