Edna M. Smith

Edna M. Smith was born October 11, 1937 at Fort Sam Houston to MSGT Earnest Hills and Mary Alice Campbell Hills.  She was the third of eleven children; M/SGT Willie James Hills, SGT Ennis Hills, SGT Thomas B. Hills, Mary Jane Shields (Stanley Shields Sr.) of San Antonio, Hortence Johnson (Moses Johnson) of San Antonio, Theresa Ann Brooks of San Antonio, Earline Williams (Ralph Williams) of Washington D.C., Dorothy Crayton (Rusty Crayton) of San Antonio, Earnestine Nance (Roy Lee Nance) of San Antonio and Michelle Russell of San Antonio. Edna joined Second Baptist Church at at early age under Dr. Samuel H. Jamison. Mrs. Smith started school at Booker T. Washington, however, due to her family’s military commitments, they moved to Louisiana then moved back to San Antonio where she graduated from Phyllis Wheatley High School.  She went to attend the University of the Incarnate Word and St. Phillips schools of Nursing.

Edna married Herbert Lee Smith, of San Antonio, October 15th of 1960.  To this union was born one son, David Lee Smith and Herbert brought one daughter from a previous marriage, Roslyn Reece.  Edna joined Calvary Baptist Church, the church of her In-Laws, Lena Mae and JT Foreman of San Antonio.  She worked for 40 years as a nurse at Baptist Hospital in downtown San Antonio while dutifully serving Calvary Baptist Church as an usher on Sundays. After retiring from nursing Edna cared for her ailing husband, Herbert until his passing in 2004 and then her mother-in-law Lena Mae until her passing in 2015. Edna often cared for the youth of her family throughout her life including her grandchildren, Sharronda and Jerome Smith, great grandchildren Alana and Charles Smith-Ly. She was always willing to help her siblings and their children when and however she could. Edna did her best to be an example of honesty, patience, kindness and perseverance to her community and family.

Mrs. Edna Smith went home to be with her deceased loved ones on Saturday July 9th, 2022. Left on Earth to honor her memory are her sisters, Hortence Johnson and Earline Williams; brother-in-law Ralph Williams; son, David Lee Smith and daughter-in-law Tarwyn Stephanie Smith; granddaughter, Sharronda Marie Smith; great-grandson, Charles A. Smith-Ly and great-granddaughter Alana G. Smith-Ly along with a host of nieces and nephews, in-laws and friends.