Naomi Beatrice Hart Smith
Spencer, Virginia and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will never be the same. On August 13, 2022, Naomi Beatrice Hart Smith received her heavenly wings and went home to be with the Lord. Naomi was born February 1, 1938 in Philadelphia, to the late Garfield Hart and Evelyn Jackson Hart. She was the youngest of 13 children who preceded her in death.
Naomi was educated in the Philadelphia Public school system; she graduated from William Penn High School. She was a very lovable, outgoing person who loved to serve God. Naomi was brought up in the church and personally accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior at a young age. Under the guidance of Dr. Mary Richardson, Naomi became saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost. She started preaching, singing and playing the drums at an early age. Still under the guidance of Dr. Richardson, she became an ordained minister, and under the guidance of the late Pastor Lillian MCoy (Sister), she became the assistant pastor of the Open Door Mission FBH Church.
Nay had many talents. She taught herself to play the organ, piano and drums, which allowed her to later become the assistant music director of the Open Door Mission FBH Church. She was the District Evangelist for the Pennsylvania District, she was a member of numerous gospel groups—the Heavenly Dew Drops, Fulton Ensemble, Pennsylvania District Choir, James Cleveland Mass Choir, and Open Door Mission Adult Choir. She traveled and evangelized around the world to many countries with the Johnny Thompson Singers. Due to sickness she moved to Delaware under the leadership of her son and daughter-in-law, Apostles Lemuel Smith, Jr. and Delcina Smith. She also became the elder and church mother of Put the Word On It International Ministries. She later became a member of Walking In The Word Deliverance Ministry under the leadership of her son-in-law and daughter, Elders Robert and Regina Mobley. Naomi was affiliated with many churches and organizations such as The National Christian Fellowship Conference under the auspices of Bishop James McNeal, singing and preaching. She was church all by herself.
In 1963 Naomi met and married Lemuel Smith, Sr. and out of that combined union were five children, two sons who both preceded her in death, Garfield Hart and Lemuel Smith, Jr.; and three daughters, Pamela, Regina, and Reitha Morgan who also preceded her in death. Naomi’s main happiness was teaching and being around children. She loved it so much she became a parent teacher for the Philadelphia Public Schools system, where she worked until she retired.
She leaves to celebrate her legacy daughters, Regina and Pamela; sons-in-law, Robert and Virgil; daughters-in-law, Jackie and Delcina; brother in Christ, John Thompson; spiritual daughters, Regina Blassingame and Lucille Jones; spiritual sons, Elder Aaron Williams and Pastor Clarence Smith; godchildren, Clifton Spady, Jr., Charlene Willis, Alice Eason, Billy Brown, and
Faith Johnson who preceded her in death; 32 grandchildren; 65 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, cousins, great-nieces and great-nephews; and a host of friends and church family.
A funeral will be held on Saturday, August 27, 2022, at 12:00 Noon at Wright Funeral Service Chapel. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. A floating visitation will be Friday, August 26, 2022, from 12:00 to 5:00 PM at Wright Funeral Service Chapel. Burial will be private.
