Lola Fay Smith was born on February 12, 1933, to the late Ester and Allie Mae Adams Irvine in Roganville, Jasper County, Texas. She attended Jasper public schools and was a member of the Liberty High School class of 1951, in the Liberty Community, in Newton County, Texas.

Lola Fay married her love, Willie Lee Smith, on September 22, 1952. God blessed this union with three children, Willie Andrew, Malcolm Brent and Felita Lynn. She shared in the life of Willie Lee's daughter, Randa Smith.

She spent her early years of employment as a domestic work in private homes. After her children completed Junior High School, Lola Fay worked in the Jasper Independent School District as a Secretary  to the Jasper High School Principal (Mr. Lambert) and as  a Teacher's Aide retiring after 11 years of service.

Lola Fay was a kind and compassionate woman who loved her family. She was a mother and mother figure to many, including her sisters, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and others in the community who respected her for being wise, reasonable and a woman of her word. Along with her parents, she was predeceased by her biological father, Jerry Forward, her husband of sixty-one (61) years, Willie Lee Smith, her infant son, Willie Andrew, two brothers, John Ester Irvine and Carl Forward; two sisters, Ester Mae Irvine Crockett and Gwendolyn Marie Irvine, and devoted friend of 60 years, Josie McCoy.

She accepted Christ and was baptized at the then New Bethel Baptist Church. She was a dedicated servant to the Greater New Bethel Baptist Church for more than 70 years. Lola Fay counted it a privilege to serve as President of the Mission Society, to be a deaconess and a Sunday School teacher for the Intermediate (Youth) and Women, and she was glad to Usher people into the house of the Lord.

In addition to serving at Greater New Bethel, Lola Fay let her light shine serving as Youth Director for the Lone Star District Association and Regional Youth Director for her region of the National Baptist Convention USA. Believing in being equipped to teach God's people, she attended her local and state Christian education meetings and was a delegate to the National Baptist Convention USA for many years.

Lola Fay loved mentoring the youth, serving as the 4-H Leader for her local club for over 25 years. She was a member of the Home Economics Club of the Jasper County Extension Agency where she enjoyed learning skills and mentoring young ladies to be homemakers.

God graced Lola Fay with a loving spirit to care for her fellowman. Some of her acts of kindness included nurturing her sisters and brothers; and driving her family and neighbors to medical appointments. Lola Fay opened her heart and home extending loving care to her nieces and nephew. She was also a caregiver to several of her family members, including her Mother, an uncle and two aunts.

She knew the value of family and joyfully instilled it in her grandsons by taking them to visit family and friends. Throughout her life, Lola Fay visited hospitals, nursing homes and those who were sick and shut-in sharing an encouraging word and her love for her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Lola Fay was a homemaker extraordinaire. She enjoyed sewing and quilting; canning preserves and vegetables; and growing plants and flowers. Lola Fay received great joy from and was known for remembering the birthdays of her family and friends by baking them their favorite dessert.

Those left to celebrate her life, love and wonderful memories are her son, Rev. Malcolm Smith and his wife, Glenda, Carrollton, TX; her daughters, Randa, Nacogdoches, TX and Felita Lynn and her husband, Rev. Wesley McDuffie, Grand Prairie, TX; grandsons, Jourdan McDuffie and his wife, Koi Eles,  DeSoto, TX and Rev. Jaylyn McDuffie and his wife, Rev. Chelyse, Arlington TX; sisters, Margie Brooks, Paula Tyler, and Diane (Joe) Brooks, Jasper, TX; brothers-in-law, Jessie Brooks, Jasper, TX and Archie Mitchell, Leesburg, FL; sisters-in-law, Barbara Bryant and Bessie Rawls, Leesburg, FL; cousins, Catherine Hilton, Beaumont, TX and Dolris Forward Patterson, Houston, TX; loving and devoted friends, Frances Daniels (classmate) and Emma Lou Adams; and a host of relatives and a wealth of friends.