Vina Crews Smith

Vina Mae Crews Smith, 81, died Wednesday morning, July 17th, 2024, at her home in Crestview, Florida after a long battle with dementia and heart disease.

Vina Mae Crews Smith was born in Folkston, Georgia September 25, 1942, to Neil Loren and Sindie Estell Crews.  She moved to Jacksonville where she graduated from Andrew Jackson High School. She attended Tennessee Temple University, graduating with a degree in Education.  Vina applied her passion for teaching children during a 40-year career in education. She taught at every grade level.  She taught at Dade Christian, Hallandale Elementary, Keswick Christian, Heritage Christian, and Keystone Heights Elementary.  Her family calculated that over 1,000 students experienced her classroom magic. Some students trembled in August at being assigned to her strict classroom but fell in love with her animated methods of explaining curriculum. Her best advice to parents was read, read, read to their children. Vina had a way of quieting a noisy lunchroom with “that teacher look.” Her family is aware that she is perhaps silently correcting the grammar of this obituary.

After she retired, she enjoyed travelling with her husband of 58 years.  They went to Alaska and Hawaii and places in between. They went by train, by boat, and by plane. They got to watch their grandsons grow. Her grandsons were the joy of her life.  As dementia stole Vina’s short-term memories, stories of travelling with her grandsons looped endlessly and brought a smile to her face.  The last years of her life were filled with laughter, dinners, and games with friends. She was a deaf interpreter for First Baptist Church of Crestview.

Vina was preceded in death by her parents, Neil and Sindie Crews, her brother Roy Ernest Crews, D.C., and her grandson Joshua Aaron Smith. Vina is survived by her husband Nick Smith, a son Maj. Jeffrey Smith, USAF, Ret. (Nancy), a daughter Gwendolyn Pitts (Phillip), and three grandsons: Phillip Gavin Pitts II, Lokahi Jason Ikaika Smith, and Caleb Jeffrey Koa Smith.

Vina’s family would like to say how grateful they are for the help of Emerald Coast Hospice and especially Heather who guided them in Vina’s personal care.

A time of visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 from 10:00-11:00 am at First Baptist Church of Crestview with the funeral service starting at 11:00, with Pastor Stan Lewis officiating.

Instead of flowers, please consider donating to: Emerald Coast Hospice https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/GentivaFoundation/GHS.html

First Baptist Church Building Fund https://www.fbcew.org/give

Arrangements are entrusted to Whitehurst Powell Funeral Home in Crestview. Guest book and condolences are available online at www.whitehurstpowellfuneralhome.com

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