Lanell Jackson Smith

Preceded in death by her parents, her husbands Clifton Eugene Smith and Bobby Charles England, her sisters Lota Jackson Hughes, Fayna Arzella Lilley, Beulah Kendrick Samford and Mary Lottie Kendrick Weckter.

Survived by a son, Gregory Lynn England, Bettina Massey England, daughter Mary Elizabeth Smith Cravotta and son Clifton Wayne Smith, her treasured grandchildren, Emma Dawne England, Connor Forbes England and Cade Louis England and Forrest Peters Smith, two brothers, Harold Govie Jackson and Ben Kendrick and 2 sisters Lois Jackson Mitchell and Ruth Kendrick Russell.

After graduating from Durant High School in 1950, Lanell began her career as an operator with Bell Telephone in Durant, Oklahoma. She later was married and shortly thereafter moved to Arlington, Texas, continuing her career with Bell Telephone in Dallas in the engineering department. She quickly advanced in her career with Bell Telephone and was at one time the engineer responsible for telephone equipment at DFW Airport when it opened. She retired in 1986 as an Equipment Engineer after working many years in that department; a testament to her dedication and loyalty. To keep herself busy in retirement, she took a position with Cannon Elementary in Grapevine, Texas, as a teacher’s aide assisting, among others, the Special Education teachers to continue giving back to her community.

After retiring in Grapevine, Texas, Lanell and Clifton thoroughly enjoyed travel with her sisters and their friends and also enjoyed spending holidays around their children and grandchildren.

She loved to sing her favorite hymns. She was a resident of Edgemere Senior Living for 13 years, spending those last few years in Memory Care. She was a favorite of the caregivers there for her quiet, easygoing personality and always had a friend in the community by her side. She was truly blessed with wonderful care throughout her stay there. As she battled dementia, her overall memory faded over the years, but her love and memory of her favorite hymns stayed with her as she would sing along every time she heard them playing. Forever loving and loyal as a sister, mother, daughter, grandmother, wife and friend, her legacy will live on. She will be greatly missed, but she is singing her favorite hymns with the Lord now.