Nellie Virginia Williams Smith

Nellie Virginia Williams Smith, 79, of Panama City, Florida, entered eternal rest on October 9, 2026. Born June 26, 1947, in Mobile, Alabama, to Henrietta Robertson and Peter Lee Robertson, Nellie was raised in Prichard, Alabama, and attended Mattie T. Blount High School.

Nellie devoted much of her professional life to serving children, young people, and families in need of encouragement, structure, advocacy, and someone who genuinely cared. She served as a Residential Counselor and Program Coordinator and later helped develop the After School Assistance Program (ASAP) from the ground up, serving as its Executive Director for 12 years. Her life’s work reflected her compassion for young people and her commitment to strengthening families and her community.

A woman of faith and service, Nellie was a devoted Deaconess of 2nd Mt. Moriah Baptist Church and a member of the Red Hat Society. Outside of her professional and community service, she loved shopping, home décor, spending time with family, and her beloved Schnauzer, Wilson. Nellie will be remembered for her grace, strength, loyalty, encouraging spirit, and the genuine care she extended to others.

Nellie was preceded in death by her parents, Henrietta Robertson and Peter Lee Robertson; her siblings, Jacqueline Brown, Wilma Hunt, Barbara Jean Moore, Delores Winfield, Peter Lee Robertson, Jr., Donald Robertson, and Willie Robertson; and her beloved Anthony Francis, who lovingly called her “Mom” and with whom she shared a special mother-son bond.

She leaves to cherish her memory her husband, Willie Otis Smith, Sr.; her children, Darrell Williams and Melissa Williams; her blended family, Von Caruther, David Pace, Ray Charles Pace, Carolyn Clayton, Charlene Lamar, Randall Smith, and Willie Otis Smith, Jr.; her surviving sisters, Leola Harris and Cary Ivy; sixteen grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, extended family members, church family, friends, and others whose lives she touched.

Public visitation will be held Friday, October 23, 2026, from 4:00–6:00 p.m. at Second Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, 3808 E. 1st Ct., Panama City, FL 32401.

A Homegoing Celebration will be held Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Missionary Baptist Church, 2021 Martin Luther King Blvd., Panama City, FL 32401, with Pastor Leslie Rawlis officiating.

She will be entombed at the Garden of Memories Cemetery, 4035 E. 15th St., Panama City, FL 32404. A reception will follow in the fellowship hall at Second Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church following the entombment.

Arrangements are entrusted to Christian Memorial Funeral Home, 5441 Cooper Street, Graceville, FL 32440, 850-263-6834.

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