Latricia Smith, lovingly known as “Trish” or “Tricia,” died Sunday, September 29, 2024, at Sanctuary Hospice, with her loving husband, Cullen “Sandy” Smith, whom she married on December 18, 2010, at her side. She was born August 11, 1969, in Fort Worth, Texas and graduated from Springtown High School in 1987. After high school, she went to the Job Corp where she excelled. Latricia moved to Kentucky with her children where she attended Western Kentucky University. She graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and took pride in being the first in her family to earn a bachelor’s degree. Trish was a true light to her family and friends. She never met a stranger; people were drawn to her huge, infectious smile. Trish loved spending time with family and friends, and especially those who called her “Ninni”. She also loved riding motorcycles, competitive and recreation shooting, fishing, and her dogs. Her favorite thing outside of family was bowling. She traveled all over, bowling in tournaments and leagues. She began bowling as a teenager and continued until she became ill. Her accolades include the Tupelo USBC Annual Association Tournament Singles Champion and 1st place in the St. Jude 2nd Annual Bowl-a-thon Bowling Over Cancer, among many others.
There will be a celebration of life service on 11 AM on Saturday, October 12, 2024, in the Sadie M. Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors in Tupelo. The family will receive guests after the service. For those unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed at 3 PM at hollandfuneraldirectors.com/live-streaming, where it will be archived afterward.
There will another service at 12 PM on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at Birthright Baptist Church, 9371 Tx Hwy 19 North, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. Holland Funeral Directors is honored to serve the family.
Latricia is survived by her husband, Cullen “Sandy” Smith of Mississippi; son, Patrick (Ashley) Stephens Slater of Kentucky; daughter, Tiffany Ann Stephens of Mississippi; three sisters, Lisa (Mike) Davis of Texas, LaFleata (Jimmy) Johnson of Texas, and Sonia (Mark) Hilliard of Utah; two bonus sons, Tripp (Loretta) Smith of MS, and Jason (Holly) Smith of MS; her very best friend, Wanda Moore of MS; 16 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
Latricia is preceded in death by her father, James Stewart, and mother, Barbara Shockey; grandmothers, Udean Coulter, Myrtle Wilbanks, and Gladys Stewart, and grandfathers, Robert Hickey and Lee Steward; and brother, Matthew Wilbanks.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sanctuary Hospice House, P.O. Box 2177, Tupelo, MS 38802.
