1939
Ouida
2024
Ouida Jeanell Lavender Smith
December 4, 1939 — February 29, 2024
Lord and Savior.
Jeanell was born December 4, 1939, to Charles and Ouida Lavender in Ozark, Alabama. Her
parents lived in Ariton, Alabama, but the family later moved to Fort Walton Beach, Florida,
where Jeanell spent her youth. Some of her favorite memories were the beautiful beaches and
playing the French horn with the Choctawhatchee High School Style Marchers. Fort Walton
The beach was where she learned to love fishing, and many of her happiest days were spent at
remote ponds in the middle of the Eglin Reservation.
Jeanell raised her children in Florida and served her community as a 4-H leader and coordinator
with the state Home Extension office. She worked for hotels and resorts for many years as a
reservationist and night auditor and often said the night shift never lacked colorful
characters. She worked hard all her life but was never too busy to spend time with her family,
she held many titles over the years, but the ones that meant the most to her were
“Mother” and “Granny”.
In 2011, Jeanell joined her daughter in Greenville, South Carolina, and became very active in the
Peach Patchers Quilt Guild. She loved to sew and found joy in teaching others. Some of the
special projects she loved were making accessible clothing for injured veterans, stitching baby
blankets, honoring servicemembers with the Quilts of Valor, and creating dozens of lap quilts as
gifts to others. Even when walking became difficult, Jeanell always managed to find the energy
to traverse miles through a fabric store.
Jeanell leaves behind her son Craig, her daughter Robin, and four grandchildren, Jeff, Noel,
Sonya, and Patrick. She was preceded in death by her parents, former spouse Samuel Arthur
“Corky” Smith, and her brother, Charles Lavender.
A celebration of Jeanell’s life will be held in Taylors at Calvary Christian Fellowship on Tuesday,
March 12, at 11 am. The family is requesting that in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to
the Calvary Christian Fellowship at 2455 Locus Hill Rd, Taylors, SC 29687.
A private remembrance will be held by the family at a later date in Florida.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ouida Jeanell Lavender Smith, please visit our flower store.
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