Glenora Mae Smith's Obituary
Glenora Mae Smith was born in Mosier Valley, Texas on May 11, 1922 to Tom Dennis Parker and Gertrude Christopher. Glenora was the second oldest of four children - Tom Riley (Sim), Warren, and Minnie. When Glenora was a young child her mother was stricken with tuberculosis and passed away suddenly. Her father was unable to care for his four young children as a single father. Glenora and Tom Riley were raised by her fraternal Aunt Fannie Farrow affectionately called Aunt Mistis in Mosier Valley, Texas. Glenora’s remaining siblings Minnie and Warren were sent to Berkeley, California to live with fraternal uncle Howard Riley Parker and his wife Minnie Parker. A few years later in Mosier Valley, Glenora’s father, Tom Dennis Parker passed away in a tragic accident.
In 1945, Glenora traveled to Berkeley, California to be in her sister Minnie’s wedding. While in Berkeley, Glenora met and fell in love with a World War II veteran, LeRoy Smith. They exchanged vows of love and married on March 10, 1947. Through this union they raised four children Gary, Brian, Marsha, and Deneen.
LeRoy Smith worked as a Porter at the Pullman Company with the Southern Pacific Railroad. Glenora worked as a domestic worker for Dr. Samuel Hall and his wife Madeleine. As a woman with a strong business sense, Glenora obtained her State License as a beautician and opened her own business, “Satellite Beauty Salon”. Glenora simultaneously operated her successful Satellite hair salon business and held a position as a Children’s Supervisor/Teacher at Washington Elementary School, in Oakland.
Following a short illness, God called Glenora home on Saturday, September 5, 2020. Glenora was preceded in death by LeRoy Smith, her brothers and sisters, Tom Riley Parker, Warren Parker and Minnie Cassells. She leaves to cherish her memories, loving and devoted sons Gary Smith and Brian Smith; loving and devoted daughters Marsha Smith and Deneen Ogbeide; daughter-in-law Pamela Sampson-Smith and son-in-law Tony Ogbeide; grandchildren Courtney, Osazuwa, Orobosa, Adesuwa, Erica, and Matthew and a host of nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.
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