Quintina Wittenberg

Quintina Wittenberg was born on April 13, 1961, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to the union of Eliza Mae Reeves and William Payne Wittenberg. After William’s passing, Wilton Tate Jr. lovingly assumed the role of her father, whom she affectionately called ‘Dad’.

Quintina graduated from Xavier Preparatory High School in 1979. She later attended Xavier University before continuing her academic pursuits at Southern University of New Orleans, where she completed prerequisite coursework toward her goal of becoming a nurse.

On December 24, 1983, Quintina married Calvin Smith, and from this union, they were blessed with four beautiful daughters. Throughout her career, she held several positions, most notably serving as Administrative Assistant to the Director of Nursing at Charity Hospital of New Orleans. She concluded her professional journey in 1997 following the birth of her twins.

Raised in the Baptist Church and later embracing Catholicism, Quintina remained grounded in her spiritual beliefs throughout her life. Her faith in God remained strong and unwavering.

Quintina’s vibrant personality made her the life of the party at every gathering. She was affectionately known by many nicknames: Tina, QT, FiveTina, and Funk. She had a deep love for music and dance and was an enthusiastic admirer of Patti LaBelle, Whitney Houston, Yolanda Adams, and many other R&B artists. Quintina had an early passion for fashion, makeup, and jewelry (especially diamonds!). She couldn't be missed - her signature red nails and matching lipstick became an unforgettable part of her presence. Stylish, confident, and full of flair, she embodied ‘Boujie’ long before it became a trend. Above all, she was a devoted and nurturing mother who cared for her children, even through her illness.

On the morning of Friday, March 20, 2026, Quintina was called home to rest with the Lord. She was preceded in death by her mother, Eliza Tate; her father, William Wittenberg; her second father, Wilton Tate Jr., and her eldest brother, Willie James Jr. Quintina leaves to cherish her memory, her daughters, Tifani, Whitni, Aaliyah, and Aalainah Smith; her husband, Calvin Smith; her sisters, Julia Ellis (Roland) of Marrero, LA, and Jacqueline Womble (Ralph, Jr.) of Fort Worth, TX; her brothers, Ronnie James of Oberlin, LA, Arthur Wittenberg (Ana) of New Orleans, LA, and Wilton Tate III (Cassandra) of San Antonio, TX; her godchildren, Corey and Lauren Womble; closest friends, Tanya Flint, Collette Smith, and Kim Trufant; her beloved grand-dog, Mufasa; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and friends.