October 2013 - Page 2 of 19 - Henderson County Now

Obituary: L.C. Smith

Funeral services for L. C. Smith will be Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013 at 11 a.m. at the Antioch Baptist Church in Malakoff.

Viewing for friends and family will be at Johnson Chapel AME Church from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013.

The Smith family wish thank each of you for your prayers, calls, words of encouragement, etc., during this trying time. May God Bless you. (If you wish to make donations in the name of L. C. Smith, please donate to his church, Johnson Chapel AME Church, P. O. Box 542, Malakoff, Texas 75148)

L.C. Smith was the second son of Larkin Smith, Sr., and Carrie Barron Smith. He was born Oct. 31, 1914 in Henderson County.

He attended school in Malakoff for the first year and started the second grade at Lockland Community School. He graduated the eighth grade.

He accepted Christ at an early age as a member of Johnson Chapel AME Church in Malakoff. With over 60-plus years of service to Johnson Chapel, Bro. Smith was faithful to his duties as Sunday School Supt., Sunday School Teacher, Steward Pro-Tem, Class Leader, District Steward, District Trustee, etc.

For a few years, he was a farmer. In the year 1945, he was employed with the Malakoff Truck and Body Builders. This company built truck beds and customized trailers. In 1972, the new owner Frank Lunceford stated to the local press, “L. C. Smith was the sole employee, having worked for the company since 1945 and probably holds a world record for building cattle racks.”

Bro. Smith was a member of the Henderson County Feeder Pig Association and City of Malakoff Planning & Zoning Commission.

He was married to Roberta Trimble Smith for 58 years. To this union three children were born. His wife passed away Jan. 11, 1994.

He was the Worshipful Master for the Star Light Lodge #179; U. M. W. Scottish Rite Grand Lodge, AF & AM of Texas, Inc., in Malakoff.

He is preceded in death by his parents, wife, daughter, granddaughter, son-in-law, seven brothers, and two sisters.

He leaves to cherish his memories his son, Elcril (Ollie) Smith; daughter, Evangelist Alma Jewel Berry; son-in-law, Robert S. Mitchell; grandchildren, Delanda (Ronald) Johnson, Anthony (Sharryl) Mitchell, Rev. Kalvin (Doris) Townsend; adopted granddaughter Cydnei Wells; great-grandchildren, Anthony Quinn Mitchell, II; Shelbi Mitchell, Ivan Mitchell, and Kevin Townsend.

Blood Drive on TVCC Campus

Carter Blood Drive Trinity Valley Community College sophomore Clare Ellis, 19, gave the gift of life Tuesday morning when Carter Blood Care set up two mobile units on the Athens campus. The blood drive will conclude Wednesday, with the units available to take donations from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The units are parked in front of McDonald Plaza at the center of the campus.

TVCC Once Again Named to “Military-Friendly List’

Victory Media, the premier media entity for military personnel transitioning into civilian life, has named Trinity Valley Community College to the coveted Military Friendly Schools list. The 2014 Military Friendly Schools list honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans, and spouses as students and ensure their success on campus.

This is the second consecutive year TVCC has received the honor.

“Inclusion on the 2014 list of Military Friendly Schools shows TVCC’s commitment to providing a supportive environment for military students,” said Sean Collins, Vice President at Victory Media and a nine-year Navy veteran. “The need for education is growing and our mission is to provide the military community with transparent, world-class resources to assist in their search for schools.”

The Military Friendly Schools media and website, found at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com, feature the list, interactive tools and search functionality to help military students find the best school to suit their unique needs and preferences. The 1,868 colleges, universities and trade schools on this year’s list exhibit leading practices in the recruitment and retention of students with military experience. These schools have world-class programs and policies for student support on campus, academic accreditation, credit policies, flexibility and other services to those who served.

“We’re honored to have earned this distinction,” said TVCC Veterans Officer Jessica Jenkins. “We work hard to serve our veterans and military members. Those men and women do so much for this country, and we take pride in trying to give something back by guiding them through and assisting with the educational process.”

