Mrs. Constance Winnifred Scarlett-Smith

BIRTH AND EARLY LIFE

Constance Winifred Scarlett Smith was born into the union of Slathiel and Rosa (nee Scarlett) Riley on April 6, 1945 in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica, West Indies. The only girl of eight children born to this union, she held a special place in the hearts and lives of her parents and brothers and was blessed to later share that same intensity of love, affection and devotion with her husband, children, nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws.

EDUCATION AND WORK

Connie attended the St. Ann’s Bay public school system while living in Jamaica. As a young adult, Connie immigrated to New York City and eventual landed a position as an assistant buyer with Bonwit Taylor, a luxury department store. It was in this position that she honed her knowledge and love of fine apparel and jewelry.

In 1980, life lead her to take a position at Harlem Hospital in the Patients Account department. There she advanced to ultimately head the administrative area of Harlem Hospital Center’s Outpatient Clinics. Shortly after starting her career at Harlem Hospital, she began her undergraduate studies on a full-time basis and earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the College of New Rochelle.

Throughout her tenure at Harlem Hospital Medical Center, she earned the respect and admiration of patients, administrators, doctors, nurses and clinic staff for her hard work and dedication to serving people in need of health care. She encouraged and assisted numerous individuals to further their educations and advance their careers. Often, she facilitated the medical and dental care of many family, friends and church members by helping them navigate the complicated health care system of New York City. In 2011 Connie retired from Harlem Hospital.

FAMILY LIFE

During her first days at Harlem Hospital, Connie met Larry Smith and then married him in 1986. The Lord blessed them with two children, Troy Anthony and Cassaundra Alycee, to whom Connie was an intensely devoted parent who wanted the very best for her children. She enjoyed traveling to exotic locations, especially cruising with family and good friends.

CHURCH LIFE

Constance became a deaconess of the Canaan Baptist Church of Christ in 1992 and was later ordained as a deacon. She also served as president of the church’s Scholarship Commission for eight years during which the ministry which raised thousands of dollars to provide four-year scholarships for children who were accepted into and attended accredited colleges. After moving to Texas over a year ago, she regularly attended the Metro Southwinds Fellowship church where she made many friends.

SURVIVING RELATIVES

Connie went home to be with the Lord on Monday, May 13, 2019. Those left behind to cherish her memory are her husband (Larry), son (Troy Anthony), daughter (Cassaundra Alycee), sister (Gloria Tennyson), four brothers (Eric, Oliver, Henry and Frensley), mother-in-law (Shirley Smith), several in-laws and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and associates. We will miss her dearly.

THANK YOU

The family wishes to thank everyone for their kind thoughts, prayers and words of support. We ask God’s blessing on you.