Jacqueline Smith

Jacqueline “Jackie” Smith was born on April 6, 1938, in Cameron, Texas, to Lonnie Thomas Crawford and Estelle Crawford. At the age of three, her family relocated to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where she was raised alongside her siblings. She attended Page Elementary School, Moon Junior High School, and graduated from Douglass Senior High School with the Class of 1956. During her school years, she actively participated in the New Homemakers of America (N.H.A.), Y-Teens, band, chorus, the Social Amen Club, and served as Chaplain of the English Club. Jackie was a woman of deep and unwavering faith. Raised in the church, she was a faithful member of Tabernacle Baptist Church in her youth. Later, while living in California, she became a devoted Deaconess at St. Rest Baptist Church, faithfully serving in the Celestial Choir, Sunday School, and Bible Study for many years. In the late 1950s, Jackie married Willie James Abney and relocated to Chicago, Illinois. From this union, two sons were born, Joseph Robert Abney and Stephen Bernard Abney. In 1963, Jackie moved to California, where she began a long and dedicated career with SDS, later known as Xerox Corporation. She retired in 1999 after 35 years of faithful service. In December 1968, Jackie met Nathaniel Smith. The two were united in marriage on August 1, 1970, and later welcomed their daughter, Kymberly Yvette Smith. Following her retirement from Xerox Corporation, Jackie and her husband relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, where they joined Victory Missionary Baptist Church together. There, Jackie continued her faithful service through the Deaconess Ministry, Mothers Ministry, Bereavement Ministry, and the Keenagers Ministry. She was deeply respected within the church community for her wisdom, grace, compassion, and loving spirit. Jackie found her greatest joy in family, faith, and community. She was a proud grandmother to Chanaé Le’Chelle Abney, Jason Romelle Abney, Joseph Robert Abney Jr., and Zaria Giselle Lugo, and a loving great-grandmother to Josiah Romelle Abney and Jaeton Romelle Abney. Affectionately known as “Mee Mee” by her grandchildren, godchildren, and extended close family friends, she leaves behind a legacy of warmth, wisdom, humor, and unconditional love. She also cherished her son-in-law, Julio C. Lugo Jr., as a son in her heart. Jacqueline “Jackie” Smith was preceded in death by her parents, Lonnie Thomas Crawford and Estelle Crawford; her beloved husband, Nathaniel Smith; and her siblings, Camille Jean Crawford and Lonnie Faye Catledge. She leaves to cherish her memory her loving children, Joseph Robert Abney, Stephen Bernard Abney, and Kymberly Yvette Lugo; her beloved siblings, Jeanette Harris, Geneva Ann Crawford, and Lonnie Thomas “Tommy” Crawford; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; her godchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, church family, and lifelong friends. Jackie enjoyed Gospel, Jazz, and Oldies music, especially artists such as Tina Turner, Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, and Lou Rawls. She loved walking, reading, shopping, traveling, and spending time with loved ones. Her favorite scripture was Psalm 100, and she firmly believed that God and family should always come first. Jacqueline “Jackie” Smith leaves behind a legacy of unwavering faith, strength, wisdom, grace, service, and unconditional love that will continue to live on through all who knew and loved her.

Jacqueline Smith

April 6, 1938 - May 6, 2026