Minister Gwendolyn Smith X

Minister Gwendolyn Smith X

Reflections of Life

“KEEP SOARING”

Minister Gwendolyn Smith X lived a life blessed beyond imagination, a journey marked by faith, service, and love. She was born on August 12, 1955, at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, to Sue Lee Davis and Lacy Crane, and raised in the Austin community of Chicago. From her earliest days, she carried a zeal for life and an eagerness to serve others. Affectionately known as “Nita,” she married at a young age and began building a life rooted in compassion and dedication.

Her pursuit of education and professional excellence led her to graduate from Lindblom Technical High School in Chicago. She continued her studies at The University of Illinois at Chicago Circle, and completed the Chicago Board of Education Practical Nursing Program. She devoted herself to caring for others as a Licensed Practical Nurse at St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital Center, where she retired. Later, she worked as a Real Estate Agent with Century 21 in Bolingbrook, Illinois. After relocating south, in Alabama, her career path was diverse and inspiring. She retired as a Postmaster General with the United States Postal Service in Akron, Alabama. Also, with her entrepreneurial spirit, she became a Mary Kay Consultant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, earned her Real Estate License there, and later founded Gwendolyn X Catering Service, blending her love for beauty, business, and community.

Minister Gwendolyn Smith X was introduced to Christ at an early age, and her life became a testimony of unwavering faith. She was an anointed psalmist, a motivational speaker, and a true praise worshiper—a soldier in God’s army who served the Lord with joy and conviction. In the early 1990s, she founded River of Life Ministries, Inc. Her gifts were used worldwide as an evangelist and community activist dedicated to “reaching the lost at all costs.” She also ministered in Bridging the Gap, and brought the Word of Allah God to the community.

Her presence was a blessing to all who knew her. She was remembered for her encouraging words, her giving spirit, and her uplifting attitude. Families, friends, churches, and communities were touched by her compassion and her willingness to support whenever needed. Her smile and laughter were contagious, and her motto, “KEEP SOARING,” continues to inspire those who carry her memory in their hearts.

On November 28, 2025, our beloved Minister Gwendolyn Smith X was called home to be an angel for the Lord. As a proud and devoted mother, she leaves to cherish and celebrate her life with two daughters, NiFredia Enise Butler (Roger Weatherspoon) and Melissa Jewell Campbell (KeShaundra Blevins), both of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She took immense joy in her one and only grandson, Emory Aiden Marshon Campbell of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, who was truly her heartbeat and joy. Her love for family extended deeply to her brother, Calvin T. Davis of Hoover, Alabama; sister, Laventrice D. Barefield of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; and two devoted cousins, Irene Pruitt Clarke of Birmingham, Alabama, & Hattie Spencer of Chicago, Illinois. In addition, she leaves behind a host of relatives, extended family, and countless friends whose lives were touched by her compassion, faith, and unwavering spirit.

Her memory will forever live on in the hearts of all who knew her, and her legacy of love, encouragement, and service will continue to inspire generations to come.