Vera Juanita Smith

Vera was born December 12, 1942 in Atlanta, Georgia. She went to Habersham County High School in Habersham, Georgia and graduated in May 1961. After high school, Vera began her career in the food industry with her first job being a rollerblading car hop at the Rogers Drive-In. She never looked back and continued in the food industry until the young age of 62.

On May 23, 1962, Vera was blessed to marry the love of her life, Albert Billy Smith. And her life was never the same as they moved around due to Albert’s career in the United States Navy. They had many good times with family and friends during their 58 years of marriage.

Throughout her career, Vera worked in many different food environments. She worked as a cashier in numerous large corporation cafeterias: Lockheed in Mountain View, California, Hewlett-Packard in Sunnyvale, California, and Sematech Electronics in Austin, Texas. Vera worked as a cashier and food server at Furr’s Cafeteria and Saint Edwards University, both in Austin, Texas. She had the opportunity to serve the Dallas Cowboys football team for 5 summer camp seasons while at Saint Edwards. Vera was known as “that spunky cafeteria lady” after her run-in with Emmett Smith. She was responsible for ensuring the accuracy of all food consumed by the players. Emmett Smith had a habit of not following the rules and one day Vera yelled at him, “Hey, get over here and swipe your food card!” To which Emmett replied, “Do you know who I am? I’m Emmett Smith.” Vera replied, “Do you know who I am? I am Juanita Smith. Now get over here and swipe your card.” Emmett never failed to swipe his card after that day.

Vera’s life will forever be remembered and cherished by her daughter, Joan Marie Smith and son-in-law George Joseph Smith Jr. of McDonough, Georgia; and a host of nieces and nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Because someone we love is in Heaven, there is a little bit of Heaven in our homes. Vera was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel Rodgers Keller and Vera Mae Phillips Keller; brothers Jimmy Rodgers Keller, Tommy Reginald Keller, Kenneth Randall Keller; and husband Albert Billy Smith.

The Family respectfully requests in lieu of flowers, please make online gifts in memory of Vera Juanita Smith to the Dementia Society of America www.DementiaSociety.org/donate or by mail to Dementia Society of America, P.O. Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901.

A visitation of family and friends for Vera will be held Wednesday, August 20, 2025 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Horis A. Ward - Fairview Chapel, 376 Fairview Rd, Stockbridge, Georgia 30281. A celebration of life will occur Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM, 376 Fairview Rd, Stockbridge, Georgia 30281. A visitation of family and friends will occur Wednesday, August 20, 2025 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, 376 Fairview Rd, Stockbridge, Georgia 30281. An interment will occur Thursday, August 21, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Georgia National Cemetery - Canton, 1080 Scott Hudgens Drive, Canton, Georgia 30114.