Mercedes Smith

Visitation will be held at American Heritage Funeral Home, 10710 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, TX, on Monday, December 16, 2024 at 12 pm.

Burial will immediately follow at 2 pm at the Houston National Cemetery located at 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, TX.

Mercedes Williams Smith was born in Chicago, IL to Naomi Buchanan and Roosevelt Williams Sr. on March 18, 1951. Mercedes went on to obtain her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and became a Registered Nurse which she practiced until her retirement in 2015. Her final job was with MD Anderson Cancer Hospital in Houston, TX where she served as an emergency RN. Prior to her move to Texas, Mercedes worked at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. She was there during Hurricane Katrina and stayed for almost a week before she and her team were rescued from the hospital. She and her husband Gilbert made the permanent move to Texas after the storm and rebuilt their lives.

Mercedes enjoyed traveling and shopping! She went to many places all over the world but often said her very favorite destination was Sanibel Island, FL where she spent several vacations with friends and family at her condo.

She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Gilbert M. Smith Jr, her sister, Louise Williams, her brother, Roosevelt (Skip) Williams Jr. and her sister, Ruth Lee Knox.

She is survived by her daughter, Ericka Denise Hampton, her brother Harold Williams and wife Karen, her sister Rosemary Rose, her stepchildren, Gilbert M. Smith III, Angele Vonderpool and Dwana Smith. Other survivors include her many grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and loving friend Tami Andrews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Purple Heart Foundation and Wounded Warriors.

Mercedes has left such an impression on all those who knew her and loved her. She will be missed but never forgotten…”Like ocean waves crashing against the shore, the memories remain long after this goodbye.”