Vivian G. Smith

Obituary For Vivian G. Smith

Vivian Genevieve Smith was born in Hickory Ridge, Virginia to the loving parents of the late Jack Bernard Gaines and the late Hannah (Kendall) Gaines. She was the 4th of 8 children. Mother Vivian at the age of 98 was the only living survivor of the Gaines Family.

As children her parents would always take them to church every Sunday. She accepted the Lord as her personal Savior at the age of 12 at the Little Union Baptist Church and was baptized in a river located near Batestown Road.

Vivian attended high school in the Virginia School District.

She met and married Irvin L. Smith, Sr. and from this union they had 3 children, Shirley, Linda and Irvin, Jr.

In 1947 she united with the First Baptist Church on Adams Street in Steelton under the pastorship of Rev. E. L. Green. To increase her spiritual knowledge, she faithfully attended Wednesday night bible Study and prayer meeting.

She then united with Goodwin Memorial Baptist Church where she instantly felt at home and served as Deaconess, and faithfully attended Sunday School, sang on the Women's Day Choir, delivering Meals on Wheels, visiting the sick in their homes and in hospitals, and serving as a Missionary.

She was co-manager and co-founder of the Heavenly Gospel Voices. She sang with the Harrisburg Chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of America. Her journey included going back to school because education was very important to her. Vivian then successfully obtained her GED.

She retired from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Health, Harrisburg State Hospital where she worked in nursing until transferring to the hospital's beauty shop. She fulfilled a lifelong dream when she graduated from Ebony Beauty School and received her Cosmetology license and opened her own Cobb's Beauty Shoppe on S. 18th Street in Harrisburg.

In 2013, she fulfilled another passion and became an author when she wrote her first book "The Gaines Family Blessed in the Midst of the Storm."

In the community she was a member of the Greater Harrisburg Area NAACP Branch #2263, an active member of the Harrisburg Chapter of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, the AFSCME Retirees Sub-Chapter 9001, and her local union AFSCME Local 78.

Her favorite scripture is Lamentations 3:22-23 along with her favorite songs, “No Not One” and “I Won't Complain”.

As an adult her church affiliation and Christian walk has been vast. She has been honored and admired by many. Mother Vivian G. Smith has tirelessly dedicated her life to edifying God's word. Her faith assures her of eternal life.

At the age of 98 years, she passed peacefully from this earthly life into eternal life on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at the River's Bend Health and Rehab Center in Harrisburg, PA.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Willard Smith; her son, Irvin L. Smith, Jr. (Sabrina); her sisters, Doris Graham, Louise Martin, Gloria Chavis, and Rita Gaines; her brothers, Stanley Gaines, Francis Tuell and Jack Gaines; her grandchildren, Derrick Hodge, Donette Hodge and Justin Smith.

Mother Smith leaves to celebrate her life and cherish precious memories of her, her daughters, Shirley Yates (Boomie) and Linda Collier (Jim); her five grandchildren; her 14 great grandchildren; her seven great-great grandchildren,her God daughters, Nora (Cyntia)Clory and Doreen Wiley, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Her life will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 10, 2025, in the Sanctuary of her church, Goodwin Memorial Baptist Church, 2447 Green Street, Harrisburg with viewing and visitation from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. and burial in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens.

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