Linda M. Smith

Linda McCoy Smith, age 77, of Northville, MI, died March 13th, 2016. She was born March 10th, 1939, in Ironton, OH to Homer Claude McCoy and Eva Baker McCoy. She grew up in High Point , NC, and Huntington, WV where she graduated from Huntington East High School in 1957. She married her high school sweetheart, Robert H. Smith Sr, in 1956. After living in the Parkersburg, WV, area for a short time, she and her growing family moved to Indianapolis, IN, in 1963, where she was active in Franklin Township schools, Southport Baptist Church, and wrote for the local newspaper. She and her family then moved to Northville, MI, in 1977, where she resided until her death. Again, she was very active in Northville Schools where she substitute taught and at First Baptist Church of Plymouth (now Praise Baptist Church.) She was devoted to the church's many services including Vacation Bible School. She thought of her church family as her second family. She also worked at Native West in downtown Plymouth for over 10 years. In 1993 at the age of 54, she received her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Madonna University. That same year, she took a trip of a lifetime with her beloved daughter, Lisa, to England and Scotland to visit family friends. She was an avid crafter and sewer, creating beautiful needlework projects, sewing most of her childrens clothes, and making Victorian era dolls to sell at craft shows. She was extremely proud of her gardening and yard and worked very hard to make it beautiful. Her hard work paid off when her yard was chosen in 2000 for the annual Northville Garden Walk. In 2001, Linda was diagnosed with Devic's disease which led to blindness and partial paralysis. Despite having this disease, Linda was an inspiration to those with whom she came in contact. She did not let her disabilities stop her from enjoying life. She loved going to music concerts, going out to lunch with friends and family, shopping and going to church. She also swam every Friday at the Livonia YMCA with the GEMS program. She is a testament to the Christian life and faith and wanted everyone to come and know Jesus Christ as she had. She had a lengthy prayer list and would pray twice a day for those in need, always thinking of others before herself. No one left a visit with Linda without being filled with love. She was a beacon of light to all who knew and loved her. She will leave an unfillable void in her loved ones' lives
Linda was preceded in death by her daughter, Lisa Ann Smith in 2006. Linda is survived by her loving husband of 60 years, Robert H. Smith Sr. of Northville. In addition, she is survived by children, Theresa Woodward of Northville, MI, Robert Smith Jr of Plymouth, MI, Ericka (Joseph) Miller of Virginia Beach, VA, Stephen Smith of Livonia , MI, Catherine Smith of Saline, MI, Paul Smith of Plymouth, MI, and Matthew Smith of Northville, MI. She was the sister of Homer McCoy of Virginia Beach, VA, dear sister-in-law of Margaret Smith of Livonia, MI, and Fred Smith of Florida. Grandmother of Rachel (Jason) Long of Greenwood, IN, Sarah Smith of Ann Arbor, MI, Jack MIller and Kathleen Miller both of Virginia Beach, VA. Great-grandmother to Grace, Gabriel, and Maverick Long of Greenwood, IN. Her cats, Mama and Penny, will miss all the treats she gave to them generously.Friends may visit Thursday, March 17th, 2016 3pm to 9pm at the Schrader-Howell Funeral Home, 280 South Main Street, Plymouth. A funeral service will be held on Friday, March 18th, 11am at Praise Baptist Church, 45000 North Territorial Road, Plymouth officiated by Pastor Jeffrey Noble.Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Linda M. Smith to the Transverse Myelitis Society and Praise Baptist Church of Plymouth, MI.