Grayson County TXGenWeb

The Herald Democrat
July 24 - 25, 2008

Bernie H. "Steve Ladd" Smith, Jr. became very ill early Thursday morning at his home in Memphis, Tennessee. He was rushed to the VA Hospital and received emergency brain surgery. He died peacefully at 1:46 p.m. Sunday at the age of 63 as a result of AVM.
A native Densionian, Bernie grew up and attended Terrell School. Later he moved to Dallas and completed his education. He enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving honorably until his discharge.
With a profound affection for radio, he attended the School of Broadcasting and became a disc jockey. Early in his career, he was at KRRV Sherman-Denison with the B-Bat Gospel Show. Later he joined KKDA in Dallas and became nationally known as "Steve Ladd". At his death he was currently with WDIA in Memphis, Tennessee. He also promoted concerts and singing artists all over America.
Bernie always remembered his hometown Denison, and just last month, he participated in the Juneteenth celebration at Munson Park.
For 2 hours, family and friends will gather at 6 p.m. Friday at the Angelic Mortuary, 1301 Teague, Sherman, to celebrate his life with prayer, songs, tributes, and videos.
The funeral was held Saturday morning at the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Sherman with Rev. Dr. Gahlen Warren, pastor, and Rev. Michael Braxton, officiating. The funeral cortege will journey 8 miles to Denison where Bernie will be buried in the family plot at Oakwood Cemetery.
Surviving are his daughters, LaDonna Odems of Forney; Kimberly Crofton of Kansas City Kansas; and Stefanie Smith of Marietta, Georgia; sons, Tyrone Ponds of Kansas City, Missouri; Bernie H. Smith, III of Memphis, Tennessee; Jarod Smith of Ft. Worth; and Anthony Taylor of New Orleans, Louisiana; sisters, Wilma J. Smith of Sherman and Margaret Moore of Atlanta, Georgia; brother, James E. Smith of Denison; 11 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

Wilma was born to the parentage of Bernie & Mary Smith on October 28, 1941, the first of five children. She began her formal education at Terrell School and later the family moved to Dallas, Texas where she graduated from High School. She also attended and graduated from the Madam C.J. Walker Beauty College in Dallas, Texas.
Wilma later moved to Santa Ana, California where she was employed by Borg Warner Corporation for many years. She also ran a beauty shop out of her home. Some years later she moved back home to Sherman, Texas.
Wilma united with the St. John CME Church in Sherman, Texas for a brief time. She was chosen to be a lay delegate at one of the conferences. She later united with the Community Baptist Church in Sherman, Texas where she sang in the choir and served on the usher board. She was currently visiting the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Denison; as she loved to hear Rev. Alonzo McLean preach.
After working at Texas Instruments for over 20 years she retired. She wanted to remain active and worked for a health care agency caring for many families in the area. She was currently working with her brother, James, performing several tasks, however driving the hearse was the highlight of her career.
Wilma loved life and lived it to the fullest; she transitioned from this life on December 13, 2015, Texoma Medical Center surrounded by her brother James & the health care professionals.
She was preceded in death by her parents Bernie Henderson Smith Sr. and Mary Louise Smith Penny, her brothers Frank E. Smith and Bernie H. Smith Jr., her granddaughter Sheba Miller.
She leaves to cherish her memory children, Rev. Dr. Rayford Smith of Newark, New Jersey; Mrs. Keisha (Arthur) Barnes of Atlanta, Georgia; her brother James (Barbara-Kinney) Smith of Denison, Texas; her sister, Dr. Margaret Moore, of Atlanta, Georgia; 8 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and 4 great~ great grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins; her aunt, Mrs. Nadine Sherwood of Montclair, New Jersey; adopted brother Mr. Johnny Haggerty of Dallas, Texas; her best friend, Mrs. Barbara Moore Harper, of Denison, Texas; and a host of other friends.
Funeral services were Friday morning, December 18, 2015 at Scoggins Funeral Chapel, in Van Alstyne, with Dr. Margaret Moore officiating and Rev. Alonzo McLean, Jr. delivering the eulogy. Burial was at Oakwood cemetery in Denison. Funeral services has been entrusted to James E. Smith with Scoggins Funeral Home & Crematory 637 W. Van Alstyne, Pkwy. Van Alstyne, TX; 75495.