Lois Evans Smith

Lois Evans Smith died after a brief illness on January 28, 2013. She was born in Noxapater, Mississippi on December 8th, 1910 (but possibly 1909), one of ten children born to Dr. William Henry Evans and LaUna Gilbert Evans. Lois worked her way through Judson College in Marion, Alabama, earning a B. A. degree in English in 1931. Following graduation, she worked for the Louisiana State Baptist Mission Board in New Orleans and traveled throughout rural parishes in North Louisiana, often by mule or horse and buckboard as a traveling missionary. She spent one year as a high school teacher in Alabama and then moved to Atlanta where she worked for several years as a church secretary and Vacation Bible School director for Inman Park Baptist Church. In 1935, Lois moved to Jacksonville and was working as a legal secretary when she met and married Stephen Pinckney Smith, Jr., the love of her life. After marriage, in addition to caring for her family, Lois was actively involved in Christian outreach and visitation. Through the years, she served at Riverside Baptist, San Jose Baptist, and for the last 48 years, at Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church. Lois was predeceased by all of her siblings and Steve, her husband of 59 years who was a practicing attorney in Jacksonville for 60 years. She is survived by her three sons, Stephen P. Smith, III, Alexander G. Smith (Lynda), and Reginald E. Smith (Charlene), two grandsons, Christopher and W. Morgan Smith (Amy), many nieces and nephews, cousins and other descendants all over the country. As a young girl growing up in small towns in Mississippi and Alabama, Lois showed a great talent and enthusiasm for literature and mastered the art of dramatic monologue and poetry recitation. She had an abundant repertoire of poems and could recite numerous poems from memory until shortly before her death, accurately quoting poems by Rudyard Kipling, John Greenleaf Whittier, and Mother Goose, to the amazement and delight of her family and those who loved her. She was a terrific cook, a fierce Gator fan, a long time member of San Jose Country Club, and numerous garden circles. But along with the love for her family and friends, her greatest joy in life was reaching out to others for Jesus Christ.

Funeral services will be held at Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, February 1, 2013. Interment will follow in Oaklawn Cemetery. The family also wishes to thank and acknowledge Lois' many friends and helpers for their visits, love and attention over the past several years, particularly Tammie McClain. HARDAGE-GIDDENS, THE OAKLAWN CHAPEL, 4801 San Jose Boulevard is serving the family.