Martha Bernice Small- Smith who was affectionately referred to as (Mother Smith) was born to the late Oliver and Roberta Small in Plymouth, North Carolina on September 11, 1922. After a short illness, she passed peacefully at home on June 23, 2019. All six of her brothers and sisters have preceded her in death.

Mother Smith was raised in Portsmouth, VA and was educated in the Portsmouth Public School System. In 1942, she was joined in holy matrimony with the late Luther Smith Sr. and through this union, she had four children: Luther Smith Jr. (deceased), Gloria Jean Smith-Knight, Frank O. Smith Sr. (Cynthia) and Valarie P. Smith-Clark (Daniel). She also raised her niece, Delores (Jackie) Pocknett, as her daughter.

Mother Smith was a devout Christian and a prayer warrior. She accepted Christ at the age of 22 when she was a member of the 3rd Baptist Church in Portsmouth, VA. She later became a member of the First Church of Deliverance. After moving from Portsmouth, VA to Washington D.C., Mother Smith became a member of the Greater Blood Ministries Church of God in Christ where she worshipped and served faithfully as church mother. She was later emeritized as church mother and the mantle was passed to her daughter. Mother Smith had great passion for mission and gave to many charitable organizations. A pantry closed at her church was established in her name.

Throughout her life she was a strong believer and a hard working servant of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Up until the age of 86, she was an active Missionary visiting the nursing home to offer prayer, teaching and spiritual support for the aged and sick. She and her prayer partner, Eudell Williams, were faithful to early morning prayer for many years. She truly believed that God answers prayers, she trusted in the word of God and she walked by faith and not by sight.

Mother Smith loved the Lord, her family and her job. She was employed as a nurse at the old Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C. There she worked and retired after 42 years of service. It was said that she was dependable and only missed 2 days of work. She would do anything, almost, to get you to carry and pick her up from work. There are witnesses to this fact. A year before she retired, Mother Smith received her driving license and bought a car.

Mother Smith leaves behind to cherish her memory and carry on her legacy, four of her five children, Delores (Jackie) Pocknett, Gloria Jean Knight, Frank O. Smith and Valarie P. Clark. Luther Smith Jr. preceded her in death; sister-in-law, Geneva (Eva) Small. She had 13 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 17 great-great- grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.