"For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." II Corinthians 5:1

Betty Sue Johnston Smith, 89, of Baton Rouge, LA passed from this life into heaven on Thursday, November 28, 2024. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 from 1:00 PM until services at 2:00 PM at Hartman Jones Funeral Home. Rev. Philip Guay will officiate.  Burial will be at Adams UMC in Smithdale.

She was born May 14, 1935 to Rawls and Lu Essie Johnston, Betty was number five in a family of twelve siblings.  She graduated as valedictorian from Mars Hill High School.  She married James Hewitt Smith, whom she met doing one of her favorite activities skating, at the local roller rink.

She had two children, Larry and Susan, and always said she had her perfect family.  Betty went on to be a professional lady working in an accounting and bookkeeping capacity.  Eventually she rose to a managerial role for the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.  During this time she served as President of the local chapter of The National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs Inc.

Betty dearly loved being outdoors, her happy place, growing flowers and taking care of her 20 acres in Smithdale, MS. She was smart, beautiful, fun-loving and fiercely loyal to those she loved.  Always impeccably dressed, she had a way of making everything around her beautiful, and was gifted with great creativity, sewing, quilting, gardening and decorating.  Her daughter Susan was her heart, being ill and becoming blind at 9 months old.  Betty dedicated her life to caring for her daughter, sacrificing in every way to make Susan's life a blessing and the most it could be.  She was especially proud of her only grandson James and never failed to shower him with all the love and attention a proud Maw-Maw could muster.  She was her son Larry's best friend and the bond they shared was borne over a lifetime of love, and two hard headed people caring for each other no matter what life experiences came their way.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents Rawls and Lu Essie Johnston, her sisters Mattie Lee Newman and Nevelyn Allred, and her precious daughter Susan Arleen Smith.

She is survived by her son Larry Smith and wife Liz and her grandson James Smith and wife Shelby.

Pallbearers will be Larry Smith, James Smith, Joe Newman, and Kevin Neary.

We love you so very much and will miss you dearly until we meet again.