Dorothy Jean Smith

Dorothy J Waits-Smith was born August 12,1942 in Earle, Arkansas to the union of Alma L Waits and Joseph J Waits. She transitioned from Earth to her eternal resting place on Friday, September 11, 2026, at TriStar Hendersonville Medical Center in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

Dorothy accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age and was baptized at Earle Church of God in Christ in Earle, Arkansas. Following her marriage to Dr. Allen D Smith Jr., she became the First Lady and Missionary of Prince of Peace Church of God in Christ and worked side by side in ministry on the west and south sides of Chicago, Illinois. She served in numerous church leadership capacities until relocating to Tennessee. While living in Hendersonville, Tennessee she was under the leadership of Bishop Jerry Maynard at Cathedral of Praise Church of God in Christ.

Dorothy graduated from Dunbar High School in Earle, Arkansas and attended Arkansas AM&N College in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. She spent her career with the United States Postal Service until retiring in 1992. She returned to the workforce in 2010 as a Teacher’s Assistant for the Sumner County School System until retiring in 2020.

Dorothy joined in holy matrimony with Dr. Allen D Smith Jr., on June 11, 1980.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, parents Joe and Alma Waits, and five of her sisters.

She leaves to cherish her memories her daughter, Dr. Wanda Rice, her son-in-law, Udall Rice, her grandchildren, Alexandria Rice, Jeremy Rice, and Shannon Rice, her sisters, Mary Page, Effie Waits-Davis, Verna Whitney-Dowden, and Carolyn Waits, and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends.