Lilla Alberta Marshall Smith

Lilla Alberta Marshall Smith, affectionally known as “Bert”, was born on Sunday, August 17th, 1930, during the Great Depression, in Due West, South Carolina to Andrew Henry Marshall and Bessie Mosely Marshall. Lilla was the youngest of the 10 surviving children: Ernest, Andrew, Eva Mae, Annie, Bessie, Jessie Kathleen “Kat”, Jasper, Margie, and James. The family held close their Christian values, practicing the tenets of the Baptist faith. Early in life, Lilla accepted the right hand of fellowship at Campfield Baptist Church. Early childhood memories included her Grandfather Jasper Mosely coming to live with the family and her cousin John Stewart, an accomplished pianist, teaching her to play hymns. Lilla continued to play the piano by ear well into her 90s.

At the age of 5 years old and unbeknownst to her, Lilla was spotted by her future husband Truman Burts Smith at the schoolhouse. Truman was immediately smitten and spent the rest of his life adoring his dear Lilla. On August 23rd, 1958, Lilla and Truman married and moved to Washington, DC. From that union, four children were born: Clare Zanette, Joan Celeste, Brian Anthony, and Tonya Danette. Having endured the loss of her first child, Lilla doted on her remaining children with love and encouragement, often providing her wit and wisdom in the process. Lilla extended her brand of love to her four grandsons: Andrew Antwoine, D’Angelo Maurice, Jordan Christian (deceased), and Jasper Takashi. In 1968, the family moved to Suitland, Maryland where Lilla resided until her passing.

Lilla was educated in the segregated South Carolina school system attending Gantt Rosenwald. At the age of 16, Lilla entered college attending HBCU Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, North Carolina. While attending J.C. Smith, Lilla was a member of the Spanish Club, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Ivy Leaf Club, and NAACP. When asked how her family paid for college for her and her sisters, including nursing school for one of her sisters, Lilla said, “I don’t know. God was directing their path”.

Upon graduation in 1950, Lilla began her teaching career in the Laurens County School System in Gray Court, SC and spent 30 years teaching English in the DC Public School System. Twenty-eight of those years were spent in Room 317 at Backus Junior High. Lilla obtained her Master’s equivalency through coursework at the following universities: North Carolina Central, Bowie State, Georgetown, and the University of MD Baltimore County. Lilla valued education and her philanthropy extended toward efforts to improve the lives of others, especially the lives of children.

After retiring in 1995 from the DC Public School System, Lilla was never far from the realm of education. Lilla spent 16 years working as a scribe with Prince George’s Community College Student Disability Services. Lilla also spent time volunteering at Umoja, a DC Human Services methadone clinic, and attending sorority events and activities.

Lilla was grounded in faith and family, putting everyone else’s needs above her own. In 1964, the Smith Family began attending Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC. Lilla was an active member in the life of the Church serving as a Deacon, Trustee, Elder, and as co-Moderator of the Presbyterian Women’s Organization. Lilla’s service at the age of 90 was interrupted by the 2020 pandemic but she was always online listening to Sunday service.

Lilla was a poet, pianist, young landowner, scouting parent, member of the National Council of Negro Women, National Council of Teachers of English, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Xi-Omega Chapter. Lilla was an avid gardener whose spring ritual included driving to Roozen’s Nursery in Ft. Washington, Maryland to buy flowers. Her life was simple: God, Church, Family, and Flowers.

In her last days, Lilla enjoyed listening to hymns, humming when she could, and kept the name of the Lord on her lips. On the morning of Saturday, December 6th, 2025, our Lord and Savior collected the soul of our dear Lilla and took her on to eternal rest. As she laid still in her bedroom, gone from her earthly vessel, she was at peace.

Lilla was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husband Truman, daughter Clare, son Brian, and grandson Jordan. Left to mourn, her daughters Joan and Tonya; grandsons Andrew, D’Angelo, and Jasper; son-in-law Terence Baber (Tonya); devoted nieces and nephews Sarah Pauline Frazier, Harold Watkins (Claudia), Anita and Gwenette Marshall, Lonnie and Perry Griffin, and Wanda Griffin Lykes (Woodrow); several great nieces and nephews; Kim Madison Smith; and all those who cared for and loved LILLA.

The funeral for Lilla Alberta Marshall Smith will be conducted on Saturday, December 20th, 2025 @12 noon at Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church – 5109 Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, NE – Washington, DC 20019. Lilla will be interned with her beloved husband Truman on Thursday, January 22nd, 2026, at Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery in a private burial ceremony.