Kimberly Anne Howard-Smith

Loving wife, mother, educator, and weaver of mysteries, Kimberly Anne Howard Smith, age 55, of Ashland, Virginia passed away on February 22, 2023, after a yearlong battle with cancer. Kimberly was born December 14th, 1967. She is survived by her devoted husband Mark Smith, beloved son Luke Bennett Smith, her mother Sue Howard, her father Jack Farnsworth Howard, her sister Susan Kaplan and spouse Carol Kaplan, and her nieces Owen Alexandra Kaplan and Ellis Grace Kaplan, and many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, colleagues, and friends. She was preceded in death by her adoring grandparents, Vivian Bias and Richard Parker, Marion and John Howard, and her uncle, Kenneth Edward Parker. Kimberly lived in Ashland, Virginia as a child and graduated from Patrick Henry High School. She completed her undergraduate studies at the VCU School of Fine Arts and Design. Kimberly was pursuing her Master’s Degree in Special Education at the University of Phoenix at the time of her death. Her professional life included many years managing print design production projects for Washington DC businesses, museums, and art communities. Never one to shy away from a challenge or change, she switched her career path and worked for the Federal Government with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency at Fort Belvoir, helping to protect the country. After the birth of her son Luke Bennett Smith, Kimberly discovered her love for teaching and followed her calling to become an educator. She began by teaching kindergarten and first grade and found her passion as Special Education teacher at Henry Clay Elementary School close to her home in Ashland. Kimberly Smith was meant to care and educate children, not to indulge or spoil, but to mold, motivate, and to foster kindness to one another. Kimberly's superpowers were her brilliance, perseverance, determination, wit, humor, and her uncanny ability to design, create, craft, and decorate her 1907 vintage home in the heart of Ashland. She touched her family and her community in many ways, she donated food to local food banks and made certain others continued to contribute when she was unable. Anyone who had the blessing to cross paths with Kimberly knew how fearless and fierce she was. She battled through her pain and never complained. Kimberly’s passing will leave an unfillable void in the hearts of those who knew her and loved her. A Memorial Service honoring Kimberly’s life will take place on March 11, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Nelsen Funeral Home, 412 S Washington Hwy, Ashland, VA 23005 followed by a Celebration of life at 12:30 at the Hanover Arts and Activities Center 500 S Center St, Ashland, VA 23005.