Louise (Williford) Smith

Louise Williford Smith passed away Tuesday, March 18th 2025, at her home surrounded by her loving family.  Born 12/29/1943 to Joseph Alton Williford and Annie Lou Wise, Louise was their third child.  Her brothers, Luther David “Pete” and Thomas Alton “Tommy”, loved her beyond measure just as she loved them.  Rather than refer to her as Louise, the family called her “Sister”.  To her many nieces and nephews along with the Newton Grove community she was known simply as “Aunt Lou”.  By her side most of her life was her loving, devoted husband, Jimmie E. Smith.  The two were married February 19th, 1966, and shared a lifetime of love together.

Louise and Jimmie were an inseparable, perfect pairing as Jimmie was patient and relaxed, while Louise tended to stay on the go, and worried “just a tad bit” more about everything.  They did everything together from work to square dancing, to travel, to visiting shopping malls and flea markets, to catering, where Louise baked the cake squares and Jimmie decorated them.  They loved to share a meal together, especially with close friends, though 99.9999% of every meal had to consist of chicken in some form for Louise.  Louise and Jimmie were ever present in the lives of all their nieces and nephews.

Louise, a licensed hairdresser, practiced her craft early on in their marriage.  She probably gave every niece and nephew for two generations their first haircut.  She and Jimmie also operated a grocery store on the circle in Newton Grove for many years, giving many teenagers their first jobs.  Louise then began working with her brother, Tommy, at Newton Grove Drug.  She was known as “Aunt Lou” to all the customers she served for over thirty years at Newton Grove Drug.  “Aunt Lou” was always willing to share a recipe, a cake, a kind word, a funny story, and her infectious laughter.  Louise was a devoted caregiver to her mother, Annie, until her death in 1995.  She loved to travel with her sister-in-law Janie, particularly to Myrtle Beach to shop the outlet malls.  Louise and Jimmie loved to visit the mountains, especially Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.  Though she saw Pigeon Forge more than every Mayor of Pigeon Forge has seen Pigeon Forge, she was always ready to go.  A favorite quote of hers was “I’d love to see Pigeon Forge just one more time…”

Louise was known as a devoted worker at Newton Grove Baptist Church for any function, whether it was homecoming, vacation bible school, a fundraiser, a shower, a children’s program, or a death in the church.  Louise was known to bring enough delicious food each year at homecoming to feed roughly half the church on her own. 

Though she never physically endured childbirth, “Aunt Lou” experienced the birth of all her children and their children…her nieces and nephews:  David, Al, Bradley, Terra, Tina, Boyd, Laura, and Joey.  “Aunt Lou” was instrumental in shaping each of their lives and their families today.  One of her proudest roles in life was being the babysitter for two generations of her family.

Louise is survived by her loving husband, Jimmie Smith, brothers Thomas and Luther David “Pete” (Norma), special brother-in-law, Shelton Johnson, nieces and nephews: David & Al Williford, Terra Rouse (Bo), Tina Garnett (JJ), Boyd Johnson (April), Joey Williford (Robin), and Laura Jo Williford along with all their children.

A celebration of her life will be held at Newton Grove Baptist Church on Saturday, March 22nd, 2025 with family receiving friends from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.  The funeral service will immediately follow the visitation beginning at 3:00 PM.  She will be laid to rest at Hillcrest Cemetery, Hobbton Highway in Newton Grove.  In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Newton Grove Baptist Church to the attention of Loretta G. Barefoot, 650 Grimes Rd., Faison, NC 28341.

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