Barbara Smith Watts, 52, a native of Columbia, Louisiana and longtime resident of Morgan City, Louisiana passed away, Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center after a courageous battle with breast cancer.
Barbara was a graduate of Nicholls State University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting. After graduation, she soon obtained her Certified Public Accountant license and later on obtained the credential of Certified Fraud Examiner. Her hard work and focus led her to become a Shareholder in the CPA firm of Darnall, Sikes, Gardes and Frederick where she served as Director in charge of the Firm’s Audit Committee. At DSGF she will remain as a great source of inspiration to all of her co-workers who were also her friends. Every morning she stepped into the office she addressed each person with a smile and greeting, wanting to know how everyone and everyone’s family was doing. Her adoration and care for the team at the firm was always expressed by her, even when she had to be out of the office and facing her own struggles. Barbara’s love of the CPA profession also had her performing many roles outside of her firm which included serving as President of the South Central Chapter of the Louisiana Society of Certified Public Accountants, as a Member of the Nicholls State University Accounting Advisory Board, and as Treasurer of the St. Mary Chamber of Commerce. She also was very active in numerous other professional and civic activities and organizations.
Visitation will be Saturday, December 7, 2013 from 11-2pm at Nichols Funeral Home in Haleyville, where the service will be held at 2pm. Burial will be at Winston Memorial Cemetery. Vance Hutton will officiate.
Barbara is survived by, her husband, David Watts of Morgan City, Louisiana; her mother, Barbara Smith of Columbia, Louisiana; and her two brothers, James Smith of Monroe, Louisiana and Charles Smith of Columbia, Louisiana.
She was preceded in death by, her brother, Ernest Smith; her grandmother, Audi Wise; and her father.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Barbara’s name to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
