Elva Veloria Smith

Elva V. Smith was fitted with her angel wings and went peacefully into the loving arms of the Lord on March 22, 2025 in her San Antonio, Texas home at the age of 94 years old.  She was born to loving parents, Lourannie & James W. Chestnut in Vernon, Florida on October 16, 1930.  Elva was a longtime resident of Panama City, Florida, but she spent her later years in south Texas.  She enjoyed traveling the world making friends and spreading joy wherever she went. Her occupation as a nurse was fitting because of her love and compassion for everyone. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend.  Elva was also a woman of faith and longtime member of the Ephesus Missionary Baptist Church.

Elva is preceded in death by her beloved husband, MSgt Henry A. Smith, Sr.; her parents, Reverend James W. Chestnut & Lourannie Chestnut; and her siblings, Mercedese Fortune, Jerelene Bynum, Cortez Chestnut, Velma C. Moore, and James A. Chestnut.  She is survived by her children, Henry A. Smith Jr. and wife, Naomi Smith, of Denton, Texas, Harry B. “H.B.” Smith, and wife, Pastor Cheryl Smith, of Adkins, Texas, and Marcus W. Smith Sr., and wife, Janice Smith, of Keller, Texas.  She also leaves behind her grandchildren, Jessica E. Smith, Isaiah J. Smith, Joshua N. Smith, Marcus W. Smith II, Faith E. Smith, Andrew Scaturro, Hector Brown, George Brown, Concha Bernhardt , Leonard Brown, Isabella Brown and her great-grandchildren, Dimitri Smith, Marcus W. Smith III, Malakai Smith, Jules Smith, Gwenny Bernhardt, Atlas Bernhardt and Leonardo Brown. Elva truly touched the lives of all who knew her and she will be greatly missed by her sister-in-law, Mary “Buffy” Smith, along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, family, and friends.

A visitation will be held at Franklin Funeral Home on April 14, 2025 at 10:00 am.  A funeral service will follow at 11:00 am.  Interment will be held at 2:30 pm at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.