Rosa Marie Smith

May 15, 1939 - August 3, 2020

Rosa Marie (Harris) Smith was born on May 15, 1939 the youngest child of Mack Harris and the only child of (Catherine) Lucille Harris. She grew up in a loving family in Louisville, Kentucky and accepted the Lord at an early age. She and her husband joined Zion Baptist church in 1959, under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Dr. Edward King for many years, Rosa sang in the choir and participated in church activities. On September 24, 1959 Rosa married Dr. James (Jimmy) William Smith, Jr., the love of her life. Jimmy had a beautiful singing voice which resulted in some exciting invitations to travel and sing for mostly religious audiences. He loved taking his adoring wife with him on his journeys. One trip that Rosa remembered fondly was their time in Israel. Their loving union of 34 years ended in 1993 with Jimmy’s death. Rosa never obtained a driver’s license but did not let that limit her mobility or adventuresome outlook on life. She was known to take multiple buses throughout Louisville to reach any desired destination. She retired from the Census Bureau of Indiana. She traveled by plane to spend various holidays with her half-sister Doris Jean (Harris) Smiley and extended family Harriett (Smiley) Barry, Patrick Barry and Kelsey Barry at their home in Chicago. She also spent time with her remaining brother-in-law, Robert Smith in Lexington. Beyond visiting family Rosa enjoyed working in her garden at home or going on the occasional outing with some of her friends in her tight-knit neighborhood. She served as Secretary for the Harrods Creek Senior Citizens Club for several years and relished activities with them. Rosa was blessed with an amiable, sweet personality and her friends always smiled when they heard her calm, “All right!” whenever they suggested an activity that she would enjoy. Rosa loved to watch baseball on TV, as well as other sports, sometimes staying up late to see the end of a thrilling matchup. Early on August 3, 2020 Rosa Marie Smith went home to be with her Lord and Savior. Preceded in death by her two half-sisters, Doris Smiley and Anna Louise (Harris) Gilmore, she leaves to mourn 5 nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, their children and dear neighborhood friends including Chris Bradford, Janet Young, and many close neighbors. Rosa will be greatly missed for her calming presence and sweet, loving personality. Visitation: 11am-12pm Tuesday, August 11, 2020 at A. D. Porter Southeast, 4501 Bardstown Rd., with the funeral service to follow at noon, burial in Evergreen Cemetery.(Due to the COVID-19 we are restricted to 50 people at the funeral home)