Now in its fifth year, the 2014 list of Military Friendly Schools was compiled through extensive research and a data-driven survey of more than 10,000 schools nationwide approved for VA tuition funding. The survey results that comprise the 2014 list were independently tested by Ernst & Young LLP based upon the weightings and methodology established by Victory Media. Each year schools taking the survey are held to a higher standard than the previous year via improved methodology, criteria and weightings developed with the assistance of an Academic Advisory Board (AAB) consisting of educators from schools across the country.

To learn more about TVCC’s programs for veterans, visit www.tvcc.edu/veterans.

Obituary: Carrie Elaine Smith

Services for Carrie Elaine Smith, 31 of Murchison are scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013 at First Baptist of Murchison with Bro. Curtis Chandler officiating. Interment will follow at Red Hill Cemetery in Murchison.

Ms. Smith passed away on Friday, Oct. 25, 2013 in LaRue.

Carrie Elaine Smith was born Aug. 28 1982 in Radford, Virginia the daughter of Kevin Taylor Dewalt and Teresa Veirs Dewalt. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Murchison and was a loving, caring and energetic person; full of life. Carrie would do anything for anyone, especially her children and their dog Buster. She always had something funny to say and always had a smile on her face. Carrie was a loving mother, daughter, sister and friend and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Carrie was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather; Maurice Dewalt and her maternal grandfather; Robert Viers.

She is survived by her children, Madison Briane Smith and Presten Joe Smith of Athens; her parents, Kevin Dewalt and Teresa Viers Dewalt of Murchison; one brother, Robert Wesley Viers and wife Megan Viers of Verona, Virginia and paternal grandmother, Dan Royce Dewalt of Murchison; maternal grandmother Doris Viers of Radford, Virginia; three aunts, Pam Ballow and husband Leon of Murchison; Linda Waites and husband Roddy, of Athens, Diana Booth and husband Kensley of Sparta, North Carolina; three nephews, Gavin, Ware and Kip Viers, numerous cousins and her boyfriend Brandon James.

Visitation will be Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home in Athens.

Serving as pallbearers will be Walt Ottaberry, Harold Holyfield, Israel Castaneda, Robert Holy Field, Jeff Jordan, and Jeremy Perez. Honorary pallbearers will be Thomas Toney, Brandon James and Wesley Viers

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her memory to a fund set up for her children. For more information you may call (903) 675-2275.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home of Athens.

You may light a candle or write condolences to the family at: www.hannigansmith.com.

Obituary: Taylor Nicole “Booda” Nix

Funeral services for Taylor Nicole “Booda” Nix, 19 of Murchison are scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013 at the First Baptist Church of Murchison. Burial will follow at Red Hill Cemetery.

Taylor passed away on Friday, Oct. 25, 2013 in LaRue, Texas.

Taylor Nicole Nix was born Nov. 4, 1993 in Athens, the daughter of Tracy Glenn Nix and Nicole Wynette Ballow Nix. She attended First Baptist Church of Murchison. Taylor enjoyed the outdoors, fishing, riding around and hanging out with friends. She was a loving daughter, granddaughter and friend who will be missed by all she knew and loved.

She is survived by her parents, Tracy and Nicole Nix of Murchison; one sister, Tiffany Nix of Murchison; one brother, Tyler Nix; paternal grandparents, Sherrie Whisenhunt of Caney City; Billie and Carmella Nix of Longview; maternal grandparents, Leon and Pam Ballow of Murchison; great-grandmother, Dan Dewalt of Murchison; one nephew, Bentley Smith of Murchison, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Visitation will be Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home in Athens.

Serving as pallbearers will be Micheal Walker, Garrett Lawler, David Walker, Joe Spradley II, Chris Nemeth, and Adam Jistel. Honorary pallbearers will be Grace Sutton, Ashlee Cantwell, Whitlee Spradley, Brittany Nemeth, and Courtney Westbrook.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home of Athens.

You may light a candle or write condolences to the family at: www.hannigansmith.com.