Vivian Laverne Neal-Smith was born on August 31, 1953, in Greensboro, Georgia to King David Neal and Allie Dixon Neal. She accepted Christ into her life at a very early age, was baptized and became a lifelong member of Historic Springfield Baptist Church.

Vivian enjoyed spending time with her many cousins and friends, especially her cousin David-Russell Ruff while growing up in Greensboro. She had a very close relationship with her two nephews Henry G. Neal, II and David S. Neal, whom she helped raise and was endlessly fond of her grandnephew Toot Neal. Vivian loved hanging out at the lake and dining at seafood restaurants with nieces Jennifer D. Neal and Marcy A. Hemphill Payne. She also enjoyed having long conversations with her niece, Kellie Farley on the phone. Some of her hobbies included ceramics, shopping and traveling.

Vivian graduated from Greene County High School in 1971 and was part of the first fully integrated class in the history of the school. While in high school, she also became a debutante and received an award for raising the most money of all the debutantes in the ball that year. After high school she attended Savannah State College. Following college, she became employed by Chipman Union/Bryan Scott Company where she was a supervisor for 22 years. In her later years Vivian worked at Savannah Court Personal Care Home and the Advantage Mental Health Facility.

Vivian was preceded in death by her sister Otelia Stewart and brothers James Calvin Neal and Henry G. Neal, niece: Jennifer D. Neal, nephew: James “Cal” Neal. She is survived by her husband: Samuel Smith; sisters: Faith Neal Hemphill, Gwen Jackson and Andrea Lawrence; brothers: Victor Jackson (Elaine), Stanley Jackson, Thomas Jackson (Lana); nieces: Brenda Stewart Harrell, Haqqah Bint Robert, Anita Cochran, Kathy Starr, Sandra Shaw Kellie Farley (Jerome), Marcy A. Hemphill Payne (Anthony); nephews: Robert Lee Stewart, Jr., Vincent Jackson (Francean), Henry G. Neal, II (Yoshalyn) and David S. Neal (Brittany) as well of a host of cousins and friends.

Wednesday, November 29th, 2023

- 12:00 P.M.-

Watts Funeral Home Chapel

1005 Dolvin Avenue

Union Point, GA 30669

The Reverend Richard Moss, Senior Pastor

Spring Creek Baptist Church, Officiating