Miss Willa Smith passed away at Diversicare Nursing Home in Tylertown, Mississippi, on Tuesday, December 6, 2022. She was born October 23, 1927 in Walthall County, Mississippi to the late Newell Booker and Bessie Lee Hall Smith. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by sisters Ellen Delora Higginbotham, Alla Faye Fike, Alda Flo Smith; and brothers John Neil Smith, Newell Booker Smith, Jr., and Joe Lindy Smith.

She was an active member of Sliver Creek Baptist Church, where she was baptized as a young girl, and served on the Silver Creek Baptist Church Historical Committee as well as serving on many other committees. She taught Adult Ladies Sunday School for many years. Miss Smith was a graduate of Lexie High School (as class Valedictorian), Southwest Mississippi Junior College, and Mississippi Southern College. She was a teacher and retired in 1980 after 31 years of teaching. Her teaching career not only included Carter's Creek High School and Belzoni High School located in Mississippi; but also, the following schools in Louisiana: Covington High School, Greenwood High School, and Woodlawn High School. She took great pride in serving as advisor for 21 yearbooks that won several All-American and First Place Awards in national ratings. Miss Smith taught some famous students including Terry Bradshaw, an NFL Hall of Fame quarterback and Fox TV football analyst, and Lawrence Gordon, a famous Hollywood producer who produced the movie, Field of Dreams.

Miss Smith's nieces and nephews remember "Aunt Willa" as a snazzy dresser who was never shy about expressing her opinion which made for many funny stories. She loved watching Fox news and keeping up with current events. She loved her thirteen nieces and nephews and looked forward to their visits. She will be greatly missed by her family.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, December 11, 2022 from 1:00 PM until funeral service at 2:30 PM at Silver Creek Baptist Church, 8017 Silver Dr., McComb, MS. Burial will follow in Silver Creek Cemetery. Reverend Pat Bourg and Reverend Scott Kennedy will officiate. Capps Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Survivors include her sister-in-law, Donis Smith; thirteen nieces and nephews; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.

Pallbearers will be Joel Higginbotham, Paul Higginbotham, Jay Smith, Wayne Nettles, James Hall, and Keith Brock.