Lucy Hardin Smith

Service is scheduled for:

March 5, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.

North Pointe Church

147 E. Hurst Boulevard

Hurst, Texas 76053

Lucy accomplished many, many things in her life, more than she ever knew. She was born in Fort Worth, Texas on December 11, 1938. Lucy was a classically trained pianist/vocalist who recorded her own gospel album in 1979, called Blessed Assurance. She was the former organist/pianist at Worth Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas for many years. A piano teacher to hundreds of students in Arlington, Texas up until December 8, 1978 when she married, A.R. Smith in a small ceremony in Fort Worth, Texas.

Lucy was a realtor, a broker, an innovating genius! She didn’t battle limiting beliefs about what she was capable of achieving. She was strong and courageous always, never wavering in the truth that God would always make a way!

Having earned two college degrees in Music and Arts Lucy “stumbled” into Language Therapy and began teaching students who struggled with Dyslexia and other learning differences. She was a champion for everyone, believing in unlimited potential in every student who sat across from her.

Today Ms. Lucy is considered a mother to many adult men and women who were participants in Texas HOPE Literacy inside the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Many of them have been released, attended and graduated college, and have been reunited with their families and local communities. Several have stepped into the role of local advocate for their local cities and communities. Others opening their own businesses and returning to life free of the stigma of illiteracy. And it all began with one woman willingly volunteering to walk through prison gates to be with people that the world might have discarded. No one was a discard to Lucy.

Her work with Texas HOPE Literacy began at the Gatesville Trustee Camp for women, then expanded to the Hutchins State Jail, Dawson State Jail and the Bridgeport Prison where she lovingly and faithfully committed to serve others. She was a treasure of treasures!

Additionally, Ms. Lucy's private practice leaves a legacy of college graduates, entrepreneurs and parents, including her own grandchildren, who are now assisting their own children because they know they are able!

Lucy to many and Momma to the rest of us will be missed beyond words, but we rest in the HOPE and the knowledge that her last breath here was her first breath in Heaven before Jesus Christ, the Savior she so dearly loved.

She is preceded in death by her parents Robert and Dorothy Richardson, Sr., brother Robert Richardson Jr., son Kevinn McLaughlin and daughter Tanya McLaughlin.

She is survived by her faithful love of 43 years, A.R. Smith, Jr., a finicky little cat named Tiye, their son, Alan McLaughlin and fiancé’ Theresa, daughter Shawna Rollins and husband Tim, son Jeff McLaughlin and wife, Launa and her sister Ronda Yarborough. Grandchildren, Nathan McLaughlin and wife Yasmine, Kristin Amo and husband Rhett, Josh McLaughlin, Tierney Hubbard and husband Josh, Trevin McLaughlin, Marshall McWhirter and wife Mallory, Zach Rollins and fiancé’ Kelsie and Tara Boester. Great grandchildren, Ariel, Tony, Lucy, Grayson, Brinlee, Abby, Delaney, Jett and an unnamed boy due in August. And the many, many men and women participants of Texas HOPE Literacy who also called her mom!

Lifetime Achievements:

1973 - Arlington Baptist College, Bachelor of Music

1978 - Dallas Baptist College, Bachelor of Arts

1997 - Edmar Educational Associates, Inc., Certified Instructor of Teachers

1997 - Academic Language Therapy Association, (ALTA), Certified Academic Language Therapist

2000 - Texas Governor’s Volunteer Service Award, Texas Department of Criminal Justice

2001 - Dallas Reads, Celebrate Literacy Award

2005 - Texas Governor’s Criminal Justice Volunteer Service Award

2005 - Southern Methodist University, Master of Education, concentration in Learning Therapy

2006 - Texas Governor’s Volunteer Award

2006 - North Texas Future Fund, Appreciation Award

2010 - Texas Department State Health Services, Licensed Dyslexia Therapist

2012 - Jamie G. Williams ALTA Founders Award

2015 - Dallas Branch International Dyslexia Association, Dr. Luke Waites Excellence in Education Award

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.moorebowenroad.com for the Smith family.