Barbara D. Smith (Whatley)'s Obituary
Barbara D. Smith (Whatley) died peacefully on April 29, 2026, at the age of 92. She simply laid down, closed her eyes and re-opened them in Heaven. God is so good!!!
Barbara was born May 20, 1933, in Atlanta, Georgia and attended First Baptist Church where she originally felt called to be a missionary. She attended Bob Jones University from 1950-54 and graduated with a BA in Bible. After graduation, she met Harry Smith of Toronto, Canada at a church in Michigan while raising support to teach the gospel on the mission field. They were married in 1955 and started their family in Greenville, SC. Harry’s ministry of music took them to various churches after Harry’s graduation.
While attending Calvary Baptist Church in Lakeland, Florida, Dr. Jim Lyons invited Harry and Barbara to come to Texas to join the ministry of Lavon Drive Baptist Church. Within a couple years of moving to Texas, Harry Sr. succumbed to cancer and passed away in 1971. Barbara started teaching 3rd Grade at Garland Chrisitan Academy when the school opened in 1972. A few years later, she went on to work as the school secretary until she retired in 2002.
After accepting Christ as her Savior, serving the Lord was always important to her - whether teaching a Sunday School class, vacation bible school and at times hosting bible classes in her home. Her love for teaching was only surpassed by her love for her Savior and her family.
In 1999, Barbara married Charles (Bear) Whatley to whom she was married until his passing in 2022.
She is preceded in death by her parents Carl and Irma Donaldson, brother Carl Donaldson Jr., husband Harry Smith Sr. and son Harry Smith Jr. and husband Charles Whatley. She is survived by her children, Tami Laster, Tim Smith, Mark Smith and Steve Smith (wife Kelly), daughter-in-law Cindy Smith, and stepson Scott Whatley (wife Victoria). She is also survived by 5 grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren and 3 step-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services have been planned for May 9, 2026, at Lavon Drive Baptist Church, 1520 Lavon Drive, Garland 75040. Service will be held in the Hayes Center building. Visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. and the main service at 11:00 a.m. There will be a private grave side service. Flowers can be sent through the "in house" florist, Rembrandt Florist, 972/761-8989, https://www.rembrandtflorist.com, Andrew Varghese.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Garland Christian Academy Scholarship Fund at https://www.garlandchristian.com – select Donate tab - General Scholarship.
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