ARQUILLA SMITH: A DEDICATED WOMAN OF FAITH

By Denise Johnson Stovall

Arquilla Smith passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014 at her home in Dallas. She was 96.

Mrs. Smith was born on Feb. 1, 1918, to Joe and Elizabeth Holt in Maysfield, TX. (Milam County). She was the youngest of 16 children.

Always ready to worship in church, Mrs. Smith professed her belief in Christ at an early age. She would teach Sunday school to the other children. When she became an adult she moved to Cuero, TX. She received her nursing license and became the owner of a nursing home with her late husband, the Rev. Charles Smith.

Mrs. Smith moved to Dallas in 1968. She was inducted into the Order of the Eastern Star, a lodge affiliated with the International Masons. It is one of the largest fraternal organizations and has both women and men.

An active community organizer, Mrs. Smith was a member of the Association of Community Organization for Reform Now (ACORN). During every election Mrs. Smith rallied her neighbors and friends to vote. She was a member of the board of directors of KNON 89.3 FM Radio, encouraging the staff to present music requested by the listeners and public service programming.

Never wanting to stop learning, in 1974 Mrs. Smith attended EastfieldJunior College, Mesquite, TX. She may have been the school’s first student who was in her late ‘70s. Mrs. Smith graduated in 1974 with an associate degree in child development.

Up until her 90’s Mrs. Smith was very active in the church. In Dallas she was a member of Camp Wisdom United Methodist Church, Munger Place United Methodist Church, Glen Oaks United Methodist Church. and finally Light of Love Covenant Community Church.

At Camp Wisdom UMC, Mrs. Smith was best known for encouraging the laity to assert themselves as Disciples of Christ. She trained dozens of men, women and youth to become certified “lay speakers”, preaching the word of God. In fact, some went on to accept “their call to Christ” and became clergy. She also wrote a Christian play called, “The Great White Throne”. It was performed by Camp Wisdom members at churches throughout the Dallas Metroplex.

Mrs. Smith passed away on Oct. 7, 2014. A memorial service was held on Sat., Oct. 11, 2014 at Evergreen Memorial Funeral Home. She leaves to cherish her memory nieces Lola Hayden, Brenda Howard, and Eula Holt; granddaughter Charlene Smith; great grandson Eric Smith; great-great grandson Justin Smith and a host of nieces, nephews, church members and friends.