Verena L. Smith

Verena Lenetta Corley Smith was born to Eva Derrick and C.J. Corley on November 22, 1930, inClarksville, Texas. She was called home on December 23, 2024.

 Verena Smith accepted Christ at an early age and was a true and faithful servant. At the age of 15 she met and married Eddie L. Smith Jr., on April 17, 1946, at the Corley’s Chapel Church in Red River County, Clarksville, Texas. They came to Albuquerque in 1947 and with this union they had 8 children; Alvin, Dennis, Linda, Elsa, Norma, Trent, Suzette, Geneva and adopted son Bryant. Eddie and Verena Smith joined Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in 1947 under the leadership of Reverend J.S. Patton. Verena Smith served in the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church Choir, she became the president of the Women’s Ministry and became the Mother of the Church.

 In 1968, Verena had a meeting with her siblings to share her vision of having the Corley Family Reunion. In 1969, the first Corley Family Reunion took place in Wichita Falls, Texas. Verena Smith was the Head Cook at John Marshall Elementary School until May 1 st ,1971 when she received her operator’s license from the State of New Mexico to take care of children in her home. In 1976, she opened her daycare at 1224 Walter St SE called the “Neighborhood Nursery”. Verena Smith became a pillar of this community while caring for the children within this neighborhood and other surrounding areas of Albuquerque. She kept her nursery for 17 years and decided to retire in 1993. Even though she retired she still cared for her grandchildren within her home.

Verena Smith proceeded in death by her mother Eva Derrick Corley, her father C.J. Corley, her husband of 65 years Eddie Smith Jr., her sons, Alvin, Dennis, and Bryant Smith, her daughter Linda Walker, her 5 brothers Alonzo, James, Milton, David, and Oscar Corley, and 8 sisters Idabel, Ruth, Beatrice, Queen Esther, Esther V., Eddie Mae, Opal, Eteolia and her son in law Arthur Gee. She leaves to cherish her memory; her brother Eddie B. Corley Sr. (wife) Gladys, her five children; Elsa M. Smith, Norma J (husband) Derwin Price, Trent (wife) Angie Smith, Suzette Gee, all of Albuquerque, and Geneva Smith of Milwaukee, WI; 18 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild and a host of nieces, nephews and other family members.