Elva Marie Smith, daughter of the late George Henry and Francis Senora Adams, was born on April 26, 1931, in Baltimore, Maryland. She was the third of nine children from that union. She departed this life on August 1, 2015 after a brief unexpected illness. She received her education from the Baltimore City Public School System, where she was raised in the Lexington Terrace area in West Baltimore. During her early adult years, she worked at the Johns Hopkins Hospital as a Laboratory Technician Aide. She later became a health care provider until retiring. Elva met and fell in love with Clarence Washington and from that union gave birth to three daughters, Bernadine Elva, Paula Ann, and Attlay Sarah vaughn Washington. She met and married the late James Louis Smith, Jr. on January 1, 1964. During their union, they became members of different traveling gospel singing groups in and around Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. They were well-known for their voices that complemented and blended beautifully together. She and James eventually both applied for and became Evangelists. She obtained her Evangelist Certification at the Pillar of Truth Churches of the Apostolic Faith Inc., located on East Madison Street. Elva always loved to sing. Although her favorite singers were Mahalia Jackson and Aretha Franklin, she eventually only listened to Gospel music and "The Word" over the radio. She leaves to mourn: sister, Freda; three brothers, Paulvin, Carroll, and James; three daughters, Bernadine, Paula, and Attlay; five grand-children, Terry, Perry, Paula Annette, Kimberly, and Rodney; eleven great-grandchildren, Amelia, Kacey, Asia, Kelsey, Perry Jr., Terrinee, Kyle, Kameron, Jonathan, Khaliah and Gabrielle and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and dear friends. Preceding her in death are Siblings: Arthur, Thomas, Donald, and Delores, and granddaughter, Senora. Viewing Joseph H. Brown Jr. Funeral Home Monday, August 10, 2015 03:00 PM - 08:00 PM Email Details 2140 N. Fulton Ave.
Baltimore, Maryland 21217 Directions Funeral Service Joseph H. Brown Jr. Funeral Home Tuesday, August 11, 2015 01:00 PM Email Details 2140 N. Fulton Ave.
Baltimore, Maryland 21217 Funeral to begin @ 1:30 pm Directions