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Submitted: 11/21/24 • Approved: 12/18/24 • Last Updated: 12/21/24 • R1548449-G1548447-S3
James Louie Smith
April 15, 1917 - January 30, 2012
DeDe
July 14, 1922 - April 10, 2020
*Lillie Dede Dabbs Smith
of Little Rock, AR
July 14, 1922 - April 10, 2020
It was with great joy that Lillie Dede Dabbs Smith went into the arms of Jesus on Good Friday, April 10, 2020. She loved the Lord and served Him faithfully all of her life. She was born July 14, 1922 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee to Osmond Durant Dabbs and Sara Selph Harding Dabbs. In 1927 she moved with her family to Gulfport, Mississippi. She graduated from Gulfport High School in 1939 and attended Gulf Park College for one year. She then transferred to Mississippi State College for Women and graduated in 1943. In 1945 while she was working and living in Gulfport, she met and married James L. Smith M.D. and they moved to Little Rock, Arkansas. They joined Immanuel Baptist Church and began their life together. They had five children. Being a wife and mother was her joy. She taught her children daily from the Bible and lived her life as an example of what it is to be a servant of the Lord. For many years she taught Sunday School to both adults and children. She helped establish Community Bible Study in Little Rock. She served as the Children's Director, Core Leader, Children's Leader and Senior Leader. She served in the leadership of Community Bible Study until she was 86 years old when she needed to care for her husband full time. In 2009 Dede and Jimmy Smith moved to Parkway Village where they had many dear friends.
Dede was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, James L Smith M.D.; her parents, Mr. and Mrs Durant Dabbs; her two brothers, Dr. Durant Dabbs Jr and Hardy M.G. Dabbs. She is survived by her children, Sara Sue Smith Roberson (Mike) of Little Rock, Arkansas, Dede Mariruth Smith Borden of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, Lillie Louise Smith Hobbs (Ted) of Eldorado, Arkansas, Julia Ann Smith Post (Robert) of North Little Rock, Arkansas, and James W.R. Smith (Jody) of Claremore, Oklahoma; thirteen grandchildren and twenty-one great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held at Pinecrest Memorial Park at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 18, 2020. We will be social distancing in accordance with the COVID-19 rules. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Immanuel Baptist Church, 501 N. Shackleford, Little Rock, AR 72211, Community Bible Study, 5525 N. Grandview Street, Little Rock, AR 72207, or Assembly of God World Missions, Acct. 262771, 1445 N. Boonville, Springfield MO 65802.
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*Obituary
James Louie Smith, M.D., 94, of Little Rock, Arkansas went to be with the Lord on Monday, January 30, 2012. God truly blessed him with an abundant life. He was born in Magnolia, Arkansas in 1917, the son of Parks Mathews Smith, M.D., and Lillie Buffington Smith. He was the third of their four sons. At an early age he enjoyed helping out in his father's medical Clinic. He received his premedical training at Magnolia Agricultural and Mechanical College, now Southern Arkansas University. He graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine in 1941. He then did an internship at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana followed by a residency in ophthalmology at New Orleans Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital at Tulane University.
In 1945 Dr. Smith returned to Little Rock with his bride, Dede Dabs Smith, establishing his practice in ophthalmology. In 1946 he joined the Voluntary Faculty of the University of Arkansas School of Medicine as Clinical Instructor working in the Isaac Folsom Clinic and continued as a valuable member of the Voluntary Faculty and held the rank of Clinical Professor. He played an important role in the development and approval of the first residency training program in ophthalmology in Arkansas. He practiced ophthalmology in Little Rock until 1996.
He was a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Association of Ophthalmology. He has served as a member of the House of Delegate's of the Arkansas Medical Society and as Chief of Staff of the Baptist Medical Center. He was active in work for the vocational rehabilitation of persons handicapped by physical disabilities. He was prominent in the organization of the Arkansas Chapter of the National Rehabilitation Association and served as its president. The Southwest Regional Rehabilitation Association awarded him a citation for outstanding service to the disabled of Arkansas.
He was a loving husband and father. He was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church and served as a deacon. He was blessed by many years in Bible Study Fellowship and Community Bible Study where he served as a core leader and helped begin the Little Rock Evening Community Bible Study. The love of the Christians in both church and Bible Study was a great blessing especially in his later years. He love hunting and fishing and was an avid bow hunter and hunted with Ben Pearson. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Dede Dabbs Smith; five children, Sara Roberson (Mike) of Little Rock, Arkansas, Mariruth Borden of Hawley, Pennsylvania, Louise Hobbs (Ted) of El Dorado, Arkansas, Julia Ann Post (Robert) of North Little Rock, Arkansas, James W.R. Smith (Jody) of Qing Dao, China; thirteen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Wednesday, February 1, 2012 from 6:00 8:00 p.m. at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home (501) 224-8300 and a memorial service will be held Thursday, February 2, at Immanuel Baptist Church, 501 North Shackleford, Little Rock, Arkansas at 2:00 p.m. Memorials can be made to First Assembly of God China Mission, 2100 West Blue Star Drive, Claremore, Oklahoma 74017; Community Bible Study International Region China, 14016 Belle Pointe, Little Rock, Arkansas 72212; or Immanuel Baptist Church, 501 North Shackleford, Little Rock, Arkansas 72211.
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Section 6
Photo courtesy of Annette Shaw
Contributed on 11/21/24 by hawkinsdonna48
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Record #: 1548449