Margie Hill Smith

Her Story

Now I lay me down to sleep. Kind friends pray, do not weep, free from all perplexity and pain I shall not wake in this world again. My dreams shall ever be more sweet, until the time we shall meet.

Deaconess Margie Smith was born on March 16, 1935 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia to Vernon P. Butler and Agatha Odell Lee and was raised by her Aunt Virgie B and Uncle Joseph Hill. Margie got her wings on January 26, 2023 when God called her home at JFK Hartwyck Rehabilitation Center, Plainfield, New Jersey. She accepted Christ at any early age and became a member of Chapel Grove UCC in Windsor, VA. After moving to Hoboken, New Jersey in 1957, Margie united with Mount Olive Baptist Church where she served on the Deaconess Ministry, Flower Ministry and altogether a faithful member of Mount Olive Baptist Church. She loved her church family and enjoyed the strong fellowship that was built.

Deaconess Smith received her formal education in Isle of Wight County where she met her husband Roshell in the third grade (he affectionately called her “Eyes and the Avon Lady”). They were childhood sweethearts and were united in Holy Matrimony in 1952. To this union two children were born, Hortense R. Coe and Keith D. Smith. She sold Avon Products for over 40 years working her way up to an Assistant Manager to Joan Aponte at the Bayonne, NJ Office. She ran a daycare service out of her home for over ten years raising a lot of the families’ children and the neighborhood children. She had a love for children, and they all loved her back. She was a member and Treasurer of the Just Sisters Book Club Inc. for many years although she never really read the books she enjoyed the Sisterhood, the trips, and the eats at the meetings. She was gentle, giving, kind-hearted, soft but strong, especially when it came to her family. Her children and grandchildren were her world. She loved being with them, hanging out and eating pizza. When the great Grands came over it was always “Pizza Night “Grandma. She always loved her Virginia family and would look forward to making the trips, especially during the holidays where there would be fun, food and lots of love shared. Spending time with family was her most cherished moments.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Vernon P. Butler and Agatha Odell Lee, Joseph and Virgie Hill, her loving husband Roshell Smith of 52 years, brothers; Alton Hill and John W. Hill, Sisters: Edna Hill and Bernice Nelson and son-in-law Wesley Coe.

She leaves to cherish her memory, daughter Hortense R. Coe, Plainfield, NJ, son Keith D. (Delores) Smith Jersey City, NJ, granddaughters; Diondra (Angel) Matos. Bloomfield, NJ, Generra (Joseph) Favors, Clifton, NJ; Great grandchildren, Navene, Nylah and Lil Angel Matos; four sisters, Udessa Liggins, Windsor, VA, Julia B. Liggins (Eddie) Windsor, VA, Iris Lee Knight, Norfolk, VA and Veronica Williams, Wayne, NJ; one brother Version R. (Barbara) Butler, Norfolk, VA; two brothers in law, Benjamin F (Young Suk) Smith, Monterey. CA and Willie (Jannetta) Smith, East Orange, NJ; three close friends, Iola Holliday, Jessie Williams and Delo res Lockett; her adopted daughter, Wendy Shivers, her caretakers Pamela Alston and Patricia Gonzalez as well as a host of nieces, nephews cousins, other relatives and her beloved church family.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held 12pm Friday, February 10, 2023 at Chapel Grove U.C.C., 7366 W Blackwater Rd. Windsor, VA 23487. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Viewing will take place two hours prior to the service at the church from 10am-12pm. Please keep the Smith Family in your thoughts and prayers.