Dena Marie Smith

June 9, 2020

Dena was born in Ft. Pierce, FL in 1959. She spent all of her childhood in Ft. Pierce and graduated from Ft. Pierce High School before attending the local junior college. Dena met Roger in the fall of 1977 and they quickly fell in love. After a short time, they moved to Tallahassee where Dena finished out her schooling at Florida State University. Dena and Roger were married September 6, 1980. After graduating college, Dena became an early childhood educator until she and Roger had their first child, Elisa, in the spring of 1987 in Columbus, GA, and their second child, Emily, in Titusville, FL in the fall of 1991. After Emily began kindergarten, Dena returned to early childhood education where she dedicated her life loving, caring for, and praying for each one of her students.

Dena’s desire was for each one of the children she encountered to meet, know, and love Jesus. She invested in the lives of countless children whether or not they were in her class. She always welcomed others into her home with open arms, and not a single person left her home without feeling cared for and loved as part of the family. She always loved to help Roger with his work and minister to his employees. She loved the outdoors, always wanted to be hiking or biking, loved walks on the beach, and loved any other time she could share and teach others about the Lord’s creation. Dena always wanted her life to be defined by her love of Christ and always looked to serve others over adulation for her personal accomplishments.

She is preceded in death by her father, James B. Edenfield, Sr.; mother, Annie R. Edenfield; and sister, Margaret Hunt.

Dena is survived by her loving husband, Roger W. Smith; daughters, Elisa M. (Joshua) Kennedy and Emily L. Smith; and brother, James B. (Lynette) Edenfield, Jr.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, May 31, 2020, at Olive Baptist Church with Pastor Traylor officiating.

Pallbearers were Jack Jarman, Arthur O’Mary, James Robbins, Ken Griffin, and Jed Miller.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Ministry Village at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL.

Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.

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Written by Jane · Filed Under Obituaries