Obituary of Minnie Virginia Smith

Minnie Virginia Smith was born in Cumberland, Virginia on December 21, 1926, to the union of Ida (Johnson) Taliaferro and Willie Taliaferro. She attended Cumberland County schools, and shortly after high school graduation migrated to Paterson, New Jersey, where she lived for most of her life before returning to Cumberland in 2006. At an early age, Minnie joined the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Cumberland, where she was an active member and played the piano. After relocating to New Jersey, Minnie became a member of the Grace Chapel Baptist Church in Paterson, where she faithfully served for over 25 years, and held various positions on many clubs and committees, and served as the church secretary. She loved the Lord and she loved her children. She was known and referred to as "Nana" by many. She loved to cook, travel, spoil her children, grandchildren, and great-children, and she would never leave the house without lipstick on and the infamous pocketbook wrapped around her arm. Her potato salad was legendary. Minnie taught in the Paterson, New Jersey public school system until she retired. She departed this life on Sunday, December 15, 2013 at her home in Cumberland. Minnie was preceded in death by her husband, Beverly Hill Smith; her mother, Ida Taliaferro Lee; her father, Willie Taliaferro; two sisters, Mary Elizabeth Taliaferro and Ida Belle Taliaferro; a brother, Richard Taliaferro; two sons, Beverly Smith, Jr., and Anthony Smith; and a grandson, Stanleigh Leone Smith. She leaves to mourn: one son, Stanley L. Smith of Cumberland; three daughters, Brenda S. Smith, Cynthia A. Smith, and Lisa R. Smith (Joe), all of Cumberland; one sister, Rita Taliaferro; one brother, Thomas Taliaferro (Linda); eight grandchildren: Yakema Smith (Peter), Previs Smith (Kim), Anthony Smith, Marissa Smith, Michael Council (Kristen), Tonneal Smith (Teddy), Tara Cannon (Eric), and Shanyla Ross; six great-grandchildren: Tanzii Rolle, Addison Rolle, Aleyah White, Julian Lawson, Anthony Smith, Jr., and Eric Stadnick, Jr.; two sisters-in law, Carrie Taliaferro of Paterson, NJ, and Catherine Smith of Baltimore, MD; and a host of devoted and loving family and friends