Ivory Wesley Smith

Ivory Wesley Smith

December 23, 1941-December 2, 2020

Ms. Ivory Wesley Smith was born December 23, 1941 and was called home, December 2, 2020 at the age of 78, just days before her 79th birthday. She was a native of Newport News, VA, but for more than 50 years she called Dayton, OH home. In Dayton she raised her sons, retired from General Motors, and made friends that felt like family. Ivory loved working in her yard, planting flowers and vegetables, but mostly she took pleasure in caring for those she loved.

Ivory was preceded in death by her mother, Mable Hill Pitt Staton, son, Sean Wesley Smith; brother, Joseph Staton, and sisters, Alma Clark and Joan Staton. She was survived by her son and daughter-in-law Ruben L. Smith and Toni Carver Smith; granddaughters, Parker N. Smith and Sinclaire L. Smith, Louisville, KY, siblings, Lillian Beatrice Boyd (Eugene), Hampton, VA; Jean Elizabeth Sevier (Robert), Bethany, Ok; Annette Alberta Roberts (Stanley), Indianapolis, IN; Janice M. Daniels (Wendell), Newport News, VA, Patricia Staton, Clinton, MD; Linda Joyce Morris (Kenneth), Dale City, VA; Gilda Greer, Memphis, TN; Tony Staton (Vernell) Forestville, MD; Delmar Curtis Staton, Hampton, VA; Alfred R. Staton, Hampton, VA; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends who loved her.

During times like these we are caused to reflect on memories that have had great impact and forces us to search for understanding. I remember as a kid on Saturday mornings, Mom would put a song on the record player, turn up the music as loud as it would go, and tell us to go clean the house. She would perform her duet with Marvin Gaye while we dusted and mopped.

In the summers Sean and I played little league baseball, she offered to make the pants for the entire baseball team so parents could save money and the weekend activity could be affordable for the parents. After working a long day at GM and coming home to make dinner, she would then retreat to her sewing room to sew late hours into the night to have the pants ready in time for the baseball season.

Mom would often tell me the story of how she and my dad purchased land where her house resides. In 1975 they paid $3,000 for the land, and as the story goes, they had to eat chicken noodle soup for the next three months. Each time she told me that story she would add a month, so the last time I heard this story we were up to three years of chicken noodle soup. I thought of this as her "we walked 10 miles to school uphill both ways" lesson.

Because of her love, expectations, and firm hand I have become a successful man, husband, and father. I hope Mom knows she did her job. She did it well and for that I am forever grateful. She taught me to value hard work and commitment; she also taught me that after working hard I should enjoy the finer things in life. She did neglect to teach me how to cook, but I have not missed a meal.

Please share your stories about mom to keep her spirit alive.

We are thankful to each of you for your love, support, kind words, meals, and flowers. Due to COVID19 we will not have a memorial service at this time, we will have celebration of her life once we are no longer in a pandemic.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the charity of your choice in memory of Ivory W. Smith.