Gloria Lee Prewitt Smith

Gloria was born in Greenville, SC. Her mother was Ruby Mae Ballenger Prewitt and her father was Joel Arden Prewitt. She was raised in South Carolina until she was in middle school, when the family moved to Georgia then eventually Florida. She graduated high school at Miami High School in 1958, worked briefly in banking before being married to Franklin Delano Smith on April 1, 1960. In 1962 she joined her husband Frank in Okinawa where he was stationed and gave birth to a baby girl, Kimberly in February of 1963. Shortly thereafter, Frank was discharged and they came back to Miami. In October of 1964, Gloria gave birth to a son, Steven at Doctor's Hospital in Coral Gables, Florida. Gloria was a stay-at-home mother and homemaker until the children were grown. After the children were grown, Gloria worked for a few years in temporary office positions including real estate, tax preparation, banking and general office before eventually becoming the Manager of the Texaco Latin American/West African Credit Union in Coral Gables, FL, a position she enjoyed for a number of years before she retired. After the death of her husband and Hurricane Andrew (both in 1992), Gloria moved to Charlotte, NC in 1993 with her son and family for about six years before moving back to Fleming Island (near Jacksonville, FL) in 2000. For many years, Gloria enjoyed Bible teaching in her home and had many Bible study groups that she led and taught from about 1971 until 2020. Many ladies and families were touched by this ministry as she taught others to seek and trust the Lord and how to be ready for His return. She taught the narrow way and explained how to be ready when Jesus comes back - through forgiveness, the work of the Holy Spirit, how to buy "oil" for your lamp, being holy as Jesus is holy and other important (and often overlooked) principles from God's Word. She was a gifted teacher and a wonderful friend to many. She was a loving and caring daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her favorite days were days she spent with family at her side.

Gloria was preceded in death by her mother, Ruby Mae Ballenger Mullinex, her step-father, James Thomas Mullinex, her father Joel Prewitt, her husband Franklin Delano Smith and her son-in-law Michael Taylor. She is survived by her brother Don Prewitt (Longwood, FL- and wife Linda), her daughter Kimberly Taylor (DeLand, FL), her son Steven (Ft. Pierce, FL and wife Jennilynn) and her grandchildren Christopher Smith (Ruskin, FL and wife Samantha and Willow Rager), Carrie Smith (Rock Hill, SC), Henry Taylor (Stafford, VA and wife Tiffany), Warren Taylor (Sumter, SC - and wife Logan), William Taylor (Sumter, SC - and wife Taylor) and Savannah Smith (Ft. Pierce, FL - and husband Jacob) along with a great-grandson Drift Smith and another great grandson (Elijah) on the way (due May, 2024). She is also survived by nieces and nephews and their families - Scott Prewitt (Longwood, FL and wife Lisa and great nephew Nicholas and great niece Lauren), Tracy Smith ((Altamonte Springs, FL and husband Matt and great niece Kaycee Roman (and husband Cai and great great niece Eloise) and great nephew Noah)) and niece Tiffany Prewitt Grindstaff (Winter Park, FL and husband Graham Grindstaff, and great niece and nephew Leighton and Landon).