Deborah Henderson Smith

Deborah Henderson Smith, 62, passed from this life to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at UAB Hospital after a brief illness. Debbie was born in Fort Payne, AL on July 10, 1954 but moved to Tuscumbia at a young age. She was a 1972 graduate of Deshler High School. It was at DHS where she met her soul mate, Arkie Smith. She worked at Tuscumbia Housing Authority for nearly 40 years and served as the Executive Director the past 15 years. Debbie was active on several community boards including NWSCC Foundation Board, the Helen Keller Festival Board, and the Deshler Business/Marketing Advisory Committee. Her family is a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Tuscumbia.

Debbie was preceded in death by her mother, Lillie M. Henderson; her father, Belvin E. “Dick” Henderson; and her brother, Jimmy Henderson.

Survivors are her husband of 43 years, Jimmy “Arkie” Ray Smith, Jr.; her son Chad Smith (Jennifer); grandchildren, Curt Smith and Wyatt Smith; loving mother-in-law, Bobbi “Goo Goo” Smith; nieces, Natalie Henderson, Baylee Mixon, Emilee Nesbitt, Stacey Henderson, and Lindsey Hughes; nephew, Matthew Henderson, and special honorary grandson, Eastlon Brink. 

Visitation will be Friday, May 26, 2017 from 5-8 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church in Tuscumbia. Funeral service will be Saturday, May 27, 2017 at Calvary Baptist Church at 11 a.m.; interment at Colbert Memorial Gardens will follow the funeral service. Bro. Larry Smart and Bro. Darrell Pace will be officiating.

Pallbearers will be Kevin Thompson, Gill Thompson, Ricky Latham, Keith Coates, Danny Henson, and Bryce Graham. Honorary pallbearers will be Tuscumbia Housing Authority Employees and her Birthday Girls.  

Colbert Memorial Chapel is assisting the family. 

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