Obituary of Linda B. Smith

It is with great sadness that the family of Linda Bethea Smith announces that Linda passed away peacefully on April 30, 2021 due to lymphoma. She was born September 4, 1948, in Brooklyn, New York, to her beloved parents Walter C. and Anna R. Bethea, who preceded her in death in 1979 and 1991 respectively. She was also preceded in death by her spouse Chadwick P. Smith, Jr., in 2016.

Linda worked for fifty years in the airline industry and banking industry until her retirement in 2018, but her greatest love throughout her life was for animals, with a special love for dogs. Prior to her death, Linda’s two precious and beloved canine children were Bailey, a 14-yeatr old black lab/border collie mix, whom she and her husband adopted after he came into their yard when he was 6-months old, and Mollie, a chocolate Lab/German shepherd mix, whom they adopted when she was 4 months old. Mollie had been rescued by one of the animal rescue groups for which Linda drove as part of a rescue caravan to transport rescued dogs to a loving home or no-kill rescue where they would be well cared for while they awaited permanent adoption. Both Bailey and Mollie have been adopted and lovingly cared for by Tammy Biggers, another true animal lover, friend and blessing to Linda, as well as to Bailey and Mollie, since Linda’s primary concern was for their welfare.

Linda is survived by her beloved sister Shirley Johnson and husband Victor Johnson of Virginia Beach, VA, her beloved sister Gloria Parrish of Arlington, VA, her very special and loving nephew David Parrish, Jr. and his very special and loving wife Sandra Parrish of Winston-Salem, a very special niece Suzanne Bass and husband Jeffrey Bass of Virginia Beach, VA , a very special nephew Christopher Johnson of Virginia Beach, VA, a very special niece Lori Parrish of Charlotte, plus three very special great nephews Aidan Bass, Nicholas Parrish, and Donoven Parrish, and four very special great nieces Nadia Bass, Katia Bass, Alyssa Parrish, and Gracie Johnson.

We also want to give a very special thank you to Hospice and Palliative Care Charlotte Region.

Please join us celebrating Linda’s life at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church, 3016 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC 28211 at the corner of Providence Road and Sharon Road on May 14, 2021 at 11am.

 In lieu of flowers, Linda has requested that donations be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the Humane Society of Charlotte, Best Friends Animal Society, or another special charity of your choosing.