Sally Jo Philbrick Smith, 75, of Center, went to her heavenly home on Thursday, October 22, 2015.

 

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, October 23, 2015, at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center.  Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 24, 2015, at First Baptist Church in Center with Rev. Russ Atwood and Rev. Lee Dickson officiating.  Graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, October 25, 2015, at Sibley Cemetery in Florien, Louisiana.

 

Mrs. Smith was born July 26, 1940, in Dallas, to Charles Baxter Philbrick and Thelma Jewel Cunningham Philbrick. She graduated from Sunset high school in Dallas Texas, class of 1958.  She received an undergraduate degree in education from Howard Payne University and a graduate degree in Special Education from Stephen F. Austin State University.  She was a homemaker, mother and teacher. 

 

She was active in ministries to the hearing impaired early in her life, even interpreting at a Billy Graham crusade in Dallas.  She was a gifted teacher of God’s word, teaching: Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Backyard Bible Clubs, Student ministry, The Esther class at First Baptist Center, and several years of Lay Renewals, Prayer Life, Master Life, Joy Seekers conferences, studies by Beth Moore and Experiencing God (for which she served in the pilot program during the writing of the original workbook).

 

Her life’s mission was to share Jesus with others and teach them how to know God intimately.  This took her on mission trips to Korea, Russia, Ukraine, Switzerland, Sweden, Honduras, Mexico and all over the United States.  Everywhere she went became a mission field. Even while in the hospital she would tell everyone she met about the Jesus who kept her smiling through the worst of circumstances.  Even  in her illness she continued sharing Christ through a series of devotional books she wrote (entitled “Come Alone with Me”) recounting the activity of God in her life.  In 2011 she began packing Samaritan’s Purse Christmas boxes for children in the 3^rd world.  She purchased the toys and goodies that would fill the boxes throughout the year, writing a personal note to each child and praying over each box.  That first year she packed 20 boxes…The following year 61…then 503, 1250 and despite a late start and an early finish, she put together 630 boxes this year. 

To the very end she never stopped working to build the Kingdom of God.    

 

She is survived by

Husband of 53 years: Rev. Carl Smith of Center

 

Children:

Matthew Coleman Smith and wife, Brandi, of Wylie

Carla Jo Smith Denney and husband, Kurt, of Center

Jonathan Charles Smith of Atlanta, Georgia

 

Grandchildren:

Hannah Marie Chase

Samuel Shelton Chase

Sibley Jo Smith

Elizabeth Jewel Smith

Sydney Faith Denney

Corey Wayne Denney

 

Sisters:

Nancy Joy Philbrick Sague of Hawkins

Carol Lee Philbrick of Carrollton

 

Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends

 

Preceded in death by

Parents: Charles Baxter Philbrick and Thelma Jewel Cunningham Philbrick

Sister: Doris Mae Philbrick Green

Brother-in-law: Kent Sague

Maternal Grandparents: Walter Woods and Carmen Mae Cunningham Woods

Paternal Grandparents: Alfonzo Glover Philbrick and Willie Mae Baxter Philbrick

Nephew and Niece: Mark and Linda Givens

 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child, c/o First Baptist Church, 117 Cora Street, Center, Texas 75935 or a charity of your choice.