of Little Rock, AR

April 7, 1937 - June 5, 2018

Cansada Betty Louise Black Smith was born on April 7, 1937. The ninth child of the late Esque and Cansada Levels Black. Bettys siblings all preceded her in death; Theloa Johnson, Esquilla Foster, Etta Marie Turner, William Charles Black, Sr., John Thomas Block, and three sisters who died at birth.

Betty accepted Christ at the age of 11 years old at Union Baptist Church in Conway, AR under Rev. Robert Dickerson. Betty attended Pine Street School in Conway and Horace Mann school in Little Rock. She was very active in school, singing in the choir, being a hall monitor as well as playing in the band and on the basketball team.

Betty joined in Holy Matrimony to Ellis Smith on June 29, 1954 and moved to Damascus, AR. Together they had three children; Sandra K. Smith, Ellis Smith, Jr., and George Wayne Smith. Ellis Smith, Sr. passed away after they were married 37 years. Betty moved her church membership to Zion Grove Baptist Church in Damascus where she worked on the usher board and in the children's area.

In 1957 the family moved to Little Rock and united with St. Paul Baptist Church. Betty worked with various church ministries, such as the choir, Baptist Training Union and Sunday School. She served as Missions President, program chairperson and served wherever she was needed. In 1963 she went to work at St. Vincent Infirmary in the Central Service Department, working with sterilization, implants, special trays, surgery instruments and setting up crash carts. She became the supervisor on the AM shift. She had to retire in 1995 after a knee replacement.

Betty was blessed after retiring as she continued to work in her church as well as the Union District Baptist Association, The Congress and the Worship Committee. She was blessed to be able to travel all over the United States attending the National Baptist Meeting.

Funeral Service will be at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 11 at Longley Baptist Church, 9900 Geyer Springs Road, Little Rock, AR. Burial will follow next to her husband at Little Rock National Cemetery. Family hour will be from 6:00-7:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 10 at St. Paul Baptist Church, 2603 Commerce Street, Little Rock, AR.

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