Kia Smith was born on March 1, 1980 to the late Jim and Deborah Smith of Greene County, Georgia.

Kia was baptized at an early age and grew up as an active member of the St. Paul Baptist Church in Woodville, Georgia.

Kia matriculated through the Greene County School System. She was a proud member of the Greene Taliaferro Comprehensive High School, Class of 1998. She went on to complete her Bachelor of Arts in early Childhood Education at Georgia Southern University in 2002.

Kia began her teaching career in the fall of 2002 for the Greene County School System. She was blessed with the gifts and talents to educate children. She loved her students, cheerleaders and co-workers dearly. She worked faithfully for the last 22 years in the Greene, Clayton and Warren County School Systems.

She was a loving mother to her only child, Khiley Palin. Their bond as mother and daughter was strong, tight and true. She loved her with all of her being.

Kia gained her wings on Monday December 30, 2024. She leaves to cherish her daughter, Khiley Palin; her sister Latanya Herndon (Michael Jon); half-sisters: Sheena Smith and Minyatta Green( Elvin); niece and nephews: Ana, Ethan, Monqavious (Ariel), Malik, and Montego; grandfather: Robert Jackson (Marie) and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and dear friends.

Services, Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. from First Methodist Church, Greensboro with Rev. Ricky Cosby, Eulogist.