Barbara "Nita" Juanita Smith

Barbara Juanita "Nita" Smith, 85, passed away peacefully on March 10, 2023 at the Carolina Caring Hospice House in Sherrill's Ford, NC. She was born August 4, 1937 in Cartersville, GA, the daughter of Rev. J. Albert and Laura (Sanford) Crowe.

After high school, Nita attended Truett McConnell University and Georgia Teachers College in Statesboro, GA. She met and married her beloved husband of 59 years, Willard Thomas Smith (Tommy) after moving with her family to Pooler, GA in 1958.

Nita had a fulfilling career as a teacher while raising her sons Kyle and Cory. She had a second career in sales at Hanford’s and Hills Floral in Charlotte, before returning to teaching at Hickory Grove Baptist Church as a preschool teacher. She cared tirelessly for her aging parents and her husband in their final years as well as teaching Sunday School and keeping the nursery at church. Nita was devoted to the Lord her entire life and spent the last couple of years attending Third Presbyterian Church in Charlotte with her son Cory and his wife, Jennifer.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her brother Dr. Albert Crowe and her beloved husband Tommy. She is survived by her sons Kyle Smith (Kim), Cory Smith (Jennifer), grandchildren Taylor Hood (Chris), Blaine Smith (Bri), Zach Smith, Hailey Johnson (Bryan), and Sarah Smith, her sister-in-law Gail, nephews Burt Crowe (Sylvia), Ken Crowe (Mary) and Jeff Colpitts (Kim) and great nieces and nephews. She also was blessed with two beautiful great-grandchildren, Orion Smith and Hannah Johnson.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, March 18th at Third Presbyterian Church, 4019 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC with a reception following. Nita will be interned in a private ceremony at Gethsemane Memorial Gardens.

Memorials can be made to Third Presbyterian Church or Hospice of Charlotte or Carolina Caring Hospice House in Sherrills Ford.

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