Olivia Steele Smith, 87, passed away at St. Joseph Hospital on Friday, July 31, 2015. She was born on December 10, 1927 to tile late Thomas and Bessie Steele in Whitehall, Alabama. She was the wife of Eldon R. Smith, Sr. who preceded her in death in 1997. From this union she was blessed with two children, Donnise Anita Epps and Eldon R. Smith Jr. and one adopted daughter Pat Marie Clark. Mrs. Smith was raised in White Hall, Alabama by her aunts after the passing of her mother at five years old. She moved to Dayton, Ohio to obtain a better education. She graduated from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and during her lifetime she attended the University of Dayton College and Sinclair Community College. After graduating she worked as an insurance agent with Mammotfi Life Insurance Company which was one of the first black owned insurance companies. Mrs. Smith was later employed by General Motors where she later retired in 1993. Once she moved to Dayton, Ohio she joined Corinthian Baptist Church where she was an active member until her illness. She was best known for her work with the sick and shut in. It was a great joy to her to create and design her own cards to send out. Here concern was to lift the spirits of others. Mrs. Smith was also very active in her community. She served on the Board of Directors of the Regional Transit Authority and president of the Paul Laurence Dunbar Historical Society. She served on the Election Board and was able to attend the inauguration of President Carter and President Clinton. In addition, she was a volunteer at the Dayton Art Institute. After she retired, Mrs. Smith traveled extensively. She has been to Paris, France, the Caribbean Islands, Cancun, the Dominican Republic and many island cruises. Mrs. Smith was a very kind and considerate woman who taught her family the importance of trusting the Lord. She would always say "the Lord has taken care of me all my life and he is an awesome God". Left to cherish her memory are: her aunt Dorothy McKenzie (Birmingham, AI), her children, Donnise Epps (Lonnie), Pat Clark, Eldon Smith, Jr., grandchildren, Duane T. McGuire Sr. (Kenya) John M. Wills (Christy), Joseph K. Wills, great-grandchildren, Kel~ey K.. Reed, Joseph E. Wills, Alissa L. Wills, Duane T. McGuire, Jr., Ashley L. Wills, Kya T. McGuire, Andre K. Wills and Dylan T. McGuire. Viewing Joseph H. Brown Jr. Funeral Home Thursday, August 06, 2015 03:00 PM - 08:00 PM Email Details 2140 N. Fulton Ave.
Baltimore, Maryland 21217 Directions Funeral Service Liberty Grace Church of God Friday, August 07, 2015 06:30 PM Email Details 3400 Coley Rd.
Baltimore, Md. 21215 Funeral to begin @ 7:00 pm Directions