Julia (Cunnigham) Smith

The Managment and Support Staff regretfully annnounce the death of Mrs. Julia Cunningham Smith,87, of  6804 Becky Court  Columbia, South Carolina.  Mrs. Smith departed this earthly life on Friday, November 6, 2015 at her residence. 

Funeral Services will be  held Thursday, November 12, 2015, 12:00 Noon at Zion Canaan Baptist Church 7820 Farrow Road, Columbia, South Carolina.

Entombment will be held in Memorial Gardens of Columbia  9301 Wilson Blvd. Columbia, South Carolina.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home 270 N. Dogwood Ave. Ridgeway, South Carolina 29130 Wednesday, November 11, 2015, 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. 

Mrs. Julia Cunningham Smith, was born in Ridgeway, South Carolina on January 6, 1928, the daughter of the late William P. and Ammie Graves Cunningham.  She departed this earthly life November 6, 2015 at her home in Columbia, South Carolina.

She was educated in the public schools of Fairfield County and married the late James B. Smith, Sr. of Ridgeway, South Carolina.  They were blessed with eight children, one of which preceded them in death, James Smith, Jr.

At an early age, Julia received Christ as her Savior and was baptized at Antioch Baptist Church in Ridgeway, South Carolina.  She later became a member of Zion Canaan Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina and was an active member of the jubilee choir, Zion Canaan Missionary Circle, and Missionary Circle #4 for many faithful years.  Later in life, she returned to her home church in Ridgeway, South Carolina.     

Julia was employed by the South Carolina Department of Mental Health and retired after 34 years of service.  Her dedicated work in the area of mental health has motivated a number of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to pursue careers in the healthcare fields. 

She has been an exceptional mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and loyal friend always doing whatever was needed to meet the needs of her family and friends.  She not only cared for her family, but others as well.  Her home was never empty, it was an anchor for family and friends on Sundays and holidays.  She made sure we as a family bonded, she coordinated the family reunion and cooked and baked for days to ensure we had enough cakes and pies for family members local and from a distance to enjoy. Family unity was very important to mom and she made sure we gathered annually at the Cunningham Gathering until her health declined.

Left to cherish fond and loving memories of her, is her son, Carl (Georgia) Smith of Lugoff, SC; six daughters Brenda (Leo) Murphy, Bessie S. Rankin, Priscilla Smith, Sharion (Anthony) Bell, Latarshia (Cephas) Wilson and Mary A. Smith, all of Columbia, SC; one sister Gracie C. Bell of Blythewood, SC; one brother, Robert Shannon (Dorothy) Cunningham of Columbia, SC; four sisters-in-law, Priscilla Golphin of Philadelphia, PA, Gracie Belton of Washington, DC, Lula Cunningham of Ridgeway, SC and Annie Ruth Cunningham of Columbia, SC; 13 grandchildren,  29 great-grandchildren; and a host of other loving relatives and friends who will miss her dearly.

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