Nelva Joy Smith

Nelva was born in Morton, Texas on January 13, 1950 to James Wilton ‘J.W.’ and Ila Ruth Haralson. Rex Smith and Nelva Haralson were married in Lubbock, Texas on June 28, 1969. They were soulmates and best friends for almost 51 years when he passed away in March 2020, and she missed him so much.

Nelva loved her Savior, Jesus, and lived her life for an audience of One. She was passionate about and excelled at many things, always striving to give her best in every situation, always considering how God would want things done. ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.’ (Colossians 3:23) She was a devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother, raising and caring for her family with the same passion and great attention to detail. She was always very involved in church and school activities, always finding ways to demonstrate the love of Jesus in serving and encouraging others, and taught her children to seek and act on those opportunities too.

Nelva was a beautiful and brilliant lady, extremely talented and hard working. She enjoyed working, and always had an intense work ethic. She lived most of her life in the Texas panhandle, with a couple of brief stints to Oklahoma and Kansas with Rex’s jobs. She had many jobs throughout her life, which included Texas Instruments, Seminole Public Schools, South Plains College and First Baptist Church of Lubbock. She often was in positions that required working with technology, and always pushed herself to learn the ins-and-outs of it to be the go-to person for navigating or trouble-shooting it. Most recently, she worked in the administrative offices at First Baptist Church of Lubbock for more than 15 years, and really loved her work and her work family. She was a licensed cosmetologist, something she greatly enjoyed doing. She was very creative, doing so many artistic and crafty things: painting, sewing, needlepoint, doll repairs, silk florals, decorating, and operated a craft booth with her sister, Cloie, gardening, etc. She was also a great cook, something she learned well from her mother and everyone else enjoyed her cooking! Nelva enjoyed RV camping with her family and friends, especially loved the times when her grandchildren were part of the camping trip. She was always very successful with the great variety of things she tried her hand at, and Rex was always her side-by-side partner in everything.

Nelva is survived by her two daughters, Valerie and husband David Atencio of Albuquerque, NM, and Kayla and husband James Wood and grandchildren, Anne Marie, Bethany, and Sean Wood of Stephenville, TX; sisters, Karin Sullivan of Burleson, TX, Cloie Muncy of Lubbock, brother, Arlan and wife Betty Haralson of Lubbock; sister-in-law, Judy Haralson of Lubbock, brother-in-law, Odis Ray and wife Ellen Smith of Pine Hurst, NC.

Nelva was preceded in death by her husband of almost 51 years, Rex Smith; her parents, J.W. and Ila Haralson; her father- and mother-in-law, Roy E. ‘Buck’ and Christine Smith; sister, Wilta Haralson; brothers, David Haralson and Robert Earl Haralson; brothers-in-law, Jim Muncy and James Sullivan.

Gifts may be given to Missions at First Baptist Church, Lubbock, Texas, in her memory.