JoNell Pair Smith

JoNell was born on March 2, 1929, in Mexia, Texas to James Pair and Anice James. When she was a young girl, her family moved to Waco where she attended Waco High School and played in the school band. In 1946, JoNell married William “Lloyd” Smith, and in 1947, she had her only child, Gary. She lived in Waco until 1993, when she and her husband moved to Conroe to retire. After the death of her son, Gary, in 2017, JoNell moved to Centerville to live near her sister Nelda and brother-in-law Charles.

JoNell became a Christian in 1950, and dedicated the rest of her life to serving the Lord. She was a woman of immense faith and was blessed with great spiritual wisdom and knowledge of the Word of God. She was a member of Faith Tabernacle in Waco for a number of years and attended many churches throughout her life. She also taught bible studies and attended many Christian conferences. Later in life, JoNell spent several months in service to the Lord in Israel with friends Homer and Ruby Owen. She truly lived for Jesus and shared her faith with all whom she met. Any time she was faced with difficulty or tragedy in life, JoNell always turned to Romans 8:31, the scripture that led her to Christ in 1950- “If God is for us, who can be against us.”

JoNell is preceded in death by her husband Lloyd, son Gary, brother James Pair, and sister Wanda Weaver. She is survived by her granddaughters Jennifer and Stephanie Smith, sister Nelda Barnes and brother-in-law Charles, sister Betty Vawters and brother-in-law Joe, sister Patsy Hughes, sister-in-law Bobbie Blankenstein, many nieces and nephews, and her loving canine companion, Ginger.

JoNell was laid to rest next to her husband and son in Rosemound Cemetery in Waco on Friday, April 24, 2020.