Jonell Smith

Jonell Jody Tatum Smith LUBBOCK- On March 30, Jody, 66, of Lubbock, took the hand of Jesus and walked into an eternity of love and peace. She had completed her assignment of glorifying Jesus as a faithful and courageous warrior fighting pancreatic cancer in His strength. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at Oakwood Baptist Church, 6002 Ave. U, Lubbock, with Rev. Marcus Murphy officiating. Arrangements are by Hammons Funeral Home in Littlefield, Texas. Jody was born Sept. 23, 1946 in Big Spring, Texas to Forbes and Nell Vandiver Tatum, who preceded her in death. She grew up in Littlefield, Texas and later graduated from Baylor University with a degree in Library Science. After working at the Arlington Public Library for a few years, she finished her career at the Lubbock Public Library after 20+ years of service. She loved flower arranging and decorating her home, and was a good, true friend to many. She especially enjoyed any time spent with her nieces and nephew as they grew up. Jody was an active, joyful member of Oakwood Baptist Church where she enjoyed worshipping her Savior. Her church family was so faithful in loving her and praying for her during her illness. She received such comfort and peace from her church family. Jody leaves behind her best friend and husband of almost 41 years, Randy Smith; her brother, Gary Tatum and wife Frankie; and her sister, Suzann Tatum Wells. She also leaves nieces, Gaylynn Driver, Jennifer Wells, Lindsay McMahan and Anne Christian, as well as nephew, Mark Tatum. The family gratefully acknowledges the skilled and compassionate care administered by Drs. Robert Wolff and Jeffrey E. Lee of MD Anderson, Drs. Jennifer T. Wells, Scott Celenski, Cedric Spak, Stephanie Houke and Katheryn Shaw and their associates of Baylor Medical Center in Dallas and Dr. Evarado Cobos of University Medical Center of Lubbock. We are especially thankful for all the nurses and nurses aids that attended to us so well.