Carlita Hargrave Smith

1931 - 2021

Our Mom left us on Monday, July 19, 2021, to rejoin the love of her life, Archie. Mom, who was born Doris Carlita to Broaddus and Thelma Hargrave on March 5, 1931, was the one who brought laughter into our lives, taught us to sing around the piano, filled our life with music, instilled (in some of us!) a passion for reading, connected the dots of our genealogy, showed us how to be married for a lifetime. Never a day went by when she did not kiss and hug Dad goodbye several times before he went off to work. She was a student and our teacher, helping us to wrestle with homework that was over our heads and then on Sundays, teaching us and others Bible truths about God's great love for us week after week for over 50 years. And she reveled in her childrenâ€"Becky (Gerald), Steve (Shirley), Tim (Susan) and Gary (Penny), the one who made her laugh a lot in her last years. She became more precious to us in the days when her memory faded and the ability to do the things she loved passed into history. So even though we mourn her passing, we know she is whole nowâ€"walking hand in hand with Dad again, in the presence of the Father who loves her and has made her alive forever. She left us behind as her legacyâ€"four children and their spouses, ten grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren, as well as many other family members, cousins, nieces and nephews. Visitation will be on Friday, July 30 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Graham Funeral Home, 1112 Kempsville Road, Chesapeake, VA. We will then celebrate her life on Saturday, July 31, at 11 AM at Kempsville Baptist Church, 5204 Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach, VA. The interment will be family only. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Kempsville Baptist Scholarship Fund. And, Mom, the bed was on the right!