Wilma Jean (Johnson) Smith

Wilma Jean Johnson Smith, age 93, passed away peacefully on July 30, 2025. A lifelong resident of New Market, she was born to Fred C. and Ila Farrow on January 12, 1932. “Jean”, as she was known, graduated from New Market High School in 1950. She attended Florence State Teacher’s College (now UNA) and later graduated from Athens State University with a degree in Elementary Education.

She was predeceased by her parents, Fred C. and Ila Farrow, husband W. R. Johnson, brother Loyd Farrow, brother Hershal Farrow, and great grandson James Wheeler Hall.

She is survived by her husband James Smith, daughter Susan Barber (Mark), and son Kenny Johnson (Lori); grandchildren Justin Barber (Kim), Jaime Barber, Erin Stults (Adam), and Emily Brown (Clint); great grandchildren Knox Barber, Levon Herndon, Wyatt Barber, Turner Stults, Jones Stults, and Rhodes Brown.

Jean was employed by Madison County Schools for 33 years. She started her teaching career in 1958 at Walnut Grove School teaching 6th and 7th grade. In 1961, she began teaching at New Market School, where she taught first grade for one year and second grade for 8 years. She returned to Walnut Grove in 1971 and taught third grade (her real love) until her retirement in 1991.

She taught hundreds of children in Madison County, and she loved every minute of it. She was a true leader during her career chairing many committees, sponsored many student interns, worked many after school activities and special events, and ran the best cake walk at Walnut Grove! She was nominated and received Teacher of the Year at Walnut Grove in 1990. In her years since retirement, it was not unusual for her to encounter many former students, from different walks of life, who proclaimed her to be their “favorite” teacher and would tell about her impact on their life. She was so proud to say she was a teacher. It was her true calling.

After retirement, she was very involved in the New Market chapter of The Alabama Homemakers Club and Community Leaders. She happily served alongside her good friends making comfort caps for cancer patients and newborns, piecing quilts, community decorating, organizing blood drives, gathering and distributing Toys for Tots, and conducting bake sales to name a few. Many in New Market looked forward to and were the recipients of her famous Apple Dapple cakes! In 2009, she was nominated and received The Madison County Homemaker of the Year award. She also enjoyed taking bus trip vacations with her girlfriends traveling New England, Canada, and the Southeastern United States.

Jean loved her family and was very proud of her home and farm in New Market. She hosted Thanksgiving dinner for her family for over 50 years and was known by family and friends for her dressing and homemade dumplings. She was an excellent southern cook and filled her table with family favorites including fried okra, turnip greens, biscuits and gravy and made crispiest cakes of cornbread. Hers was the best!

She loved to tell stories of her college days at Florence State. Having lived in Willingham Hall she was proud to call herself a “Willy Cat.” She has fondly recalled those memories over the years. She was a good wife, mother, Maw Maw, sister, daughter, friend, teacher and just a very good human. She was so loved and will be sorely missed. We would like to thank Barfield Health and Rehabilitation and their staff for their exceptional care and love shown to her over the past 21 months.

A celebration of life for Wilma will be held Monday, August 4, 2025 at 3:00 PM at Valhalla Funeral Home Chapel, 698 Winchester Rd Ne, Huntsville, Alabama 35811.