Naomi Smith Chappell

Naomi was born the daughter of Samuel Smith Jr., and Marie Elizabeth Hill on August 31, 1928 in Ravenna, Texas. She attended school in Bonham, Texas and graduated from Washington High School in 1946. Naomi attended Tuskegee Institute and Langston University and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education in 1957.

She married Harrison Chappell in 1959 and they lived in Cleveland, Ohio where she worked as an elementary school teacher for approximately 20 years. They moved to San Diego, California around 1982 and Naomi worked as a preschool teacher at the Salvation Army Door of Hope from which she retired.

Naomi was a faithful believer of Jesus Christ and was a regular member of Euclid Avenue Church of God when she lived in Cleveland and attended Calvary Baptist Church in San Diego. Early on Naomi played golf with her family and enjoyed painting and doing word search puzzles in her later years. In the last couple of years, Naomi lived in an assisted living home where she made good friends. She attended Bible study there and read her Bible daily. Her best buddy was Steven who helped her liberate cookies from the Community Center after a game of Bingo. Several of the staff and residents shared with family how much they enjoyed having known Naomi.

On January 2, 2023, Naomi went home to be with the Lord. She is survived by a younger sister Vera Ross, son Billy Vincent and daughter Lisa Webbs, granddaughter Erin and grandson Anton along with two great granddaughters Ava and Myla, and several nieces and nephews. Naomi was preceded in death by her parents Samuel and Elizabeth Smith, sisters Valerie Cleveland, Forrest Williams, Hattie Smith, Mae Helen Higgs, and her twin brother Nathaniel.

Naomi’s father nicknamed her Sugar and everyone shortened it to Sug (pronounced Shug). She was thereafter affectionately called Sug or Aunt Sug by her family. She was a blessing to her family and those who knew her.

Proverbs 31:26-27 - She opens her mouth with wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.