Geneva Louise Smith

Geneva Louise Smith was born April 1, 1920 in Yarbro, AR to L.M. LaFerney and Fannie Purcell. She died February 24, 2015 at Pemiscot Memorial Hospital in Hayti, MO at the age of 94 years, 10 months and 23 days.

She was united in marriage July 10, 1947 in Piggott, AR to Shirrell Walter Smith, Sr.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Fannie and L.M., her husband, Shirrell, Sr., one son, Shirrell Walter Smith, Jr., five sisters, Camile Parker, Juanita Brady, Mildred Roberts, Ruby Irene LaFerney and Alberta LaFerney, and three brothers, Paul LaFerney, Samuel Eugene LaFerney and Lewis Allen LaFerney.

When she started cooking for her large family at the age of 13, her father told her to be sure to fill the table. That made such an impression on her that she did just that for the city of Portageville for years. Teamed with her husband of 64 years, she was always in the public eye and self-employed. Some of their most well-known businesses were The City Pig, starting in 1960, the Dollar Store and Town and Country Restaurant. Even after retirement, she continued to cater BBQ meals, complete with potato salad, vinegar slaw and her famous fried peas and sweet tea. In fact, as recently as two weeks ago, she was making plans to start a home-based business called "Fried Pie Fridays".

In addition to her love for cooking, she had a passion for serving Jesus Christ. She never failed to remind you to follower her lead and "be ready to meet the Lord".

She leaves to cherish her memories her sons, Garry (Lisa) Smith of Greenville, TX, Carlos (Reba) Pruitt of Brandon, MS, and Larry (Faye) Pruitt of Kingston, WA; her daughter, Linda (John Henry) Stevens of Portageville; her sister, Priscilla Patton of Portageville; her brothers, J.L. LaFerney of Florida, Claude LaFerney of Portageville, and Don LaFerney of Tennessee; 11 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great-grandchildren; and a host of many other relatives and friends.

Services were conducted Sunday, March 1, 2015 at the DeLisle Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Buck Morton officiating. Burial followed in the Portageville Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers were her grandsons and nephews.

Please send condolences to the family online at www.delislefuneralhome.net