Juanita P. Smith

Juanita was married and had 3 kids; Earl, Gregory, and Janice Swanigan. She later married Robert Smith and together they raised their 3 children.

Juanita worked as a clerk at Fort Benjamin Harrison Finance Center.

Juanita was a neighborhood activist for many years. She was a member of Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church and the president of Martindale Brightwood Neighborhood Association for over 13 years. Juanita along with caring neighbors organized the Parker-Wheeler Block Club which evolved into the neighborhood association. She was a product of the public school system and received an honorary Doctorate degree from Martin University. While president of the association she was instrumental in several projects within her neighborhood. Juanita helped keep the bank in Brightwood Plaza Shopping Center. She helped stop the BFI from putting a medical waste incinerator in the neighborhood and prevented a large truck training facility from opening in a space that was inadequate for such an operation and many other code enforcement projects that were not beneficial to the neighborhood.

Juanita greatest accomplishment was being able to work with young people and seniors and will be greatly missed.

Juanita is preceded in death by her husband Robert Smith, sisters; Ellen Tanner, Anna Senour, brothers; Irtis Polin, Charles E. Polin Sr., Byron Polin Jr., and daughter Janice M. Swanigan.

Juanita moved into eternal rest March 24, 2022 and is survived by her sons; Earl (Linda) Swanigan, Gregory (Augustine) Swanigan, six grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, brothers; William (Jeff), Alfred, Nathaniel, and Roscoe Polin and many other relatives and friends.