Barbara Smith

In God's perfect timing, Barbara Smith went to celebrate the birth of Christ with Jesus himself on December 25th, 2017.  She loved and was loved dearly by her husband, her children, her grandchildren and many friends.
Barbara was born April 8, 1936 in Evergreen Park, IL to Walter Shaw and Lee Estelle Parker.  At an early age she moved to St Joseph, MO where she attended elementary school and high school.  She headed off to Lindenwood College and then the University of Kansas where she graduated in 1958 with a BS in Education. Many children were blessed to have her as their teacher in Kansas City, MO; St Joseph, MO; Salina, KS and more recently at Diamondhead Academy in Diamondhead, MS.
Other than God, her family and friends, her passion throughout her life was charity work.  She gave her time by serving in many different charitable organizations.  Some of them include, Meals on Wheels, Asbury Hospital Auxiliary and Salina Charity in Salina, Kansas; United Way, Noyes Children's Home and Junior League in St Joseph, Missouri; Hancock County Food Pantry and American Cancer Society in Diamondhead, Mississippi.  Wherever she called home, she volunteered in her local church and always enjoyed her involvement and service in four different PEO Chapters beginning in 1973.   While in Diamondhead, she also served on the board of the Krewe of Olympus.  Her church experience included First Baptist Church and Wyatt Park Christian Church in St. Joseph; First Presbyterian Church in Salina and Diamondhead Community Church in Diamondhead, where she served as an Elder.
When she wasn't involved in charity work, you would find her on a cruise, working on her needlepoint, playing bridge with friends, playing dominoes with friends and family, reading, playing solitaire or her seasonal travels to Colorado and Texas!
Sixty-five years ago, she met her high school sweetheart, Roger, whom she married in 1960 and they became the proud parents of Bruce Smith of Denver, CO; Shelly White of Lee's Summit, MO and Sherri Smith of Birmingham, AL along with grandchildren, Kelsi Smith, Austin White, Travis St George and Gavin St George.  She is also survived by her sister-in-law Beverly Shipley of St Joseph, MO as well as cousins, nieces and nephews.  Barbara will be missed by her family, her relatives and many friends who were blessed to know her throughout her 81 years!
A celebration of life service will be held at Diamondhead Community Church on Saturday, January 13, 2018 at 11:00am with a reception to follow.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to your local PEO chapter or a charity of your choice.