Velma Smiley

Velma Ethridge Smiley, a dearly cherished wife, mother, grandmother, nurse, and a model Christian servant who dedicated her life to fulfilling God’s will, was born a twin (Zelma) in Mobile, Alabama, to Eugene Willie and Dorothy Mae Ethridge on May 13, 1946. As a child, Velma was called “bright eyes” because her eyes always beamed brightly. When she was a teenager, Velma accompanied her eldest sister, Doris, to Detroit, Michigan, to live with their grandparents, Mr. Edward and Roseanna Logan, where they developed a strong, unbreakable bond. Later,
Velma returned to Mobile, Alabama, to graduate from Williamson High School in 1966. Velma continued her education, enrolling at Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing in 1970. At Tuskegee, she was inducted into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Gamma Kappa Chapter.

Naturally, Velma always showed an endearing, genuine, and unselfish care for others. Always willing to do whatever was needed to assist others, she was empathetic, kind, and compassionate to all whom she met. Her extraordinary appreciation for humanity and her passionate understanding of suffering led her to work at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis for 50 years, until her retirement in 2021. In her career and life story, Velma lived her faith and embraced a servant heart. Her love for God helped her to be patient and persevere throughout her husband’s sickness and through her own illness.

Velma was an amazing, inspiring, and sacrificial mother to three sons. She was a devoted wife for thirty-one years to the deceased Elder Ronald Smiley. As a member of Agape Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Velma loved the Lord, studied the Bible, followed God’s teachings, and labored with her late husband to teach the Word of God. For the duration of their marriage, they were dedicated to advancing God’s kingdom, faithfully conducting in-home Bible studies and new believers’ classes. Later, they founded Issacar Ministries—“Evangelizing the Sinner, Exalting the Savior” a nonprofit organization through which they shared the Good News of the Gospel. COVID couldn’t stop, but changed the delivery method to conference call for the weekly morning Sabbath school and afternoon prophecy classes, until the passing of Elder Ronald Smiley. There will be many stars on her crown in Heaven! To know Velma Smiley was to love Velma. She embodied a beautiful spirit, always humble, patient, and faithful. She faced her long illness prayerfully, never complaining nor compromising her love for God or her family. Neither did she grow weary or fearful in sickness, for she knew her God was a faithful Father and a rewarder to those who trust Him. In her debilitating long sickness, she showed others how to trust God with her emotional strength, courage, and faith to cope with difficult situations and illnesses, even amidst pain.

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