Sharon LaVerne Smith
January 22, 1942 – September 15, 2024

Sharon LaVerne Smith was born on January 22, 1942, in Selma, California to the late Ralph and Mildred Freeman. She peacefully went to be with her Lord and Savior on September 15, 2024, at the age of 82.

Sharon attended elementary school, junior high and high school in the city of Kingsburg, and graduated from Kingsburg High School in 1959. Sharon met the love of her life, Gene Smith, when she moved in next door to his family in 1953. On December 13, 1958, they got married and later had three daughters, Trecia, Tammy and Tonya.

As a young girl, Sharon was a very talented vocalist and pianist. She was voted to play the piano for her youth group at the age of 12. She found joy in singing at church alongside her friends and family. It was this joy that started the soon to be "Singing Smith Family". After she married Gene, the two began singing together, and by the early 1970s, the duet became a group when Trecia, Tammy and Tonya joined the family's passion.

After she and Gene got married, Sharon worked in a drapery shop as well as working in the kitchen at Roosevelt Junior High for a short time. At the young age of 29, Sharon survived breast cancer. It was during that trying time that she wrote the song later recorded on the 1986 Smith family album "Mountains To Climb". In 1975, she became a pastor's wife, worship leader and Sunday school teacher. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, she worked for Page Funeral Chapel, now known as Farewell - Page Funeral Chapel.

Sharon loved taking care of people. Aside from her own family, she babysat for several children, loving and nurturing them as if they were her own. Many of these children, some of which are now adults, still call her Nana.

Sharon is preceded in death by her husband, Gene Smith, and her parents, Ralph and Mildred Freeman. She is survived by her daughters, Trecia Stegall (Mark), Tammy Anderson (Ed) and Tonya Smith, her grandchildren, Brittany Anderson, Destiny Blackstone (Robby), Blake Anderson, and Haley McKinney (Mason), her great grandsons, Madden and Corbin Blackstone, and her extended family, Jimmy and Denise Orosco, and their children, Farrah, Gavin and Rowan, who lovingly called her Nana.

A viewing will be held on Wednesday, September 25th from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Selma Church of God at 1561 Mill Street, Selma, CA 93662.

On Thursday, September 26th at 11:00 a.m., services will held at Selma Church of God at 1561 Mill Street, Selma, CA 93662. After the burial, a reception will follow at the same location.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Joni and Friends Central California, 1300 E Shaw Avenue, Suite 131, Fresno, CA 93710. Click to Give to Joni and Friends