Anna L. Smith
September 9, 1925 ~ August 19, 2014
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Asheville Butterfly Trail
Anna L. Smith died Tuesday, August 19, 2014, at the John F. Keever Hospice Solace Center.
Ann was born in Huntsville, MO, September 9, 1925.
She is a graduate of Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, MO, and the New Orleans Theological Seminary. Her degrees are in Religious Education and Sociology.
Ann began her career as Minister to High School and College students. She served in this position at First Baptist Church, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Central Baptist Church in Miami, FL, and First Baptist Church, Jackson, MS.
In 1977 she began to serve as the first National Single Adult Consultant for the Baptist Sunday School Board. She introduced Single Adult Ministry in Hawaii, Alaska and also to Asia and the South Pacific through the Foreign Mission Board. She was sent to work in Las Vegas and while there, was trapped in the MGM Grand Hotel fire, leaving her with lifelong injuries after making a jump to a lower balcony.
On moving to Asheville, NC in 1986, she joined First Baptist Church and has served in many leadership roles there including several terms as Deacon. She served on various committees of the church and was active in its music ministry, being an accomplished pianist.
Ann has been active in community activities, including the Downtown Kiwanis Club where she was selected as "Kiwanian of the Year" in 2004. She has been a member of PEO (a philanthropic organization) for fifty four years and has served as chaplain for Chapter AD.
For years she has claimed as family members the parents of her godchildren, Ben and Loren McKibbens, her four godchildren, Kib McKibbens, Missy Roper, Merridy Sims, and Woods McKibbens, and five great godchildren, Steele, Spence and Trice Sims, Loren Jane Roper, and Anne Grace McKibbens.
Groce Funeral Home on Patton Ave. is in charge of the funeral arrangements. A burial service will be held at Lewis Cemetery for family and close friends. A memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church of Asheville on Tuesday, August 26, 2014, at 11:00 a.m., with the Revs. Leah Brown and David Blackmon officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Hawaii Baptist Academy where she served on the Advisory Board, 420 Wyllie St., Honolulu, HI 96817.
My sincered condolences and sympathy to the family of Ms.Smith. Losing a loved one is one of the most painful thing is this world. May you be comforted by God’s word found in Acts 24:15 and John 5:28,29 about a resurrection to life of all our dear loved ones.