Virginia Ellen Smotherman

Virginia Ellen Smotherman, daughter of the late Flora and Grady Smotherman, was the youngest of five girls. Born in Mansfield, Ohio on November 20, 1928, she passed away on March 10, 2026, at the age of 97. An independent woman long before it was common, Virginia never married and devoted her life to serving others with a generous and steadfast heart.

She graduated from Nyack College in New York in 1951 and later completed language studies at Wayne State University and at L'Alliance and La Sorbonne in Paris. After serving for five years at a Christian and Missionary Alliance church in Detroit, she traveled to Gabon, Africa, as a missionary. There she gave herself fully to helping others place their faith in Christ. Her early work involved administrative responsibilities including accounting, budgeting, and regulatory reporting. She later moved into field missions, an uncommon role for a single woman at the time. Accompanied by her pet monkey, she translated the Bible, trained lay pastors, and mentored three fellow missionaries. During her time in Africa she suffered severe burns yet experienced a remarkable healing that astonished her village.

Upon returning to the United States, Virginia managed the bookstore at Simpson Bible College in San Francisco while completing formal accounting studies at Golden Gate University. She later worked in private-sector accounting and served part-time as a Level 3 and International tax specialist with H&R Block. Known affectionately as “Auntie VA” or “Grandma” to many, she held a special place in her heart for international students. She hosted dinners at her favorite Chinese restaurants, organized Bible studies, game nights, and coastal hikes, and welcomed students into her home with warm meals and her renowned homemade pies, recipes passed down from her grandmother.

In 2019, at the age of 90, Virginia reluctantly left her beloved San Francisco to return to Ohio so she could be closer to family as her health declined. She is remembered with deep affection by her many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great-nieces and nephews. Two of her sisters, the twins, had passed at age 95, and Virginia often expressed her own quiet readiness to “go home” and meet Jesus. Her independent spirit and faithful heart left a lasting impression on all who knew her.